Mr. Balfour has, of consented to institute, in all probability by Royal Com: mission, an inquiry into the question of safeguarding our food supplies in case of war. Tt is to be noted that the society which urged this upon him includes crowd of dukes, not to mention the lower grades of the peerage, half a hundred flag officers of the navy, and a host of notably ties in every rank'of life. The speech in which he announced his decision has, however, given satisfaction to the sober-mind. ed and no undue encouragement to the scare-mongers and cranks. Mr. Balfour scouted the idea that it would be possible for any enemy or combination of enemies to cut off all our supplies of food and raw materials from abroad. At the worst they could only make it dificult and therefore expensive for us to obtain those supplies, The whole question is, as he points. out one of insurance; and whether we are adequately insured, by the strength of our navy or otherwise, against the risks which 2 war would entail on our commerce i I question well worthy of enquiry, no other reason," as Mr. Balfour say cause it would allay some unfounded fears." To the Protectionists and others who are making uso of this agitation for their own ends ho addressed two warnings, "First," he said, "I trust that with a view to preventing corn n ig in price in time of war, nothing will be done to raise the price extravagantly in time of peace. Secondly, nothing will be done to establish tinent' machinery which would injure the natural comme:
the nat ial machinery which this country is supplied with food
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.