BRITISH POLITICS

Evening Star, Issue 17311, 26 March 1920, Page 6

BRITISH POLITICS

..*—^— a dissolution possible. ' the o>'ly way out. Press Assooisftion—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, March 22. The ' Westminster Gazette' says that it would not surprise anyone in inner political circles if the Prime Minis-tar' were to rush th? Budget- through, and announce a dissolution of Parliament. Hi? intimates ■affirm that M.r Lloyd George really believes in the existence of a Red peril in Britain; hence- the party's new electioneering slogan "Coalition or Bolshevism." The question of an immediate, appeal te tho country depends on the results of several pending by-elections. MR ASQUITITS POLICY. 'HOSTILE TO FUSION. Imperial News Service LONDON, March 24. _Mr Asquith, in a speech at the National Liberal Club, said that the Prime Minister's challenge ought to bo trken up im- • mediately. Th-e fusion was being watered down into closer co-operation. The real point was whether they were going to re spond to tho Prime Ministers invitations since Labor was hostile and since Independent Liberalism intended to remain independent.. Were they going to link up with Tory organisations, which were the j only organisations satisfying Mr Lloyd | George's ambitions and which were likely ] te supply his need? Why should they? ! Why should Liberals abdicate their j primary functions as a great historic [ party? He expressed the opinion that no- i thing more would be seen of the Anti- '. dumping Bi;l, and he declared that the j Government's Irish Bill did not seek to amend, but'to repeal, tlie Homo Rule Act and to substitute therefor a fantastic ! scheme which \vys a travesty on self-go-! vernment. The Liberals were asked to j agree t-o a fusion, owing to a new peril j v--!girU- called Bolshevism. He denied ! th.-t there was any antithesis between tho | L : .l>?rals end Lalior. I/ibor owed everv- ] thing to Liberalism, and there were manv ', reads they could travel side by side. The ' Priin-3 Minister's appeal was 'on the liiie& of class cleavage, anff was most mischiev ! ous. Free Liber.;ls were not going to be- '■ tied to Tory chariot wheels. They were i going to retain, and preach, and practise i thsir principles. !