A BITTER ATTACK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 133, 18 March 1931, Page 5

A BITTER ATTACK

MR BALDWIN AND NEWSPAPERS. POWER WITH RESPONSIBILITY. STATEMENT DENOUNCED AS LIE. (United Press Association—Copyright). (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, March 17. Shouts of "Baldwin for ever!" greeted the ex-Prime Minister as he stepped on to the platform at Queen's Hall to address the electors in the St. George's (Westminster) election campaign. In a fighting speech, Mr Baldwin scathingly criticised Lord Rothermere's and Lord Beaverbrook's newspapers as engines of propaganda for their con-stantly-changing policies, desires, personal wishes,, likes and dislikes, by direct falsehood, misrepresentation raid half-truths.' Mr Baldwin referred to the comment of the -'Daily Mail" that the expression of insolent plutocracy came all from Baldwin as his father left him an immense fortune which, according to his own speeches, had almost disappeared. It was difficult to see how a party leader who lost his own fortune can hope to restore that of others or of the country. "Mr Baldwin described the first part of this statement as a lie, and the second, by implication, as untrue, which could only have been written by a cad. He added that counsel advised that a libel action could ho brought. "But," he said, "an apology would be valueless, while I would not touch damages with a barge pole." The Conservative leader declared that these papers were aiming at power without responsibility, which was a harlot's prerogative throughout tlir ages. When the "Daily Mail" was preaching a united Empire, and the "Express' was running Empire Frettrade, both were simultaneously seeking advertisements from America. Instancing Lord Rothermere's reference to the Zinovieff letter, Mr Baldwin read a letter from Mr Marlowe (editor of the "Daily Mail") recalling that Lord Rothermere was not aware of the Zinovieff letter before publication by the "Mail." He then supported the conservatives only with the most icluctant consent of Lord Rot her mere, who believed that the Socialists were ringing all along the line throughout the world. Mr Marlowe added that Lord Rothermere asserted himself only in 1926, after a speech in which Lord Beaverbrook alleged that Lord Rothermere obtained a peerage for services to the Literals. Mr Baldwin said he did not doubt that Captain Duff-Cooper would be returned, but he hoped the majority would be a lesson to the whole world. Turning to policy matters, Mr Baldwin emphasised the need of a wheat quota which would enable assistance to be given to the Dominions and also prevent dumping and a rise in price, .whereas protection meant a .tax of 27s a quarter, equivalent to 2Jd a loaf, which industrial regions would i.ever accept.