BRITISH ELECTIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 18, 2 November 1935, Page 5

BRITISH ELECTIONS

THE ARMAMENTS PROGRAMME.

SOCIALISTS SEIZE ON CRY. LORD SNOWDEN AND LIBERALS. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, November 1. The Socialists are avidly seizing the Nationalists’ armaments programme as the best campaign card, believed largely to explain Mr Baldwin’s outspoken declaration at a recent meeting of the Peace Society: “I give you my word that there will not be any great armaments. We are bound over to make the peace. It may not be an easy task, but we accept it.” Canvassers in all the industrial areas have reported widespread circulation of the canard that the return of the Nationalists will mean a speedy plunge into war. Lord Snowden seems destined to be a Liberal whipper-up. There is a strong move to get him and Mr D. Lloyd George on the platform at Manchester in the endeavour to reverse the Nationalist landslide there of 1931.

It is likely that there will be 12 Dominions candidates, including a New Zealander, Mr Douglas Cooke, who will have a straight fight at Hammersmith.

THE NATIONALIST CANDIDATES.

ONLY 38 SEATS' UNCONTESTMD.

LONDON, October 31. The Nationalists report that they have 577 candidates, leaving only 38 constituencies unchallenged. The Labourites at present have 544 candidates and the Liberals about 150. Six Republicans are contesting seats in Northern Ireland,

“THE PREMIER BOGEYMAN.”

LABOUR VIEW OF MR BALDWIN

LONDON, October 31. Broadcasting, Mr J. R. Clynes (Labour) said that the Prime Minister was running the risk of becoming the premier bogeyman. “We are to have peace by millions of bayonets, by a strong navy, and a greater air force, and having talked peace with a background of gunfodder we are asked to believe that all these arnameuts are assembled to be ready, but not to use them. We have had the National leaders who go looking for peace with a gun. It is a delusion that national security means armaments.” Mr Clynes concluded by stating that the Labourites would demand that the Blouse Lords accept their mandate or its self-destruction.

THE COUNCIL OF ACTION.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE.

(Received This Day, 1 p.m.) LONDON, November 1

Mr Lloyd George’s Council of Action announces that it has received 700 replies to its questionnaire, of which 300 are satisfactory, and also undertook to form an inter-party group to ensure that the Council’s policy was carried out.

“The News-Chronicle” considers the response excellent. It will surprise those imagining that the disapproval of party caucuses will result in ignoring the movement.

PARLIAMENTARY DICTATORSHIP LABOUR DENIES INTENTION. (Received This Day, 1 p.m.) LONDON, November 1. The ex-leader of the Opposition (Mr George Lansbury), speaking at Staveley, denied the Conservative allegations that Labour favoured a Parliamentary. dictatorship, and added that the National Government had done the most to break the traditional rights of the House of Commons. He urged Labour to support the plan for an international meeting at Geneva or Jerusalem to renounce war.