BRITISH CABINET

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 308, 23 September 1932, Page 11

BRITISH CABINET

Prospect of Secessions LIBERAL MINISTERS Attitude Toward Ottawa PROPOSALS CONDEMNED By Telegraph—Press assn.—Copyright (Rec. September 22, 9.10 p.m.) London, Sept. 22. In the absence of a definite declaration before Cabinet meets, the prospect of Liberal secession is being much discussed in the Press. The newest development is strong editorial appeals to the Liberals not to split the National Government in both the “Daily Telegraph” and the “Daily Mail.” The latter says that resignations would be taken abroad as a sign of disunity among the parties which gave the Government its strength and tend to weaken our influence in Europe at a critical moment. The executive committee of the National Liberal Federation, the meeting of which is widely regarded as the first step to the termination of the Free Traders’ connection with the Go-, vernment, considered the policy aspect of the Ottawa agreements. Mr. Ramsay Muir presided. ’Sir Herbert Samuel, the Home Secretary, announced that he could not indicate the Liberal Ministers’ attitude until Cabinet met on September 28. The executive condemned the Ottawa proposals as unduly surrendering r-'the rights of the British Parliament, limiting Britain’s power to conduct ■ international trade negotiations, burdening the people in regard to the price of foodstuffs, nullifying the value of Dominion concessions, and provoking inter-imperial bickerings. ' For these , reasons the executive urged the Government, Parliament, and the electors to “oppose the dangerous and vicious . principles of the Ottawa agreements to ■ the utmost.” , , ' The “Dailv Mail” declares that Lord , Snowden, Sir Herbert Samuel, Sir ; Archibald Sinclair, Mr. Isaac Foot, and a number of Under-Secretaries have : determined to resign. The “Manchester Guardian,’ editorially discussing Ottawa, says that the . Liberal Ministers have cut a sorry fig- . ure. The paper invites them to leave the Government and sit on the Opposition benches and support or attack the Government according to the merit of the legislation. ' “Any other form of national unity is dearly bought at the price of making a farce of Cabinet ■ Government,’.’ it says.