LIBERAL REVOLT]

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 151, 29 June 1931, Page 9

LIBERAL REVOLT]

ALLIANCE WITH LABOUR

SIE J. SDION .RESIGNS1

OTHERS FOLLOW SUIT

SERVILITY TO SOCIALISM

(United Pros 3 Association—By- Electric Tote grapli—Copyright.) . .. ■ (Receive*: 29th Je.ie, 10 a.m.)

LONDON, 28th June.

A definite split in the Liberal Party is indicated by the resignations of Sir John Simon, Sir Robert Hutchison,: ex-Liberal Chief-Whip, and Mr. Ernest Brown, 3MLP. for Leith. Sir John Simon's letter of resignation declares that tlio Liberals reached the lowest depths of humiliation in tha Houso of Commons on 24th, June ia stifling their conscience and swallowing double taxutiou for fear of the consequences. \ Mr. Ernest Brown's letter says that Mr. Snowdon has rubbed the noses o£ those co-operating with him in tlie mud. Persistence in this policy would destroy a once great party. Sir Bobcrt Hutchison, in announcing his resignation, states that he declines to act any longer with a party showing. such servility to -.•.,.., Mr. Lloyd George refuses to comment on the resignations. • ■ . The resignations are expected of other Liberal members, who are breaking away from Mr. Lloyd George owing to their dislike for the Labour alliance. They are. forming an independent Liboral group.

The gossips have been talking of Sir John Simon's resignation'from'1 the Liberal Party over since the end of last year, when lie 'loft tho Liberal Party's caucus just before it decided unanimously to follow the line of v political action mapped out by" Mr. Lloyd George in preference to Sir John's counsel. ' ■ ' .

Proportional representation was the thing which the famous advocate and Chairman of the Commission on India heH to be desirable if electoral changes were to be made. He failed to get his party to think as he does,, and at Cleckheaton a few days later he left no doubt as to where he, stood, • "I stand by my opposition to the. proposal to repeal the Trades Disputes Act ; or to alter the political levy, and I believe that it would be of real advantage if Liberals who so largely agree with, me would- say so plainly," he declared. Mystified by the sudden change of sentiment in relation to the alternative vote (in October last the National Liberal Federation declared for proportional representation, and expressly excluded from its resolution any suggestion that the alternative vote would be a tolerable second basis) Sir John has remained opposed to it. To bis mind the objection to the alternative vote is not a party objection, but a national and- constitutional objection.. It is, ho has said, a system which "gives the widest possible opportunity; for the art of the political wanglor." COUNTRY'S NEED. "To my way of thinking," said Sir John in the Cleekhentoji speech, "iho. chief need of the country .at tUo moment is 1 statesmanship which will proclaim and apply the primary need of economy and sound finance. ,It is not a popular cry when you come to its practical application j for it moans refusing to vote for further high expenditure of rates and taxes waea many proposals involving suah expenditure aro in themselves admirable and desirable.

"But I hold v that, unless a."more resolute effort is made in this* direction.' the country is threatened with disaster, and all who think with, me are- bound to put this consideration in the; yery front, not only of their declarations, but of their actions. ■

"My constituents, therefore, trill not be surprised if I claim to exercise in the future, as I nave in the past, an. independent judgment in public affairs, and to follow it up, if need be, by independent action." ■ > ■ What is the future of the famous Liberal? His old party regards Labout in office as a lesser evil than a Protectionist Government, but there is no doubt that Sir John Simon considers that the Labour Government is incompetent and has sacrificed right to sup> port. For some time he has thus been. a small, isolated figure in the Liberal Party. Yet he will remain a Liberal* within or without the party. "Liberalism is'in Ms marrow,", said the "Manchester Guardian" of him. "With his moral and intellectual makeup he could be nothing else." ~.', Major-General Sir Bobert Hutchison, one-time Director of Organisation at the War Office, was formerly Chief Liberal Whip. . Mr. Ernest Brown is chairman of th» Campaign Committee of the Land and. Nation League. • .