There has undoubtedly been much reprehensible exaggeration on both sides
about the McKenna Duties. We have always maintained that one of the chief dangers in imposing a tariff is the difficulty of taking it off, and this view has been thoroughly confirmed. In our opinion this is not the moment to remove the duties, because stability is the paramount necessity. For this reason alone we regret the decision of the Government. As regards the Debate itself, Mr. Baldwin spoke with the sympathy and understanding he always displays when dealing with an industrial issue. Mr. Snowden showed once more that he is at heart a doctrinaire Liberal of the old school. There is a fundamental difference in his outlook and that of the Prime Minister, superficially revealed by his affectionate and sympathetic attitude towards the Liberals, as opposed to the Prime Minister's obvious preference for the Unionists. His speech was not very successful, and Mr. Graham, who paid a tribute to Mr. Baldwin's restraint and moderation in an atmosphere of reckless exaggeration, was much more effective. Sir Edward Grigg voted with the Unionists. He would be a valuable addition to their ranks.
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