NEXT POLITICAL MOVE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17220, 11 December 1923, Page 1

NEXT POLITICAL MOVE.

CONSERVATIVE PARTY AND MR BALDWIN. THE PRIME MINISTER’S ADVICE TO THE KING. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.— Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. (Received December 11, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, December 10. The “Daily Mail” says:—“lmportant developments eventuated during the week-end. Mr Neville Chamberlain, Mr 1,. C. M. S. Amery, and Sir Philip Lloyd-Graeme, who were most prominent in advocating an appeal to the country on the protectionist issue, conferred with Mr Baldwin. They urged him to resign and advise the King to send for Mr Ramsay Macdonald. A rumour that Mr Baldwin had agreed to this caused consternation among the other Conservative Ministers. They decided that if Mr Baldwin adopted this course they would dissociate themselves from it and publicly explain the reasons why. They believe that the best course at present is the continuance of the Conservative Government under a New Premier, for which position Mr Austen Chamberlain is suggested, with Sir Robert S. Horne as Chancellor of Exchequer, Lord Derby or Lord Salisbury as Foreign Secretary, Lord Birkenhead as Lord Chancellor, and Lord Balfour as Lord Privy Seal. Communications passed between this group and the Liberal leaders as to whether such a mipistry would receive the support of the Liberals or their benevolent neutrality, and it is understood that tentative assurance was given. MR BALDWIN'S AUDIENCE WITH THE KING. CONSERVATIVES STILL CARRYING ON. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. (Received December 11, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, December 10. Mr Baldwin had an audience lasting forty minutes with the King, the visit to Buckingham Palace being made in response to His Majesty’s summons. Bfr Baldwin has not resigned up to the present, and there is no question of his resigning. Mr Winston Churchill paid a lengthy visit to the Colonial Office.