Mr. Chamberlain, who followed, cross-examined the Government on similar lines.
The Resolution as it stood was "pure nonsense," and would not be acted upon by any House of Commons which voted it. Like his leader, he asked for some exact interpretation of its meaning, and since this was not forthcoming, he moved the adjourn- ment of the debate. The Prime Minister most justly complained of Mr. Balfour's frivolous " and hair-splitting treatment of the question. As to his questions, he had no direct answer to give. "They are utterly futile, nonsensical, and misleading." After some remarks by Mr. Austen Chamberlain, the House divided on the Motion for adjourn- ment, which was defeated by a "majority of 290. In the subsequent debate Mr. Snowden, the Labour Member for Blackburn, declared that whatever improvement had been wrought in the condition of the people during the last sixty years was due to other causes than7ree-trade, and he 'agreed
with Mr. Chamberlain that we should see if it were possible to effect such changes in our industrial system as would better equip us for the coming international struggle. He disagreed with his proposals, but he refused to fall down and worship the god of Free-trade. It was "merely a condition, and not an active force." Mr. Snowden's speech tends to bear out our contention that Socialism and Protection are not antagonistic creeds.
Previous page
