Page:Notes on the Anti-Corn Law Struggle.djvu/265

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Free Trade and the Channel Tunnel.
257

CHAPTER VI.


FREE TRADE AND THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.


Of the four Free Trade advocates mentioned in the preceding pages, two, General Thompson and Mr. Villiers, were, as far as I know, opposed to the Channel Tunnel; two, Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright, would seem from the following statement to have been in favour of it.

On the 17th of August, 1883, a general meeting of the Submarine Continental Railway Company was held at the Cannon Street Hotel, to receive a report from the directors, and for special business. Sir E. W. Watkin, the Chairman of the Company, presided. The Chairman said:—

"The Select Committee of both Houses of Parliament to whom Her Majesty's Government referred the question of the Channel Tunnel, have by a majority expressed their opinion against proceeding for the present with legislation."