EARLY ELECTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 3 October 1924, Page 5

EARLY ELECTION

DEFEAT OF BRITISH CABINET EXPECTED over Russia* Treaties ME ASQUIi’H'S MOTION A BOMBSHELL (By Electric Wcgraph.—Copyright., (Australian and cable Association.; LONDON; Octbbci- 2. Two crises* each involving the fate of the Government, have come on the scene together-. Ohe is Mr Asquith’s Russian motion, which in view of Mr MacDoiVfild’s Derby speech may well have the most serious consequences. The other motion, by. Sir R. Horne; is that the conduct of the Government in relation to the withdrawal of criminal proceeding against the editor of the Workers’ Weekly iS deservihg the censure of,the House. This will be debated oh Wednesday: ;.Tbe Daily Herald stales: ‘The Government will treat the Tory motion as censure. If carried it will ask the King for a dissolution and .make a light for social measures; housing, unemployment, European settl.ear.ent, and all Labour stands for." • *

In Liberal circles there is full appreciation that Mr Asquith’s Russian motion means a rupture of the relations the Liberals have hitherto had with Labour. in effect it is an ultimatum. The party managers consequently anticipate the early resignation of the Government and a general election. the Daily Herald claims that there are 28 Liberal Commoners who are pledged to support, the Russian Treaty. The. Daily Express. say? .Mr Asquith's motion to reject the Russian Treaty was a bombshell for Parliament. There is little doubt Mr MacDonald, who has already dissociated himself from Mr Hastings, will ,bo compelled to jettison his Attorney-General. The Daily Herald, in a leader commenting cm the Liberal meeting, says it is a warning of the coming battle and leaves no doubt that Mr Asquith has made up his wavering mind that an election is imminent and marched his battalions into the Tory camp. Mr Liovd George, Sir John Simon, and other leaders attended a Liberal meeting at which Mr Asquith’s attitude was enthusiastically approved. Mr Asquith’s motion refers to dominion trade and complains that tlie Russian Treaty threatens to divert resources which are urgently needed for national! and imperial, development. Mr Asquith’s speech incidentally referred to a passage in the imperial preference debate on June 18, in which Mr MacDonald denied that the Government was offering, credits to Russia, adding “only credulous people believe we are. I am sensitive about this, that the dominions should not misunderstand tlie charge. It is that we are giving special privileges to Russia and refusing to give ordinary privileges to the colonies and dominions.” ■ , .

LIBERAL MOTION

LONDON, October 1. An interesting turn was. given to (he Anglo-Soviet Treaty controversy by the decision of the Liberal Party to submit a motibn declaring that while anxious to support practicable schemes promoting Anglo-Russian trade on tlie same, terms as dominion and foreign trade, it cannot approve a treaty which does not assist the unemployment problem, but diverts resources, and also places on the shoulders of tlie taxpayer the burden of liability for a Soviet loan.

MR MACDONALD’S CHOICE

(Published in The Times.)

LONDON, Oct. 2,

The Tillies political editor says the liberal Party’s Russian treaty decision' lias entirely transformed the political situation. It is now certain the. Treaty will lie rejected i; it still contains the scheme for a guaranteed loan. Air MacDonald .must accordingly decide whether to scrap the present Treaty and set to work on an entirely new basis or whether to accept the Liberal challenge. Labourites were inclined to believe the Liberals had not really meant to oppose the Treaty, but Mr Asquith’s motion leaves no room to doubt that Mr AlacDonald will'have to make a decision with the knowledge that on this issue at any rate the party which put him in office is now perfectly ready to depose him. The Evening Standard says it is generally accepted by all parties that a. general election is imminent; The Liberals have, not definitely decided whether to support the Conservatives’ censure, motion arising out of the Communist prosecution, but th© prevailing opinion, is that, they are committed thereto. In such event the Government will be defeated next week. The Evening Standard says Air Baldwin believed the ministry was satisfied that an election was inevitable in November at the latest. He believed Air AlacDonald favours an immediate appeal to tlie electors, preferring a decision next week instead of waiting for the Liberal motion.

Air MacDonald’s speech rt the Labour Party Conference on 7th is expected to be an election address. ; Air Baldwin; who is departing northwards to-day, said he was convinced the Conservatives would support the Liberals on the anti-Russian Treatymotion.