Scope and Contents Letter from Professor Goldwin Smith (The Grange, Toronto, [Canada]) to WSC enclosing a cutting on Free Trade from the Winnipeg Tribune [not present] and stating that he has yet to see an expression of definite support for Joseph Chamberlain's policy in any major journal in Canada or in the Canadian parliament. Refutes Chamberlain's assertion that only preferential duties could prevent the colonies severing themselves from the mother country and attributes the agitation to Chamberlain's...

Scope and Contents Letter from F H Lambert, vice president of the Cardiff Free Trade League and the Penarth Free Trade League (West House, Penarth, [Glamorgan], Wales), to WSC commiserating with him on his lapse of memory in the House of Commons on the previous night [whilst speaking in the debate on the Trade Union and Trade Disputes Bill] and deploring the general ignorance about Free Trade in his (Lambert's) locality. This situation will be remedied only by Joseph Chamberlain's specific determination to tax...

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Letter from WSC (105 Mount Street) to David Thomas expressing surprise at Thomas's opposition to the candature of Ivor Guest's [later Lord Ashby St Ledgers and Lord Wimborne (2nd baron, 1st viscount)] for Cardiff [Wales] in view of the fact that Guest is more "advanced" in his views than WSC, to whom Thomas has pledged his full support. Urges Thomas to put aside personal considerations and support Guest for the sake of the cause of Free Trade. MS copy in WSC's hand.

Scope and Contents Letter from David Thomas (House of Commons) to WSC explaining that his support for WSC's possible candidature for Cardiff [Wales] was based on the belief that WSC was prepared to come fully over to the Liberal side, but Thomas has been disappointed by WSC's attitude to such issues as Irish Home Rule, disestablishment of the English Church, and reform of the House of Lords. Neither is Ivor Guest [later Lord Ashby St Ledgers and Lord Wimborne (2nd baron, 1st viscount)] radical enough for...

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Letter from J Last (Curriers Lane, Princess Street, Ipswich, [Suffolk]) to WSC thanking him, as a working man, for his efforts in favour of "free food" and attacking Joseph Chamberlain's policies and rich capitalists who underpay their workers. Asserts that the inability of working-class people to afford decent food is the reason for the large number of undersized recruits rejected by the military authorities.

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Resolution in favour of "Free Trade, Peace, Retrenchment and Reform" recommended by the committee of the Cobden Club to meetings held to celebrate the centenary of Richard Cobden's birth. Sent with CHAR 2/17/55 Typescript.

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Cutting from the Wolverhampton Express and Star: letter from "A.S." quoting passages favourable to imperial preference from a speech given by WSC at Wednesbury [Staffordshire] in 1901 and accusing him of inconsistency. See also CHAR 2/17/59.

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Letter from George E Johnson, secretary and registration agent of the West Wolverhampton Conservative Association, (33 Queen Street, Wolverhampton, [Staffordshire]) to WSC asking him to explain why his views on trade have changed since his speech at Wednesbury [Staffordshire] in 1901 in favour of imperial preference. Newspaper cutting affixed. See also CHAR 2/17/58 above.

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Letter from WSC (105 Mount Street) to George Johnson [secretary and registration agent of the West Wolverhampton Conservataive Association] explaining that after approaching the trade question with an open mind he had concluded by the autumn of 1902 that Protectionism was unsound. MS draft in WSC's hand. Annotated: "keep, I have sent answer".

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Letter from William Robinson (154 New Hall Lane, Preston, [Lancashire]) to WSC (House of Commons) describing how he was forced out of his editorial posts at the Preston Herald and the Darwen Gazette by local Tory leaders, who objected to his support of Free Trade, and soliciting WSC's help in securing a post with a liberal paper. Annotated by WSC: "I will dictate a reply".

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Letter from Sidwell Shotton to WSC, on Joseph Chamberlain's policy of preferential tariffs for the Colonies.

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Letter from Andrew Hogg, Edinburgh Conservative Working Mens' Association to WSC, cancelling his speech to the Association on 11 November because of his opposition to Chamberlain's tariff reforms.

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Letter from WSC to Andrew Hogg, Edinburgh Conservative Working Mens' Association, on cancellation of speaking engagement, commenting on intolerance and prejudice among Conservatives in Edinburgh on the question of fiscal policy preventing them from discussing the subject freely [ts copy].

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Letter from W.J. Willis to WSC, asking how the introduction of preferential tariffs would raise prices in Britain and why Britain should not adopt preferential tariffs while other countries did so.

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Letter from J. Moore Bailey to WSC on free trade.

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Letter from Lord James of Hereford to WSC on free trade.

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Letter from G.S. Pawle to WSC, congratulations on campaign of opposition to the Government on free trade, also on the taxation of foreigners trading in Britain, also commenting on meeting John Churchill [WSC's brother] at the Stock Exchange.

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Iain Hogg, Unionist Free Food League, to WSC, on the work of the league.

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Letter from Sir Sidney Low to WSC, on Canadian desire for an English Preference Party, also commenting that if free traders wanted good press coverage one of their millionaires should buy or start a newspaper, listing the likely attitudes of the press, most of whom would be hostile to the cause.

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Letter from F. Maddison, Cobden Club, to WSC, on the Co- Operative Society's opposition to preferential tariffs.

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Cutting from the Evening Standard, report of interview with John Charlton, Canadian High Commissioner in London, on Canadian views of preferential tariffs.

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Letter from Lord Rosebery to WSC, on the Opposition's failure to capitalise on the Government's weakness over tariff reform, also on the position of the 8th Duke of Devonshire "... a very bad resigner. He has more than once been in the position when he should I think have resigned, but he is easily persuaded to stay".

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Letter from Lord James of Hereford [earlier Henry James] to WSC, on the need to recruit Houldsworth for the Free Trade campaign in Lancashire.

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Letter from Lord Hugh Cecil [later Lord Quickswood] to WSC, on his inclination to give up politics, advising him not to trust Sir Alfred Harmsworth [later Lord Northcliffe] and the Daily Mail over free trade, listing possible future events in order of preference (his favoured solution was for Joseph Chamberlain to resign as Colonial Secretary.

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Letter from Lord Hugh Cecil [later Lord Quickswood] to WSC, reporting statement by Sir Michael Hicks Beach [later Lord St Aldwyn] to the Unionist Free Food Committee that he had reason to believe that Arthur Balfour [later Lord Balfour] and Joseph Chamberlain, had split over the preferential tariff issue.