BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1593, 25 October 1905, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

SPEECHES BY LORD JERSEY AND MR MORLEY. ELECTION TO BE FOUGHT ON SOOIAL REFORM.

By telegraph, Press Ass’n, Copyright Received 9.41 p.m., Oct. 24. Melbourne, Oct. 24.

Lord Jersey, interviewed, said that personally ho thought it unlikely there would be a reversal of tho general principles of v freetrade, though it was not improbable there might be soma modification. It was not at all improbable that reviews of our commercial treaties with other countries would be undertaken. He thought, however, the feeling was growing in England that they might give some attention to proposals for preferential trade with the colonies, oven if it involved some modification of the stern rule of freetradc. He regarded it as unlikely that there would be an Imperial Conference before next general eleotion. He thought it would be quite a mistake for aDy one of the parties to the conference to come to it with a fixed policy. The prudent would say, “ Let the conference meet and the drift of the opinions bo gathored.” Received 9.56 p.m., Oot. 24,

London, Oct. 24.

Mr Morley, speaking at Arbroath, said his feelings in regard to the treaty with Japan was that it was a leap in the dark. Both political parties had long objected to definite entanglements for long terms even with European Powers. Time would show if it had opened risky possibilities. It was too vast to be judged off-hand and left out of sight simply because we, quite rightly, admired the pluck, skill, and tenacity of the Japanese. Wc must look at it with our eyes prepared for surprises. These might spring. in China. The treaty was loose and rather vague, although there might be good reasons for that. It was a good treaty viewed in the fact that we did not take territory and insisted on open doors. The Bitaation while it lasted was for good, provided the enormous .problems were worked aud adjusted by the Government or their successors with sanity, moderation, and nioety. Whatever else it did, the treaty would facilitate au understanding with Russia. He was not sure it would calm restless, fidgety minds in India. The moving force in the general elections would not be Imperialism and militarism, but social reform. Received 10.54 p.m., Oct 24.

Mr Asquith, in a epoech at Edinburgh, insisted that Mr Chamberlain’s prediction, which was double edged—decaying trade and a dissolving Empire—had been falsi" fied. The exports were still increasing, amounting to 249 millions for the first nino months of 1905. That was pretty good for stagnant, stationary trade, the increase consisting chiefly of British manufactures. Mr Howard Vincent, in a manifesto to his constituents, states that in 1904 1163,212,000 worth of foreign finished goods were imported into Britain, causing a loss of wages of £31,606,000.