The Prime Minister only said in other language what was
so loudly applauded when uttered by Mr. Lloyd and. Mr. Flint, and the coolness of his reception by the House therefore requires requires some ex-planation. Undoubtedly a large number of the Government's sup- porters were -keyed up by platform and press exuberance to expect some dramatically cut and dried policy ; and notably the definite promise of legislation to correct the adverse balance of trade. Their feelings are voiced by Sir Henry Page Croft, a Parliamentary veteran universally popular and really able and well-informed on his own subject. That subject is tariffs, and it is unhappily his only subject. He and his friends were clearly disappointed by the Prime Minister's announce- ment that the Government must first inquire into the scale and character of excessive imports, that they would report the result of those inquiries before the House rose for Christmas, and that if the result showed that imports were excessive, powers to check them would be asked for. At the moment of writing this disappoint- ment threatens to take the form of an amendment to the Address suggesting that the fact of excessive imports is already proved. If such an amendment inaterialises it will be more unfortunate in appearance than in reality, because it will certainly not be pressed to the embarrass- ment of the Government. But it may be hoped that it will be avoided altogether, because though the Prime Minister may have said the right thing in the wrong way, he undoubtedly said the right thing.
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