FREE TRADERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 225, 22 September 1932, Page 7

FREE TRADERS.

MAY BREAK AWAY.

CRISIS PENDING.

National Liberals Condemn Ottawa Agreements.

WILL MINISTERS RESIGN?

fljnited P.A—Electric Telegraph-Copyright)

(Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 21,

The National Liberal Federation meeting, widely regarded as the first step in tne termination of the free traders' connection with the Government, considered the policy aspect of the Ottawa agreements.

Mr. Bamsay Muir presided, and Sir Herbert Samuel announced that he could not indicate the Liberal Ministers' attitude until the Cabinet met on September 28.

The executive condemned the Ottawa nroposals as unduly surrendering the rights of the British Parliament, limitBritain's power to conduct international trade negotiations, burdening the people regarding the price of foodstuffs nullifying the value of Dominion concessions, and provoking inter-Imperial bickerings. On those grounds the executive urged the Government, Parliament and the electors to oppose the dangerous and vicious principle of the Ottawa agreements to ths* utmost.

The "Daily Mail" declares that Viscount Snowden, Sir Herbert Samuel, Sir Archibald' Sinclair, Secretary for Scotland, Mr. Isaac Foot, Minister of Mines, and a number of Under-Secre-taries'are determined to resign.

Conflicting interpretations are being put on a speech made by Mr. Isaac Foot in the Cardigan by-election campaign. He said the Liberals desired the Government's policy to be truly national. The Ottawa proposals were partisan, not national. They would be contrary to the nation's permanent interests and the Liberals were bound to oppose them.

It would be for Sir Herbert Samuel to" decide, said Mr. Foot, whether this could be effectively done within the "agreement to differ" arrangement.; The "Daily Express" says the speech means that the Liberal Ministers, and probably Viscount Snowden also, intend to resign immediately.

The "Daily Telegraph" takes the opposite view and says there will be no resignations.

The "Manchester Guardian" in an editorial article discussing the Ottawa agreements and Mr. Isaac Foot's speech, says the Liberal Ministers cut a sorry figure. It invites them to leave the Government and sit on the Opposition benches and support or attack the Government according to the. merit of its legislation.

Any other form of' national unity, says the paper,, will be dearly bought at the price of making a farce of Cabinet Government.