URGENT QUESTIONS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 15, 12 October 1932, Page 9

URGENT QUESTIONS

British Cabinet’s Work SERIES OF MEETINGS Preparing for Pariianisnt Official Wlreleiß. Rugby, Oct. 10. The Prime Minister, who on Saturday returned from a week’s holiday in Scotland, to-day took up the study of current questions with his Ministerial colleagues, several of whom, including the Fbreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, visited him at Downing Street. Important political questions are under consideration, and a series of Cabinet meetings, beginning to-morrow afternoon, will take place preparatory to the reassembly of Parliament on October 18. M. Herriot’s visit will bring under notice certain international questions and urgent Imperial and domestic matters also await attention. The latter include final Cabinet approval of draft legislation to implement the Ottawa Conference agreements. Schedules of preferences omitted from the published text of the Ottawa agreements will be announced on Wednesday night. . In view of Friday’s opening of forma! negotiations with the Irish Free State delegates the questions in dispute will also be under further consideration of Ministers during the next few days. It is anticipated that one month will suffice for winding up the work of the present session of Parliament, which will probably be prorogued about November 17, the new session being opened by the King on November 22. “LIBERAL REVIVAL” Lloyd George Will Not Join EX-MINISTERS’ ACTIONS ' Loudon, Oct. 10. Refusing an invitation to attend a “Liberal revival” meeting at the Queen’s Hall on Wednesday, to be addressed by Sir Herbert Samuel and other ex-Min-isters, Mr. Lloyd George disposes of the idea of a Liberal reunion as an early consequence of the resignations. He says that it is impossible for him to join in the demonstration of approval of the ex-Minlsters’ actions. “Am I expected,” he says, “ to demonstrate in favour of the calamitous procedure whereby Free Trade was given away at the last election? Can I approve of the National Goverment’s muddling policy regarding disarmament, which has brought Europe to the verge of the gravest international crisis since 1914? “Both Sir John Simon and Sir Herbert Samuel are personally responsible for this, because Sir Herbert Samuel adhered to Sir John Simon’s fatal Note to Germany. We must know whether the Liberal revival is to begin by approving all their criminal stupidities. If we would make a real fresh start, we must disentangle the party from responsibility for the policies, sanctioned by the ex-Ministers in the past year.” VISIT TO LONDON Herriot Accepts Invitation DISARMAMENT DISCUSSION Official Wireless. Rugby, Oct. 10. The French Premier, M. Herriot, has accepted the invitation extended by Mr. Ramsay MacDonald and will visit London this week, •>probably on Wednesday or Thursday. The purpose of the visit is to enable the two Premiers to discuss the difficulties which beseu the problem of international disarmament. . , , . It was with the object of helping forward a solution of some of these difficulties that the British Government a few days ago suggested a Four-Power Conference. Their proposal was agreed to in principle by the Powers concerned, but the date and place still remain unfixed. It is hoped that the British Government’s further initiative in inviting M. Herriot to London may help to solve these in addition to other points. _ Referring to certain criticisms which have been passed on the Four-Power Conference proposal “The Times says: “There was never any idea that the projected meeting should usurp in any wav or to the smallest extent the functions of the Disarmament Conference itself. On the contrary, the only object contemplated for it has been to reach such an understanding as will enable the Conference to get down to effective work.” ■