LIBERAL CAMPAIGN

Evening Star, Issue 18393, 29 September 1923, Page 7

LIBERAL CAMPAIGN

PAST EVENTS REVIEWED.

MR ASQUITH IN FIGHTING FORM.

Press ABSoeiation~By Telegraph— Copyright.

LONDON, September 28. (Received September 29, at 10 a.m.) Mr Asquith, in inaugurating the Liberal autumn campaign, said that the conditions abroad wore serious. The peace treaties presented a sadly battered appearance, though the League of Nations had performed great and lasting service to Europe and to mankind. One of its fundamental articles had boon openly flouted by a great signatory State. He said ho hoped that wo had heard tho last of tho Council of Ambassadors, as it could always be used to oust tho League. The Ambassadors’ Council’s decision against Greece was astonishing, and it did not enhance tho council’s reputation for justice and impartiality, Italy’s • high-handed action against Greece showed that the sanctity of tho Covenant and the authority of tho League of. Nations wore at stako. They looked to the League to assert both. If h did it would carry the support of a vast majority of the people. He condemned tho I’roaty of Lausanne, which had recreated with new life the authority of the Ottoman Power in Europe. Other treaties made had proved unworkable, with tho result that revolutions and dictatorships everywhere were the eider of the day. Mr Asquith condemned tho Government's handling of tho reparations and Ruhr occupation, and asked: “What is the Government’s policy P” The occupation of tho Ruhr by Franco had been made at the cost of the Allies, who, as the result of Germany’s collapse, were worse off than at the beginning of tho year. Ho said he woa anxious for the reconstruction of the Entente, but if it was to bo reconstructed it must not bo on tho lines proclaimed by M. Poincare, but on linos which would carry a prospect of final settlement of European troubles within the horizon of practical politics. Dealing with home politics, Mr Asquith said that the conditions were equally disquieting. The country’s domestic situation was one of as great delicacy and perplexity as any ho remembered. The taxation since 1914 had been quadrupled, overseas trade reduced by 85 per cent., and unemployment was now double what it was m tho greatest depression for a decade preceding the war. The Protectionists had come out in the open with a challenge which the Liberals accepted. The duties had been imposed for war purposes, while Mr R. M’Kenna was Chancellor of tho Exchequer, and had been retained. Imperial preference was being introduced in homeoepathlo doses.

Mr Asquith declared that tho idea of a self-supporting Empire was chimerical. He concluded by thanking God that the Liberals were'not responsible for the transactions of the past four years.