Three Parties

Evening Star, Issue 18504, 11 December 1923, Page 7

Three Parties

BRITISH POLITIGAL | DEADLOCK ! i M BALDWIN’S POSITION. I INTERVIEW WITH THE KIITG. Press Astociation —By Telegraph —Copyright LONDON, December 10. (Received December Id, at 9.25 a.m.) Mr Baldwin had a forty minutes’ interview with tho King, the visit to Buckingham Palace being made in response to.! His Majesty’s summons. | Mr Baldwin has not resigned up to the i present, and there is no question of his ' resigning. jtih Mr ChurchilWpiid a lengthy visit to the Colonial, Office. —A. and N.Z. Cable. VARIOUS VIEWS. LONDON, December S. Mr Clifford Sharp, editor of the ' Now Statesman,' in an article in tho ‘ Daily News,’ declares that the solution of the deadlock which would be most welcome to tho Laborites would be a Tory-Liberal coalition. Even if it lasted for only a few months there would be a huge defection of Liberals to Labor; but there is not the slightest prospect of tho Liberal Party committing suicide in this fashion, and therefore the Labor leaders must consider tho other alternatives. There is a possibility of the Conservatives remaining • in office for a few months under a new Prime Minister, and arranging another election about Juno, when the Tories, fighting without the Protection incubus ami able to spend more money than their rivals, would win some seats from the Liberals and some from Labor. The second alternative is of Labor accepting office willi or without a more or less definite Liberal promise of support. This is what Labor’s astute enemies are advocating. It is unlikely that Brr MacDonald will fall into this 'trap, but it would be difficult io refuse office if, as Leader of the Opposition, he declined to keep a Tory Government in power and the Liberals spontaneously offered support. If ho accepted office on these terms he would not have am- real legislative power, and would bo sent to the country discredited within a year. Ths third ultornEvtivs is a Liberal* Labor coalition, with Labor as the predominant partner. This solution would almost certainly be favored by the majority of the Liberal rank and file, and would seem to be the best solution from the viewpoint of Labor and the public interest. If Labor is always going to refuse office until it has a clear working majority, and is able to carry out its own programme, it is likely to have to wait till Doomsday. ' The ‘ Daily News ’ says: A definite alliance of tho Conservatives and Liberals is impossible. No Liberal would tolerate it, and half the Conservatives would revolt. A Liberal-Labor coalition Government would be acceptable to neither party, but a working arrangement by which one should take office and rely on the support of the other is within the bounds of possibility. Labor would be almost certain to refuse office without power, but probably tho Liberals could govern on a programme which would attract Labor support in the division lobby. Some of the Laborites are resolutely hostile to any working arrangement with the Liberals, and if the party as a whole adoots this view- another election is unavoidable. In that event Labor may obtain and seize the opportunity of going to the country as the Government.’ Sydney 1 Sun * Cable. A COSTLY BUSINESS. LONDON, December 9. An expert .'political organiser estimates that the election cost £1,500,000, including £1,000,000 from tho party funds.—A. and N.Z. Cable. CONSERVATIVE ADVICE. MR BALDWIN SHOULD MEET PARLIAMENT. LABOR KEEN FOR POWER. A GLASGOW REPUBLICAN SPEECH. LONDON, December 10. (Received December 11, at 10.30 a.m.) Sunday gave opportunities _ for _ thepolitical leaders to consult their friends and quietly turn over the complexities of unprecedented situation. Thus Sir John 1 Simon conferred with Mr Lloyd George j at the latter’s home, while Mr Baldwin,: had prolonged interviews with tie Con- ; servative leaders at Chequers, especially j with Mr Neville Chamberlain. _ | The general opinion in Conservative ! quarters seems to be that Mr Baldwin will now continue to hold office until Parliament meets on January 8, Then, if the Government is defeated on the Address-in-Eeply. the King will call on Mr Ramsay MacDonald; though it had been Mr Baldwin's first desire to resign, considering this to be bis duly, as he had declared he would stand or fall by the , result of the election. _ _ I The Liberals agree thatj if the Opposition is asked to form a Ministry, the first [ ufter will go to Mr MacDonald; but, if i he is unwilling, Mr Asquith will form a j Government or give facilities to enable i another Government to carry on' financial j and administrative business if Mr Baldwin j is unwilling to continue in office. In such circumstances Lord Derby, Sir Robert Horne, and Mr Austen Chamberlain are mentioned as possible leaders. In thanking his supporters in West Birmingham yesterday Mr Austen Chamberlain gent this message : “ If we cannot carry out our policy, it is in harmony with the "traditions of this great constitutional party that we should offer no vexatious opposition to any moderate Government which can be formed, and which offers any prospect of stability and security to the country in troublesome times.” Some Liberals suggest that if they keep the Conservatives in office for a certain period hpon conditions, these should include the alternative vote at the next election in order to avoid the anomaly of a minority vote securing a candidate’s election. The ' Daily Express ’ favors the prompt resignation of Mr Baldwin in favor of Mr "MacDonald, who, so the ‘ Express 1 believes, ts willing to form a Government. This paper says : “ It will bo disastrous for the Conservatives to hold office until censured by the Commons. Under wise and prudent leadership like tho late Mr Bonar Law’s, Conservatism will quickly recover. ” The ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ pleads that there shall bo no more gambling, saying that the nation cannot afford that its Government should make any more miscalculations. This paper asks: Why should Mr Baldwin resign? It urges that Conservatives and Liberals should act together. The ‘Telegraph’s’ Labor correspondent says that some urge that Labor should postpone its advocacy of a capital levy and coalesce with the Liberals in social reform, which would employ their Joint energies for several years. These people, he says, quite misunderstand tho policy of the Labor Party. A capital levy 13 only a short step along the road to the establishment of a Socialistic Commonwealth, putting collective ownership by tho State ! n place of Capitalism ana of the system of private enterprise until ell the means of production, distribution, and exchange are socialised. The ‘Daily Herald’ proposes that a Labor Government should be formed. This, though doubtless rash, would moke a strong appeal to a sporting nation, says the ‘Herald,’ as Labor is the only party which has an unemployment policy, and can challenge the other parties to reject "its proposals. No bargaining with any other party can bo thought of, and

no working arrangement can bo con-1 sidored. But if Labor were to take arid hold a vigorous line, the other parties might be frightened into letting it through. Mr J. Wheatley, Labor member for the Shettleston Division of Glasgow, speaking at a Labor demonstration in Glasgow, claimed that Glasgow was as proud of its Red Flag as ever. Labor bad got Liberalism in Scotland on the run. He added ; “ We are told that the lung’s Government must! be carried on. but we fail to see the necea- j sity, as the movement which sent us into j public life is not interested in the_ King's j Government, but sent us to establish and ; carry on government by the people.”— A. and N.Z. Cable. LONDON, December 10. (Received December 11, at 10.20 a.m ) ‘ The Times ’ in a leader urges the Conservatives to dissuade Mr Baldwin from j following his inclination to resign forth j with the leadership of the party. ‘‘Thej Conservatives would consider it a more t honorable course to face Parliament. There i is an easy parade of precedents for resign 1 ing, but in tho present circumstances ii seems beyond question that not only the most constitutional, but the most straightforward course for the Government is to carry on Die duties with which ip is chanted. If it should choose otherwise, it may have the satisfaction of embarrassing to a further degree its discordant opponents ; but it would also be liable to the taunt that it is afraid to face defeat like men. This will come soon enough. There is neither reason nor honor in going out to meet it beforehand.’’—‘ The Times.' FRENCH VIEWS CHANGING. DISCREET REJOICING. LONDON, December 10. (Received December 11, at 10.20 a.m.) ‘The Times’ Paris correspondent says tho French at first were greatly shocked at the result of the British elections in view of tho probable changed policy in regard to the reparations question. It was alio considered that only a Baldwin Government would be able to maintain or strengthen tho Entente. They now see as the outcome of the elections, liowevcr, the destruction of a formidable tariff menace, and are beginning to congratulate themselves, since it is argued that, if Mr Baldwin won, ho would have had a powerful weapon which might have been directed against France. Thus, with the possibility of a fierce economic battle, thero is discreet rejoicing tjiat a conflict has been avoided. Moreover, greater stress is being laid fcn Mr Baldwin’s opposition to France’s Ruhr policy. It is alleged that ho is of opinion that payment of reparations by Germany would mean ruinous competition with Britain.—‘The Times.’ ITALIAN MORALISING. LONDON, December 10. (Received December 11, at 10.20 a.m.) The ‘ Morning Post’s ’ Rome correspondent says the Socialist Press is jubilant at Mr Baldwin’s defeat. The Fascist newspapers say that Britain, having pronounced against Protection, must now face the facts of Europe’s economic situation. Her egotistic .and niggardly refusal to agree to the systematisation of German reparations and interallied debts must be dropped.. She must accept a scheme such as Mussolini proposed a year ago.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LABOR AND THE ENTENTE. MR MACDONALD’S PLAIN TALK. PARIS, December 10. (Received December 11, at 9 a.m.) Mr Ramsay MacDonald, interviewed by the ‘Matin,’ said: “Naturally my party does not agree with France regarding the Ruhr. We have to think of our own wellbeing. We consider your policy dangerous to the interests of our working class. A Labor Government would ask France to recognise that Labor had always worked for the Anglo-French Entente.” “ But,” said Mr MacDonald, “ I do not think that France is lending a helping hand. If a Labor Government came into power in Britain, Franco would not find greater hostility from it than from previous Governments. Thero was no question of hostility or enmity to France. It was only a question of divergence of views and interests. If France wanted to maintain the Entente she. would have to take a step towards England.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE, WHAT BECOMES OF RESOLUTIONS? [Special to Press Association.] LONDON, December 10. y (Received December 11, at 10.5 a.m.) Interviewed as to whether the result of the British elections would mean the nullification of the conference resolutions regarding British Preference, Mr Massey replied that it was impossible to state at present. The subject had been entirely omitted from the election speeches of the ; party leaders, and until Ministers' and : their parliamentary supporters had considered the position it would be impos-sihle to uj-nve at any definite conclusions. Per sonally he thought on effort should be made to give effect to the recommendations of conference. He hoped sincerely that the action of the British delegates to the conference would he confirmed, and he was working in that direction, —A. and N.Z. Cable. DISILLUSIONED. | MR HOPKINSON’B CHAGRIN. I LONDON, December 10. j (Received December 11, at 11.15 a.m.) i Mr Austin Htmkinson, M.P., speaking at Ashton-under-Lyue, said that the politicians in Britain had reached a depth of degradation so far unknown, even in the ■ rotten borough days. There had been a distinct lowering of tone in the political life of each of the last four Parliaments. One could see the.roason amidst the recent campaign, in which tho amount of lying, slander, utter lack of patriotism and real love for the welfare of the people baffled description. “I have given my blood and money and sendees absolutely wholeheartedly to tho country,” ho said. “ but the degree of hatred and malice even close to my home is a horror and disgust to me as each election comes. Unless the young men and . women of Britain insist upon truth, ; honesty, and patriotism in politics, heaven i help the country.”—A. and N.Z. Gable. | WITHIN THE CABINET. PROPOSED REARRANGEMENT. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN MAY LEAD. LONDON, December 10. (Received December 11, at 10 a.m.) The ‘Daily Mail’ saysi ‘‘lmportant developments eventuated during the weekend. Mr Neville Chamberlain, Mr L. C. ’ Amery, and Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame, who were ifiost prominent in advocating an appeal to the country on tho Protectionist ; issue, conferred with Mr Baldwin, and urged him to resign and advise tho King to send for Mr Ramsay MacDonald. Tho ; rumor that Mr Baldwin had agreed to | this course caused consternation among tho I other Conservative Ministers. They decided that if Mr Baldwin adopted this j course they would dissociate themselves ! from it, and publicly explain thoir reasons. They believo that the best course at present Is the continuance of the _Conservative Government under a new Prime Minister, for which position Mr Austen Chamberlain is suggested, with Sir Robert Horne as Chancellor of tho Exchequer, Lord Derby or Lord Salisbury as Foreign Secretary, -Lord Birkenhead as Lord Chancellor, and Lord Balfour as Privy Seal. Communications passed between this group and tho Libera!! leaders as to whether

such a Ministry would receive Liberal support or benevolent neutrality. It is understood that a tentative assurance was given.—Sydney ‘ Sun ’ Cable. SEATS UNCHANGED. LONDON, December 10. (Received December 11, at 12.15 p.m.) Tho representation of the English combined universities is unchanged, those elected being Sir Martin Conway (Conservative), who polled 1,711; and Mr H. A. L. Fisher (Liberal), who polled 1.315. The Argylo seat is unchanged, Sir William Sutherland (Liberal), with 9,(k0. defeating ID Marquisten (Conservative), with 8,100. The Inverness seat is unchanged. Sir Murdoch MacDonald (Liberal)., 10,194, beating Mr Kinloch (Labor), 7,385. London immensely the Conservative sitting member, Sir Sydney Russell Wells, by a _ majority of 1,444 over the Libera! candidate, Professor A. F. Pollard White. The well-known author. Mr H. G. Wells (Labor) was at tne bottom of the poll.—Reuter. MB HOLLANDS’ VISION, LABOR GOVERNMENT IN BRITAIN. [Pee United Press Association.] WESTPORT, December 10. .Speaking at a railwaymen s meeting last evening, Mr H. E. Holland, M-P., Lender of the New Zealand Labor Party, said that tho outstanding feature of the British elections was the phenomenal advance recorded by the British Labor Party in the face of one of tho bitterest and most slanderous anti-Labor ca.mpa;gns in British history, and for which both the Conservatives and Liberals were responsible. How signally that campaign had failed was demonstrated by the fact that tho aggregate Labor vote HnG inmeased in a single year by nearly 400,000, while the representation in the House of Con - mons had increased by round about sixty members, or twenty more than the Labor Party's own estimate. Twenty-three years a cr o the party had hron able to contest only fifteen seats, and its aggregate vote was then 62,298. Ten years later it had grown to 505,690 in seventy-eight electorates. and in 1918. in the war stmosphere of Mr Lloyd George s Hang « e Kaiser” election, it rose t-o 2,244 940 m 351 electorates. Last year the 1918 suits were nearly doubled, the aggregate vote being 4,235,457 m 414 electorates. Thus in five years the British Labor vote had doubled itself. It appeared that Mr Baldwin’s defeat would immensely hasten the inevitable amalgamation of the Conservatives and the alleged Liberals, and it was only a matter of time wLn a Labor Government would rule in Britain. Not only had the British electors very emphatically condemned the economically unsound Protectionist policy Of Mr Ba dwin—a policy that most-certainly would not have protected the British workers but they had also clearly recorded their disapproval of the Singapore naval base project and called a halt to he militarists. It looked as if Mr Wilfords visit to Singapore would have been made in vain after all. ~ , Mr Holland said that here would be very "real satisfaction throughout the New Zealand Labor movement, because of the gains recorded by British Labor, Id amongst the incidents of the election “ which the New Zealand movement would feel that the British electors were to be especially congratulated were the re-election of Mr Ramsay MacDonald with such a huge majority over hi • Conservative opponent and the defeat of Ur Winston Churchill and Mr F. M. B. Fisher. It was to ho regretted that the Now Zealand Prime Minister had deemed it necessary to range himself on the side of the Conservative Party and its impossible policy while the campaign was proceeding, and he was confident that the New Zealand electors would remember that fact. He was of opinion that the British results would have a big influence on the voting in New Zealand in favor of Labor next election, and more cspec.ally if it took place at an early date.