MR. CHAMBERLAIN TALKS FRANKLY

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 54, 6 March 1922, Page 7

MR. CHAMBERLAIN TALKS FRANKLY

THE DUTY OF THE CONSERVA-

TIVE PARTY,

LONDON, 4th March.

Much interest is being taken in a speech' by Mr. Austen Chamberlain, leader of the "Unionist Party, at the Carlton Club, Oxford. He said that the country was being told that the Coalition was tottering to its fall. That conception was far from the truth. " Tho best thing is to talk frankly," he said. "When I succeeded Mr. Bonar Law, the Prime Minister repeated to me the statement he had already made to my predecessor. It ought to be common knowledge that whim Mr. Asquith resigned, Mr. Lloyd George did not seek the Premiership. He offored to serve under Mr. Bonar Law or Mr. Balfour, but both thought it was in the interest of the country that Mr. Lloyd George should have the Premiership, and he took it on their request. " Mr. Lloyd George told me the other day that if we felt that the interests of the country would be better served by a return to party government he would gladly retire. Mr. Lloyd George would not take my answer, but told me to confer formally with my.party and let him have their reply. He added that a wave of unrest and differences of opinion were distracting the Coalition. "We have replied "to I'Mr. Lloyd George, and told him that we think the interests of the country would not be advanced,, but rather retarded, by his resignation. (Prolonged cheers.) Those who have worked most closely with Mr. Lloyd George and his Liberal colleagues felt that to accept his ■ offer would be to betray the stability which it is the duty of the Conservative Patty to' preserve." > "Instead of a Parliament consisting of two great parties and a Government alternating with change of public opinion, we are confronted with the danger of many groups in which no grout) has a majority. ' A small party holding the balance of power is a danger to the State. It has power without responsibility. If the Government of this country were to be at the mercy of groups, so that they might change with the seasons, so that the country might be without a Government for weeks in the midst of very important national business, we would lose our foremost .position in the counsels of Europe. Sir Worthington Evans (Coalitionist), Secretary of State for War, speaking at Colchester, said that the Prime Minister had offered to retire, but said he would support the Conservatives in carrying out their unfinished programme. All the Conservative members of the Cabinet had assured- Mr. Lloyd George of their support, and begged him to continue. He (the speaker) hoped he would continue, but they could not expect him to bear his immense burden unless tljey backed up their leaders in supporting Mr. Lloyd George.