LIBERAL PARTY DIVISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19344, 3 June 1926, Page 9

LIBERAL PARTY DIVISION.

EARL OF OXFORD'S CASE. DEMANDS FULL CONFIDENCE. LLOYD GEORGE CRITICISED. NOT WANTED BY LABOUR. By Telegraph—Pres3 Association—Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.—Sun. LONDON. June 1. The Ear! of Oxford, Leader of the Liberal Party,, has written to Sir G. Collins, Liberal Whip, concerning the controversy with Mr. Lloyd George. In his letter Lord Oxford says:— "There is no question of the excommunication or ostracism of Mr. Lloyd George. He chose ,to separate himself from our deliberations in a moment of great emergency. He was not driven out; he refused to come in. "My two years' effort to recreate and revive Liberal unity has been burdensome and thankless. I will not hold the leadership of the party for a day unless I have a full measure of the confidence of the party." Earl Grey, Sir John Simon, 51.P., Viscount Cowdray, Sir Walter Runciman, M.P., the Marquess of Lincolnshire and other leading Liberals have written to Lord Oxford, saying:— "We cannot allow you to bear the whole brunt of the criticism of your letter to Mr.. George. Since Mr. George broke up the first Coalition he has played many parts. He has insisted on retaining separate headquarters and separate funds. "He has often made us suspect that he has not abandoned the idea of a now Coalition. His action in connection with the recent general strike must be regarded in the light of this* record." The Labour paper, the Daily Herald, refers to the rumoured possibility of Mr. George joining the Labour Party. It remarks:— "Labour represents something quite different from political expediency. An alliance with an unrepentant and powerhungry Mr. George, even if it brought momentarily increased votes, would be treachery to our faith. "Ho would split Labour as he has split Liberalism. The only place left for him is the political scrap-heap, where he and Lord Oxford could bicker together."