“ ALL FOR REUNION.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16986, 9 March 1923, Page 7

“ ALL FOR REUNION.”

ASQUITH ON LIBERAL UNITY. URGES APPEAL TO HISTORY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 9, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 8. Alt' Asquith, speaking at Cambridge, dealt with the subject of a Liberal reunion, and particularly with Air Lloyd George's speech at Edinburgh, suggesting a conference to accelerate reunion. I am all for reunion,” Air Asquith said. “ J believe it is inevitable it we go the right way to secure it, but we ought not to be content with sentimental phrases. I hold high office for eleven years, and does anyone suppose J. have not satisfied my ambitions. X only remain in public life in order to help to reinstate the Liberal Party in rightful position as the responsible custodian of our national fortunes, but there is no place for me. and my friends in :i Centre Party. I ask if that idea has been definitely abaucloned. “ 1 hope Liberal unity is coming quickly. There is no barring of the door, which is always open. “ It has been suggested .that one result of reunion would he a new programme. AVhat is that to be? Will it be the slogan of a combined campaign against Labour by a United Liberal Party? That does not appear a sound or attractive watchword. The Liberals have no quarrel with Labour, as such. They ■’share many aims with the more responsible factions of the Labour ! Party. The Liberals need a tenacious i adherence to their old principles, and j organised propaganda, not by claptrap j rhetoric, but by an appeal to history, animated by a .sympathetic: understanding of the needs of a family or nations.”