BRITISH ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22719, 4 November 1935, Page 9

BRITISH ELECTIONS

SPEECH BY MR BALDWIN DECLARATION ON ARMAMENTS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, November 1. The Socialists’ avidity in seizing the Nationalists’ armaments programme as the best campaign card, it is believed, largely explains Mr Baldwin’s outspoken declaration at a meeting of the Peace Society. “ I give you my word,” he said, “ that there will not be any groat armaments programme. We are bound over to make peace. It may not be an easy task, but we accept it.” Canvassers in all the industrial areas had reported the widespread circulation of a canard that the return of the Nationalists would mean a speedy plunge into war. Lord Snowden seems destined to be the Liberal whipper-up. There is a strong move to get him and Mr Lloyd George on to the platform at Manchester in an endeavour to reverse the 1931 Nationalist landslide there. There will likely be 12 dominion candidates, including a New Zealander (Mr Douglas Cook), who will have a straight tight at Hammersmith. THE COUNCIL OF ACTION LONDON, November 2. (Received Nov. 3, at 5.5 p.m.) Mr Lloyd George, in a broadcast speech, declared that sanctions, as at present applied, were a mockery of the Covenant. “ Signor Mussolini and M. Laval, who are resolute and astute, have completely fooled the British Ministers. British prestige was hopelessly impaired by the feeble attempts to lead the nations in connection with Manchuria and Abyssinia, after which, faced with difficulties, we joined the general retreat, whereas formerly it was recognised that when Britain topk on a job she would see it through.” Ho added that the Council of Action was anxious to end this shillyshallying and ensure the return of members to the House of Commons who would insist on strong measures for ending chronic unemployment, establishing peace throughout, the world, and ending the will for an armaments raceMr Lloyd George reiterated his proposals for the New Deal, declaring that he did not want four years of do nothing, followed by four years of do little. The Council of Action announces that it has received 700 replies to the questionnaire of October 24, of which 300 are satisfactory. It has also undertaken to form an interparty group to ensure the council’s policy being carried out. The News-Chronicle considers that the response is excellent and will surprise those who imagine that disapproval of party caucuses would result in ignoring tluMiiovement. A previous message said it was understood that Mr Lloyd George did not intend to run his own candidates at the election, but actively to support those who answer in the affirmative the questionnaire of the Council of Action. This asks: 1. Do you wholeheartedly support the policy of the Council of Action, set out in its official statement, “ Peace and Reconstruction,” and do you pledge, if returned, to insist upon the policy being implemented by whatever Government takes office?

2. Will you, to whatever party you belong, join an iuterparty group of members similarly pledged to co-operate.-, in bringing pressure to bear on the Govern-' ment to implement that policy? 3. Do you pledge on all occasions to support a vote for this policy, even should the Government fail or refuse to carry it out? STATEMENT BY MR LANSBURY LONDON, November 2. (Received Nov. 3, at 5.5 p.m.) Mr G. Lansbury, speaking at Staveley, denied the Conservative allegations that Labour favoured a Parliamentary dictatorship, and he added that the National Government had done most to break the House of Commons’s traditional rights. He urged Labour to support the plan for an international meeting at Geneva or Jerusalem to renounce war. MAIN ISSUE AT ELECTION LONDON, November 2. (Received Nov. 3, at 5.5 p.m.) The supreme issue at the election is maintenance of peace abroad and safety at Home, which definition was given by Mr Winston Churchill when ho was speaking at Camberwell, and it has been the keynote of many Government speeches. “ Nothing shall silence me,” declared Mr Churchill in referring to the German protest against his magazine article on Herr Hitler. “ I have repeatedly stated and shall continue to do so that, while Germany is spending £800,000,000 a year on warlike preparations, how mad we should be to leave our defences in their present condition.” Hecklers continually interrupted Mr Churchill, who referred to them as a handful of larrikin girls and boys. "It is lucky there is a British Navy, or they would taste Herr Hitler’s rubber truncheon or Signor Mussolini’s castor oil.” The Conservative office announces that there will be 347 straight lights between Government candidates and Labourites, and 139 three-cornered contests thus far, and 22 Government supporters will be unopposed. MR CHAMBERLAIN’S ADDRESS LONDON, November 2. (Received Nov. 3, at 10 p.m.) Mr Neville Chamberlain, in a broadcast address, announced that the Government was embarking on a five-year plan of road building at a cost of £100,000,000. This was possible because of the improvement in the national finances. He also revealed that the October unemployment figures, which will be published on November 5, will show a reduction of 40,000 compared with September. It is believed that the improvement will continue if the Government is allowed to carry on with its present policy. Replying to Mr Lloyd George, he denied that sanctions would be ineffective. Moreover, Italy’s measures indicated that she thought they would be effective. Sir Samuel Hoare and Captain Eden had already answered Mr .Lloyd George’s charges that Britain was responsible for the trouble between Italy and Abyssinia. Mr Lloyd George’s plan to deal with the quarrel disclosed that the Council of Action’s proposals involved British warships stopping Italian transports, which, Signor Mussolini said, would mean war. Thus Mr Lloyd George’s peace policy would begin with war. He added that Mr Lloyd George’s agricultural proposals were not acceptable because they would greatly increase the price of food, bring about more unemployment, fatally injure foreign trade, and hit the dominions so severely that they would ruthlessly reduce purchases from Britain.