To-day a strong deputation of " Whole- Fo Tuosdunne hoggers," with Mr. Chamberlain at head, are waiting on the Prime Minister to submit to him a fiscal policy which in their view might unite the whole Unionist Party, or at any rate all but the uncer promising Freetraders among them. The statement of policy was adopted yesterday at a groat meeting of members of Parliament, "who desire to secure a closer unlaw between the Colonies and the Motherland based on the system of preferential trade within the Empire," which was presided over by Mr. Chamberlain, and at which nearly 150 M. P's were present, The members present were pledged to secrecy, and consequently although various more or ess detailed accounts have been turn bed by the news agencies, we have no reliable formation as to what took place. Some describe the statement presented to the Prime Minister as a" manifesto," other as a "surrender;" but there can be no doubt that, in form at least, it approximates to the latter much more than to the former. Mr. Clamber-min's anxiety to unite the " whole-f-shooters" as the presentation of his policy on a " half-shoot of note paper," and to this and it is admitted that he has consented for the prosont to modify considerably. his demand for tariff reform. It seems impossible, however, that the concessions can be more than of a temporary char-Chamberlain's ambit scheme of Imperial unity would require more rather than less in the way of ina-port duties than he has proposed, and surrender to the official policy his whole object. In view Liberals affect to regard Unionists with compl may, they contend, ward off the General Election a few weeks longer, but it will not in any degree affect the issue Altogot fi oratory this week; the principal orations outside the House being a spoach by the Duke of Devonshire to the now Unionist Free Trade Club, and one by Mr. Chamberlain to the Liberal Union Club which some time ago he succeeded in capturing for his fiscal movement. The Dake made a lively and effective speech of ho has several times given us threw off his reputation for somnolency, uncompromising support of Free Prado; buthe disappointed some of his followers by admitting that a Unionist voter might be justified now in supporting a "Tariff Reformer" against " Home-Rule Freetrader, since Mr. Chamberlain's malcontents have been somewhat appeased by the violent attack which Mr. Chamberlain made on the Dake on the following day. Mr. Chamberlain, who dealt with other subjects besides the tariff question, followed little of Mr. Balfour's ambiguity when dealing with this subject. This, however cosily to, be accounted for. for a compromise with the ''half-sheeters" was already in his head, and he was ccompolled to keep it there, It was,\impossible therefore for him to speak plainly without, on the one bend mis-Teading his audience, or on the other compromising the pending negotiations. Then the House of Lords, at the instance of Lord Balfour of Burleigh, have had an interesting debate on the proposed Colonial Conference which elicited from much clearer statement of the intentions of the Govern ment than Mr. Balfour has ever given us. Ho admitted that the conference was not to be unfettered, there were "certain limitations" beyond which it could not go. "It is perfectly well-known," he said, "that we are unlikely to \listento any changes that would have the effect of materially increasing the price of food or restricting the supply of raw material." And the Dake of Marlborough made it abundantly clear that the Conference will have no power to bind this country, its conclusions having no force until they have been submitted to ourelectorate, That is the great point at issue between Me. Chamberlain and 00 wh and if 20 how, it has been Mr. Balfour; and it will be interesting to
got over in to-day's attempt at a compromise.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.