The Dominion MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1926. A POLITICAL EVENT OF IMPORTANCE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 19, 18 October 1926, Page 10

The Dominion MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1926. A POLITICAL EVENT OF IMPORTANCE

The retirement o£ the Earl of Oxford, and Asquith fiotn the leadership of the British Liberal Party is an event oi great significance to the present political situation. It means the end of. the Asquith tradition in British Liberalism, quite possibly a radical readjustment of Liberal policy, or as an alternative possibility, the disappearance of the Liberals as a political part}. , , So long as the Asquith tradition remained a factor in . British politics the perpetuation of the present disposition of parties was taken more or less for granted. The-historic division of political opinion in Parliament was between Liberal and Conservative. Labour, in spite of its recent ascendancy, was regarded as a noisy, intruder As the result of the vicissitudes of recent years the Libcial larty has been a prey to internal dissension. ’ The process of decay has been accelerated by a definite cleavage between the partv leader and the chairman of the Liberal Partv (Mr Lloyd George), as the result of the latter’s conciliatory attitude to Labour on the occasion of the general strike. Lord Oxford, in his letter of resignation, asserts with truth that the unity, oi the party cannot be maintained under rival authorities with separate organisations and funds. It is evident that he dislikes the arrangement, which dates from the davs of the Coalition Government, by which Mr. Lloyd George controls the Liberal funds. His objection is well grounded. Such an arrangement must surely tend to be subversive of party Political opinion in England predicts for the. futuie of the Liberal Party either of two eventualities: (1) that it will rally its forces and ultimately regain its effectiveness as a political factor, or (2) its radical elements will secede to the Labour Party, and the remainder to the Conservatives, thus effecting a return to the twoparty svstem. The first of these alternatives is regarded by the stalwarts of Liberalism as the more desirable, especially when viewed in the light of the party's history and achievements. 1 hose who support the latter alternative base their preference on the demonstrated fact that three-cornered politics make for political instability and, hence, social and economic insecurity. It is a point of some significance that Lord. Oxford has not nominated his successor. In June last, at a meeting of 34 Liberal members of Parliament, Mr. Lloyd George received a suppot ting vote of 22 to 11. which at least indicates that in normal circumstances he would very likely have received the retiring leader’s nomination. But the circumstances are not normal. T. he general strike placed the rival leaders at serious variance, and to each was accorded a definite measure of responsible Liberal Press endoisement. The Westminster Gazette, applauding Lord Oxford’s support of the Government’s attitude and action in handling the strike, declared that he had identified Liberalism with its own root principles in a grave national emergency, while Mr. Lloyd George had deliberately isolated himself from them. ’ The Manchester Guardian said that “the one tangible accusation that could be levelled against Mr. Lloyd George was that when social. peace was in the balance and the country was threatened with an immense disaster, he had the courage to preach conciliation, and to be right when his official leader was wrong.” , As events have since proved. Mr. Lloyd George s official leader was right. The incident suggested to political critics that Mr. Lloyd George was either angling for. a Liberal-Radical bloc recruited from his own partv and the Labour moderates, or meditating a deliberate plunge into Socialism as a new Labour leader. In a ieccnt speech he declared that so long as he was returned to Parliament, he would be' a Liberal member, “with all that it means, all that it implies, and all that it involves.” To those who have made a close study ,of Mr. Lloyd George’s political career, what Liberalism means, implies, and involves, is merely what he himself thinks it means, implies, and involves. The new situation is highly speculative and full of interest;. Mr. Lloyd George’s most serious rivals lor the leadership of the Liberals —assuming that they are to continue as a vocal factor in British politics—are Earl Grey of Falloden and Sir .John Simon, neither of whom, however, appeal to the radical section of the party. Whatever happens, secessions either to the Conservatives or the Labour Party are not improbable.