Mr. Balfour was just due to make a speech at a Volunteer Bazaar in North Berwick when the Elgin result was announced; but that was an occasion on which he could not in any circumstances have delivered an ordinary political speech, His address was, however, in a sense political, and was of exceptional interest in view of the great dissatisfaction which has been created in the Volunteer force by the recent action of the War Office, and the movement in favour of conscript tion which has recently displayed a groat increase of energy. 'There was no' ambi-gulfy in the Prime Ministers exposition of his views on compulsory service. He declared that no nation of Western Europe would in these days think of employing "an army raised by conscript tion, principally for the purpose of defend-in its possessions thousands of miles} i distant across the ocean." A conscript army for the defence of India would therefore be in his~opinion a grave mistake: The only other purpose for which it could be required—unless for the invasion of a for country—would be home defence; and in regard to this Mr. Balfour repeated with emphasis his previous statements of conviction that " invasi these shores stances, not 'a practicable military operation." That being so, a conscript army for home defence is obviously un-
However, the Prime Minister once more. strongly rebutted the contention that because invasion is impossible ther: fore." volunteer force which. cannot. be sent out of the country is. useless. Be repeated that the existence of the volunteers is one of the conditions which render invasion impossible. Every naval expert and authority holds firmly that our [navy. is strong enough to reider i possible the landing of a large hostile army on our shores; but; they do not deny that " small army. might be got across, or that raiding expeditions on a small scale might be pdstible. If there-disbanded -the volunteers and were left in time of war with avery small force for home defence, a comparatively small army of invasion, such as might conceivably be smuggled across, might be sufficient to conquer the country. Moreolunteors existed for no other purpose than to make raids impossible. their existence would in Mr. Balfoui opinion, be amply justified. The poli of the present Government therefore is to retain and perfect the volunteers; and the impression to the contrary which has recently been. created is due, we must suppose, to blundering at the War Office. Individual inspection of the volunteers ascertain their fitness or unfitness for service abroad was recently undertaken, and it was done in such s way that the impression was created that, all those unfit for foreign service wore to be got rid of. We are assured, however, that the authorities have not and nevor.had any such intention.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.