CONSERVATIVE SPLIT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1013, 2 July 1930, Page 9

CONSERVATIVE SPLIT

THREE PARTIES LOOM FROM DISSENSION BALDWIN’S ATTACKERS United P.A. —By Telegraph Copyright LONDON, June 25. Referring to the bitter political controversy which has arisen in the Conservative Party in England, mainly between the present Leader, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, on the one hand, and Lord Rothermere and Lord Beaver brook on the other, Viscount Elibank, in a letter to Mr. Baldwin, says that he ; obviously was the emissary mentioned in Mr. Baldwin’s Caxton Hall speech as having come from Lord Beaverbrook upon the question of Cabinet positions. He denies that he came from Lord Beaverbrook, but as a mem- j ber of the Unionist Party. He told Mr. Baldwin that he considered the key posts—Chancellor of j the Exchequer, Secretary for the Dominions, and President of tire I Board of Trade —should be filled. I after consultation with Lord Beaver ! brook, by whole-hearted supporters ! of Empire development, as it was impossible for Mr. Baldwin to fulfil any I agreement with Lord Beaverbrook with lukewarm Ministers in those offices. Mr. Baldwin replied that he could not abrogate a Prime Minister’s privilege of appointing his own Cabinet. Viscount Elibank concludes: “I subsequently informed Lord Beaverbrook of what had happened. He disagreed with my having raised the point of the key posts.” THREE PARTIES The “Daily Express,” in a leading article, quotes Lord B eaverbrook’s re quest that his followers should make no defence of him “because there is something at stake more important than anybody's opinion of my actions and conduct.” While Lord Beaverbrook has made no public statement, Viscount Elibank denies that he was Lord Beaverbrook’s emissary to Mr. Baldwin, and also says that Lord Beaverbrook disagreed with his raising the point of the key positions. Meanwhile, there seems likely to be at least three Conservative parties. Lord Rothermere is appealing to Conservatives to divert their subscrip tions from the official party to his United Empire Party, which proposes to run candidates against the official Conservatives in London and home counties. MR. BALDWIN ACCLAIMED Lord Beaverbrook’s Empire Crusade Party is still most active, though subscriptions are not yet flowing in in overwhelming volume. Judging from the remarkable reception, far more enthusiastic than that given the Premier (Mr. Mac Don aid) and Mr. Lloyd George, the Liberal Leader, which Mr. Baldwin re reived at the Press Conference, his fighting speech commended itself to outside observers.

NEW PARTY’S AIMS READY WITH CANDIDATES Writing a few months ago upon the aspirations and the prospects of the new United Empire Party, headed bv Lord Rothermere and Lord Beaverbrook, a political correspondent in > ■the “Daily Mail" observed that the < effect of ilie new United Empire party j on the three established parties was; being keenly discussed in political I circles. Liberals regard it from a detached ’ position. They do not believe it will j eat into their own strength; they anticipate. indeed, that if the plans an i nouneed by Lord Beaverbrook and Lord Rothermere are carried out they j will react favourably on Liberal pros- i pects. Labourists profess to be indifferent, j though they welcome the prospect o.f I wider and deeper dissensions in the 1 Conservative party. TORIES ALARMED There is no question that Conservatives are seriously alarmed. According to Lord Rothermere, the United Empire party will contest by ■ elections and will have candidates in half the constituencies—that is. in ■ about 300—at the next General Elec ; tion. The intention is to concentrate on London and the southern counties. A fighting fund of £ 100,000 is to be ! raised, local associations formed and election agents appointed. At once arises a question of some delicacy. All whose names are on the j roll of Empire Free Trade “Crusaders” are declared to be founder members of ; the new party. * They are nearly all Conservatives; I some of them are Conservative M.P.'s. i There has never been any objection to party men joining sectional groups, but they cannot well be in two partiesIN TWO CAMPS The desire of headquarters will be to tell Conservatives that they must make their choice; that they cannot at the same time follow Mr. Baldwin and Lord Beaverbrook. The United Empire party, on the other hand, will be delighted to have Conservatives, and they will be all the more useful to the new organise tion if they can be in both camps' It is too early to say whether Mr Baldwin will be able to enforce dip j cipline or even whether he will attempt it. J The calculation of the Empire Free | Traders is that, faced with opposi- ! tion at by-elections and in half the ; constituencies at the General Elec- ■ tion, the Conservative leaders will i capitulate and accept the new party's | policy. FOOD TAXES That would probably involve the I retirement of Mr. Baldwin, who has | so recently repudiated food taxes that he could not with any self-respect recant under pressure from quarters sc hostile to himself. The probability at present is thai the Conservative leaders will make a fight of it, believing that they can keep control of the party organisation both at headquarters and in the constitu-