BRITISH GOVERNMENT

Evening Star, Issue 18543, 28 January 1924, Page 5

BRITISH GOVERNMENT

POLICY TOWARDS FRANCE. FIRMNESS AND FRANKNESS. . press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 25. The diplomatic correspondent oi the ' Daily News ’ states that Mr MacDonald will adopt a policy of firmness and frankness towards France, removing the pinpricks following on the abortive conference.—Sydney Y Sun ’ Cable. CONFIDENCE ON STOCK EXCHANGE. LONDON,- January 25. The Stock Exchange is strong under the lead of gilt-edged securities and a growing confidence in the political ouL look, together with the speeches by the chairmen of meetings and the leading banks. The buying is emanating from London and the provinces. Consuls are quoted at £56 ss, and war loan stocks at £IOO. January 25. Consols ore quoted at £56 10s. The ‘ Daily Express’s ’ financial correspondent says that Mr MacDonald's silk hat will live in history as one of the most potent pieces of head gear ever created, since it sent up the prices; of stocks and shares. The riso began with gilt-edged securities as soon as it was known that Mr MacDonald had donned a silk hat to go to Buckingham Palace. The riso continued all the week. The " bears," counting upon a fall when the new Government took charge, sold stocks which they did not possess, expecting to buy at lower prices later on, hut they are now forced to buy on a rising market. —A. and N.Z. Cable. NOTES AND COMMENTS. LONDON, January 26. Mr MacDonald had conferences with the various Ambassadors'at the Foreign Office, seeing each separately for fifteen minutes. It is understood that he will generally prefer direct talks to the exchange of Notes. Mr MacDonald worked at the Foreign Office till a late hour on Saturday, mid arranged for his attendance again for Sunday. The Government has decided to remove the barriers which were erected across Downing street at the time of the Sinn Fein disturbances. Mr Garvin, writing in the ‘ Sunday Observer,’ says that Mr MacDonald’s Ministry causes less alarm than did in their day the more radical appointments of 1880 and 1906. At nearly all points it is as safe as Thrcadneedle street. If it is as vigorous in action as it is reassuring in composition, it may change in six months the whole spirit and organisation of British politics. The ‘ Sunday Times ’ editorially urges the Conservatives that they must drop Protection, and that Mr Baldwin must retire from the leadership of the party. The Duke of York, speaking at Birmingham, said the times might seem difficult and uncertain, hut he was confident that the absolute fairness and open-mind-edness of the people could* create the atmosphere of mutual concession for which they had been famou.s.—A. and N.Z. Cable. The ‘ Daily Express ’ states that the Government is planning to hold a conference with the dominion Labor Parties. It is also sending a mission to Moscow* immediately, headed by Mr O’Grady, to arrange for full diplomatic relations with Russia.—Reuter. DANGEROUS TRIUMVIRATE. A CHURCH PRESS VIEW. LONDON, January 27(Receivcd January 28, at 9.55 a.m.) The ‘ Church Times,' in discussing the political situation, says; “In the present circumstances, if a coalition had been formed, it would have been dominated by Mr Lloyd George, who is a facile politician with.no fixed principles. Mr Churchill is a wayward genius whoso immense self-confidence unfits him for uncontrolled authority. Lord Birkenhead, in his rectorial address at Glasgow University, sneered at the ideals which are the very soul of the Christian religion. Without desiring to minimise the situation, we suggest that thanks should be offered to God for saving the country from Mr Lloyd George, Mr Churchill, and Lord Birkenhead.” —A. and N.Z. Cable. UNIONIST SOLIDARITY. LONDON, Jannay 27. (Received January 28, at 9,40 a.m.) The ‘ Daily Telegraph’s ’ lobbyist says: “ The Unionist Party, including members of the House of Commons, defeated candidates, and peers will meet on February 11. Mr Baldwin intends to make a frank statement of his reasons for seeking a dissolution, and the causes of his party’s defeat. He will leave the question of future leadership in the party’s hands. It is expected that the meeting will resutl in united and consolidated opposition to meet the Government when the House of Commons reassembles. There is every reason to believe that the leaders will recommend that tariff reform shall not find a place in the party’s immediate programme. It is believed that the ardent Protectionists agree with this view.—A. and N.Z. Cable.