ABSTRACT
The motive-power behind this action of the Upper House was patent. The Tariff Reformers had reckoned on the collapse of Free Trade finance in the 1909 Budget. The opposite had happened, or would happen, unless they could destroy that measure. But it had passed the Commons. In this intrepid argumentation it was difficult, or even impossible, for Mr. Balfour not to acquiesce. He had yielded so much before. Besides, the Tariff Reformers had recently accumulated a strong case against him. In plain fact, the dilemma of his security was this. On the Lords throwing out the Budget, an election would inevitably follow. If, as the result of that election, Tariff Reform won, then his course was fairly plain. Therefore, when at the opening of February, 1910, the smoke and dust of the General Election had dissipated, things were not very critical from Mr. Balfour's point of view. His party was stronger and had won many seats, though still in opposition.
