BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7959, 9 February 1906, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE CRIMES ACT. '.Received February 8. 8.45 a.m. LONDON, February 7. The Nationalists interpret the revocation of the proclamations under the Crimes Act as a prelude to the repeal of the Coercion Act. LETTER FROM MR CHAMBERLAIN. A STRAIGHT-OUT DECLARATION. TARIFF REFORMERS WILL NOT REMAIN INACTIVE. Received February 7, 9.7 p.m. LONDON, February 7. Mr Joseph Chamberlain has w;itten to Visoount Ridley, repudiating in any circumstances, being a candidate for the Unionist leadership. First, because of his cSose friendship with Mr Balfour, and secondly because the agreed leader of the party, seven-tenths of -tfbioh ia Conservative, must be a Conservative. Mr Chamberlain states that it is untrue that any ultimatum has been posted to Mr Balfour. He only desired the party to meet frankly and to discuss the future'policy. The different sections held three views regarding the tariff reform. Those desiring it dropped for the present as an active policy forgot t&at if the question were shelved all enthusiasm aroused would be damped down. The work of educating the country would be stopped, and such a position was inconsistent with Mr Balfour's statement that tariff reform was the first item of the constructive policy of the Unionists, and that a commercial union with the Colonies was the most important and argent branch of tariff reform. Secondly, in tbe suggestion that, while pressing the tariff reform, present Unionists should ■unite on the basis of a half-sheet of notepaper program me, it was unrecognised that advanced tariff reformers thought the party ought fankly to admit the probability of having to place a moderate duty on foreign corn, and secure in retarn a substantial colonial preference for the British manufacturers. Mr Balfour, while he has not objected to the principle of such a duty, has as yet not protested againt the free fooders' statement that under no circumstances would they assent to a duty on oorn. Tar--15 reformers, also, believed that effective retaliation was impossible without a general tariff. Mr Chamberlain denied any attempt .to exclude from the patty all declining to aooept the whole programme of the Tariff Reform League. Received February 7, 1.31 p.m.

Mr Chamberlain continued that it was dishonest to pretend that Free Foodera were in the same boat as Tariff Reformers and Retaliationists. Personally, he believed the great majority of the Unionists were perfectly ready to aooept Mr Balfour's general leadership. Probably the majority would welcome a declaration from Mr Balfour, clearly showing mat tariff reform was not to be dropped, and indicating a definite and unmistaueable programme for the future which all would be heartily able to support. If a majority of the party favoured the views of the free fooders, or desired the whole question to be left in abeyance, the Tariff Ref6rmers must re-consider their position. Without separating from the party, or the general leadership, they might very properly oonstituta a Parliamenatry group, taking advantage of all opportunities of enforcing their views on the House of Commons and the country, lariff Reformers cannot put aside their principles to suit the exigencies of the party or wire-pullers. While they were ready .to work with their Unionist colleagues for common ■objects, they oannot accept the policy of inaotion and mystification regarding the main object of their political life. He is honestly convinced that in the acceptance iof a full measure of tariff reform lies the best hope for the future success of the party and the cause.