BRITISH GOVERNMENT

Evening Star, Issue 18257, 23 April 1923, Page 7

BRITISH GOVERNMENT

- HAN Y MORS. CAN PREMIER CARRY ON? Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, April 21. The ‘ Sunday Express,,’ under the heading ‘ Secrets of the Plot Against the Prime Minister,’ purports to reveal a plot behind the “crisis.’’ When Mr Bonar Law’s retirement—since denied—was definitely announced certain newspapers alleged that the plotters’ aim was a direct attack on the stability of the Government. Because the Prime Minister was enfeebled the Press was inspired l accordingly, but tho plot failed. The original plan was to _ make Mr Austen Chamberlain Prime Minister when Mr Bonar Law was ousted, but Mr Chamberlain received the affair coldly. Then tho plotters decided that Lord Balfour should lead tho Government, and Lord Birkenhead, Mr Churchill, and Mr Lloyd Georgs would have posts, while the principal Conservatives would be' willing to continue serving. It is stated that difficulty arose because Mr Lloyd George was uncertain whether he 'could servo unless he had his followers with him, notably Sir A. Mond.

'Plio ‘Sunday Express’ specifically states that Mr Lloyd George, Mr Churchill, and Lord Birkenhead had luncheon privately at the Savoy last Thursday. Lord Birkenhead., in a long article in the ‘Sunday Times’ states that tho Conservative Party is being driven swiftly, surely, and tragically to a debacle greater than in 1906. He was aware of the allegation that his colleagues and himself had been taking subterranean stops with the object of forcing themselves on the Government. Ho denied that any of them had tho slightest desire to join the Government. He himself, when his judicial work was ended, was going for some months to the United States. He charges the Government with inefficiency and feebleness. Mr J. L. Garvin, writing in the ‘ Observer,’ says that unless the Government can bo reconstructed on a broader basis Mr Bonar Law’s position will bo untenable within a measurable period. If Mr Chamberlain had been willing to desert Lord Birkenhead and to rejoin the Government separately a change of Premiership would have occurred after a definite interval.

Lord l Curzon on Saturday declared that the Prime Minister was in good health and had no intention of resigning.—A. and N.Z. Cable.