The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-02-08
BALFOUR YIELDS TO
 JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN

Continued from First Page)
 absolutely untrue that any ultimatum has been presented to Mir Balfour on this subject either by me or by any one else. have asked for meeting of the party in order that there may be a frank and friendly discussion of the question, because to me 1t always seem ed essential to successful leadership that the leader should be thoroughly and personally acquainted from time to time with the views and wishes of his followers
 MT. Chamberlain's letter adds that there appear to be three views in re- gard to tariff reform held by different sections of the party. First, that tar if reform cannot be question of prac- tical politics for some years to come and should be dropped as an active pol icy This Mir Chamberlain contens is entirely inconsistent with MT, Balfour's language when he said that tariff re- form was the first item on the construc- tive programme of the party and that commercial union with the colonies was the most urgent branch of tariff re- form. Second, the suggestion that while not pressing for tariff reform under ex- isting circumstances the unionists should unite on the programme known as thalf sheet of note paper" Be- tween this programme and that of the more advanced tariff reformers there are two differences First, the more ad- vanced think that the probability of having to place a moderate duty on the wheat of foreign countries in return for substantial preferences given by the colonies to British manufacturers should be frankly admitted and defend- ed MT. Balfour has said that he has no objection to the principle of such duty but he accepted without protest the statement of a free-fooder hat un- der no circumstances, whether after a conference or not, whatever may be the offer o the colonies, will they assent to duty on wheat. Second, the more ad- vanced are of the opinion that it Is i'm possible to have practical and effec- tive scheme of retaliation against the | excessive duties imposed ty foreign countries or British products without a general tariff. MT. Balfour would never have attempted to put forward an alter native scheme although urged to do so 1 by the free-fooders,
 The tariff reformers, MT. Chamberlain further says, believed Mir. Balfour con- sidered the difference in procedure in- significant, and MT. Chamberlain hoped l that, as MT. Balfour did not attach much importance to his own point of view, he would approach closer to Mir. | Chamberlain
 | MT. Chamberlain denies that an at- tempt was made to impose on Mir. Bal- ! four, as condition for the union of the party the exclusion of those declining to accept the whole programme of the tariff reformers, but he adds that it would be dishonest to pretend that the | free-fooders, who, while nominally sup porting MT. Balfour opposed his policy are in the same boat with the tariff reformers and the retaliationists,
 Continuing, MT. Chamberlain discuss es the reorganization of the party ma chinery, contending that it should be 1 decided whether the organization shall remain an autocratic and non-represen- tative body or whether it ought not to be strictly representative of the party as a whole.
 Answering the charge that the latter proposal to popularize the party is i equivalent to an attempt to capture the machinery for the furtherance of tariff reform, MT, Chamberlain says this is an admission that the party, if popu- 1 larlzed, would vote for tariff reform.
 This, however" Mir. Chamberlain says, 'ls matter which can only be decided by a party meeting and no doubt will be one of the principal sub- jects for discussion on such an occa- sion"
 Later on Mir. Chamberlain says;
 My own belief is that the great ma- jority of the party, if not all, are per | fectly ready to accept MT Balfour's general leadership. think 1t probable, however that the party would well come a declaration by MT. Balfour which would show clearly that ttariff reform would not be dropped, and which would indicate Q definite and un- 1 mlStaKaDle programme TOT tne future to which they could give hearty sup port"
 Discussing the probability of the tar : if reformers being associated with the minority in the party, MT. Chamberlain says it would be unnecessary and un- wise for them to separate themselves from the party as a whole, or from the general leadership.
 "They may, however" he explains, properly constitute themselves into a parliamentary group or committee" | He suggests that they meet at the call of their own whips and agre as to what action is to be taken, and when they might properly bring for ward their views before the house, add ing significantly:
 These occasions probably will arise more frequently than supposed
 Concluding his letter, MT. Chamber lain says:
 '"The tariff reformers cannot accept a policy of inaction and mystification in regard to the main subject of their poz | litical lives"
 
 1 HTTMPHREY STREET.