FREE HAND IN BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 82, 3 October 1931, Page 13

FREE HAND IN BRITAIN

MACDONALD'S WISH

UNFETTERED MANDATE

LIBERALS COMING ROUND

(British Official Wireloss.) (Received 3rd October, 11 a.m.)

RUGBY, 2nd October.

A further session of Cabinet was held in'the House of Commons this afternoon. It lasted over two hours, and rose about 5 o'clock without any date being fixed for the next meeting.

As the result of developments during the past few days the Prime Minister is understood to have made good progress in extending the measure of support that will be accorded him as head of the National Government in appealing to the country for an unfettered mandate to undertake the task of national reconstruction. The attitude of the Liberals has been in some doubt over the question of plans which may be considered necessary in carrying out this task, and also owing to the strongly-held belief of the Liberal Party that au immediate General Election is inadvisable. It is, however, now accepted by tho Liberals that an election is inevitable, and reports state that the differences between the Liberal memberß of Cabinet and their colleagues in the Ministry havo been narrowed down to the terms of the manifesto in which the Government's appeal will be launched. SEEKING A FORMULA. A formula is being sought which would have the support of the Liberal Free Trade Ministers, but which in regard to imports would not rulo out prohibition or tariffs as emergency measures.; The Liberal Parliamentary Party mot this morning, Sir Herbert Samuel presiding. The meeting decided that the matters in tho issue should be left to Sir Herbert Samuel, Lord Beading, and other Liberal members of the Cabinet. Later, during a short adjournment of the1 Cabinet meeting, the Liberal Ministers withdrew to consult with theiv junior Liberal colleagues in tho Government.

! THE KINO'S PART. The King, who has been kept closely informed of political developments since his return to London, received Sir Herbert Samuel at Buckingham Palace this morning. ' ■.■/..