UNIONIST CRISIS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8329, 15 January 1913, Page 7

UNIONIST CRISIS

LEADERS AGREE TO POLICY IN MEMORIAL. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright LONDON, January 13. Mr Bonar Law, leader of the Opposition, and the Marquis of Lansdowne conferred to-night. It is understood they have agreed to the policy set out in tho Unionist memorial to Mr Bonar Law, with slight modification. MR AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN’S VIEW. “A CALAMITOUS CHANGE.” LONDON, January 13. Mr Austen Chamberlain, M.P., speaking at Aoock’s Green, Worcestershire, said the Unionists were passing through a crisis. Ho would bo unable to share tho responsibility for the decision reached. Ho was afraid the change would bo calamitous to tho party and a misfortune to tho Empire. (Received January 14, 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, January 14 Mr Austen Chamberlain during tho course of his Acock’s Green speech, said that he did not wish to increase tho leaders’ difficulties. Mr Bonar Law’s Ashton speech had failed to allay the restlessness created by the Albert Hall speech. Although he was not consulted about the Ashton speech and while he did not wholly agree with it, ho was prepared to subordinate his views to those of his leader. Ho was still ready to do so if the position was unchanged, but if tno position were changed the timid ones would become frightened, and the strong upHoldors of Unionist policy would .become puzzled. Uncertainty would spread with a widespread movement to postpone preference. He believed that food duties were necessary to afford justice to our own British agriculture. It was impossible, ho said, to secure community of interests between the different parts of the Empire without them. He urged his colleagues to throw their whole strength into the campaign, and not to cease their efforts until they destroyed tho misrepresentations wherewith their policy had been clouded. He still believed his policy to represent the most courageous and wisest course, but the party’s decision was against him, and he, for the first time, was unable to snare the responsibility of the party’s decision. fie could not turn back ou himself and unsay what ho had said, or protend that he liked the changed attitude.

“THE ONLY DIFFERENCE.” STATEMENT BY MR F. E. SMITH; (Received January 14, 9.35 p.m.) LONDON, January 14. The Right Hon. F. E. Smith, Unionist member for Liverpool, speaking at Grioklewood, said the only difference amongst the Unionists was as to whether, if food taxes were decided on, the proposal should be submitted to the country by referendum or a general election.

It was stated on January 9th that practically all the Unionist members or the House of Commons, apart from the front benches, were signing a memorial affirming their belief in imperial preference, and their unabated confidence in Mr Bonar Law’s leadership. The best interests of the party, the memorial said, would bo consulted if the question of food duties were removed from the list to bo submitted to the electors at the next election. The “Daily News and Leader” declared that. the memorial was a long and complex document, and that the contents were a strict secret.