PARTY GO.VERNMENT 2OI

especially interested in social services. Nor, in their view, must
support of Capitalism mean complete abandonment of industry to
private enterprise; the Government should keep watch and, where
necessary, give assistance in such forms as tariffs, subsidies
and marketing organisations. Nationalist feeling and the influence
of industrialists combine to make the party favour the protection
of home industries by taxes on foreign goods, as a remedy for
unemployment. In the 2Oth century this proposal has taken
the form of Imperial Preference—i.e., permission for goods
from British territories overseas to be imported at specially
favourable terms—and extension of inter-Imperial trade. Such
was the policy advocated by Joseph Chamberlain without
success; since the War it has been revived and partially realised
in the Ottawa Agreements of 1932. The term "Unionist" meant
in the last century one who was opposed to Home Rule for
IrelancU ,a body of Liberals who left their own party on this
question were called Liberal Unionists but were later absorbed
in the Conservative Party; the name is now used to describe the
Conservative attitude to the Empire. This attitude makes the
party somewhat doubtful of international ideas; it is a Con-
servative maxim that a strong British Empire is the best guarantee
for world peace. Conservative Governments have approved
Britain's membership of the League of Nations, but they do not
consider that the immediate possibilities of preventing war by
League action are as great as other parties believe them to be.
The party draws its support from the rich and from those of
moderate incomes who feel that Socialism ;threatens their
security; also from the countryside, where tradition is stronger
than in the towns and the policy of restricting the import of
foreign foodstuffs is attractive. The policy of protection for
industry and the traditional association of the party with large
armaments wins it the support of some industrial workers. Since
the War the Conservatives have had a majority in the House of
Commons except for nine months in 1924, and the period between
June 1929 and November 1931; and even in the former period