“No Monkeying”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 689, 14 June 1929, Page 9

“No Monkeying”

LLOYD GEORGE TO LABOUR Will Support Government British Official 'Wireless Received 11.33 a.m. RUGBY, Thursday. IN a speech at the National Liberal Club today, Mr. Lloyd George, the Liberal Leader, set forth the attitude which would be adopted by his party toward the new Labour Government.

He said: “The result of the election has elevated our party to a position of responsibility for national affairs second only to that of the Government. During the lifetime of this Parliament, the final word in all controversial issues between the other parties will rest with us, so that the course of events in the-coming Parliament will largely depend on our action. “It was never more essential that our course of action should be of a kind which will be worthy of the high traditions of service rendered by our party to the nation throughout the most momentous centuries in its history. “We must not use the power given us by the electors in a fractious spirit. On the contrary, we must interpret our responsibility in a large and generous sense—that is in a truly Liberal sense. “ The Liberals today stand between this country and out-and-out Socialism. Unconsciously the knowledge that they are there has already had its influence. Does anyone imagine that the new Ministry is a kind that you would have had if the Socialists had obtained an independent majority ?” He appealed for unity of action by the Liberals. “Whatever course we pursue in the next Parliament, it is vital that we should act together. If we decide to abstain—and there are many occasions when it will be desirable not to take part in a division, as the issue may not be fairly stated to meet our views either way—it is important that we should abstain together.” GOVERNMENT’S PROGRAMME Speaking of peace and disarmament, the Liberal leader said he assumed that the Government would immediately resume diplomatic relations with Russia. “I also assume it will immediately withdraw our troops from the Rhineland, and urge the other Powers to follow its example. I assume that it will give its adhesion to the optional clause for arbitration in certain cases. I assume it will also take immediate steps to act upon the approaches made by 'the United States of America with regard to naval disarmament, that there will be a further extension of the provisions of the Washington Conference of 1921, and that an agreement will be arrived at which will have the effect of securing a substantial reduction in cruisers, and, I hope, altogether abolish submarines. “If the Government insists upon the solemn obligations of peace treaties as to disarmament, being carried out, then it can rely upon receiving the whole-hearted support of the Liberal Party. I fully realise that it has to be done with tact, dexterity and discretion, but there must be no shirking of a responsibility because it is un-

pleasant. That line has been fatal during the last few years.” The Government, if it was to do any real good to the cause of peace, must definitely go back on the undertakings given by the late Government, that reserves were not to be computed or discussed in any examination of national armament. Four-fifths of the Continental armies were on a war footing, and their exclusion from the debate made all discussion of disarmament futile. GOOD START MADE Mr. Lloyd George spoke of unemployment here. “The Government seems to have made a good start,” he said. “If it tackles its problem promptly, boldly, energetically and wisely, it will have no more hearty and steady supporters than the members of the Liberal Party.” SOCIALISM NOT WANTED “But the very hour the Ministry decides to become a Socialist Ministry, its career ends,” he declared. “The nation has intimated by a majority of 5,500,000 votes that it has no use for Socialism. We have to make it clear from the start, that, using Mr. MacDonald’s elegant phrase, we shall stand no monkeying.” The Liberals’ attitude to the Government would be influenced by the action it was prepared to take to reform the electoral system, which was at present a pure stultification of democracy. If Liberalism had secured a representation in proportion to its votes, it would have had 140 members in the House of Commons. The Liberals insisted on speedy redress of this glaring wrong. Mr. Lloyd George was unanimously elected Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, and Sir Robert Hutchinson chief . Whip. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO VISIT MR. MACDONALD (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 11 a.m. LONDON, Thursday. The Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, confirms the report that General C. G. Dawes, the United States Ambassador, is going to Scotland on Sunday. Mr. MacDonald will meet him at Forres, a little town 17 miles from Lossiemouth. Mr. MacDonald said: “We will meet over the luncheon table, and in the short space of three or four hours great questions of Anglo-American co-operation in the cause of disarmament and permanent peace will be opened.” A Washington message says inquiry disclpses that no official suggestion has been made to British Dominion Prime Ministers to accompany Mr. MacDonald to "Washington.