BRITISH POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18463, 26 January 1922, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

THE LIBERAL CAMPAIGN. SPEECH BY VISCOUNT GREY LORD ROBERT CECIL'S POLICY ENDORSED. Proas Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON. January 23. Viscount Grey, who with, Mr Asquith was the chief speaker at a demonstration in the Central Hall, Westminster, said that he was returning to public life because since the last election the House of Commons had allowed any apparent •scandal to 'remain unexposed; it had allowed policies, however extravagant, to continue unchecked; and it had allowed inconsistencies, however flagrant, to occur without calling the Government to account. He was also returning because Britain had had a'Government \vhich had taken full advantage of the license allowed by the House of Commons. “It is essential,” continued Viscount Grey, “to restore wholesome, straightforward politics. Our first need is that the Coalition should be brought to an end. Mr Lloyd George seems to think that ho has invented the method of transacting foreign affairs by conferences.* That method was nractised before the war, and it would have been practised on the eve of war if our advice had been, taken.” *■ Viscount Grey said that the Entente had been made and maintained- by those methods, together with a trust and confidence under which neither Government sprang a surprise on the other, and in which were perfect good faith and close personal touch between them. -The Supreme Council had destroyed that. The Supreme Council had been fatal to the French Prime Minister, and his successor apparently did not desire to have much to do with it. The re-establishment of good relations with France was the most vital thing in European politics., . “ Despite -.disagreements in the past,” continued Viscount Grey, “ I am in agreement with Lord Robert Cecil on the Labour, social, and political questions of to-day.—(Cheers.) I see every reason why we should co.-operate, co-operation being very different from coalition."—A. and N.Z. Cable.