“STICK TO RUSSIA RAMSAY!"

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17346, 29 September 1924, Page 10

“STICK TO RUSSIA RAMSAY!"

MR MACDONALD’S SPEECH

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright Reuter s Telegrams. LONDON, September 27. As Mr MacDonald was departing from St Pancras Station to deliver, at Derby, his first political speech during the recess. a group of working men shouted “Stick to the Russian Treat} 7 , Ramsay, even if you fall." Addressing a packed audience at Derby the Prime Minister said their opponents were now beginning to be afraid that because the Labour Gov€i nment had not ruined the country, but had proved its fitness to govern better than they. Referring to f he convocation of Parliament on Tuesday the Prime Minister appealed to all parties to come together and secure the fulfilment of a solemn bargain with Southern Ireland. Replying to an interruption he said “Ulster must be fairly dealt with, equally with the South.” Referring to the difficulties of the League of Nations Mr MacDonald said war must be outlawed and a Labour Government would yet establish that condition. “We are not giving a loan to Russia.” Mr MacDonald said, “We are only guaranteeing a loan, the purposes of which are clearly defined.” He ridiculed filie- suggestion ’that *the loan would bo £100,000,000. That was the amount Mr Lloyd George had got on his conscience. Not one-third of that sum had ever been mentioned. The loan would Ive spent largely in the purchase of goods and materials in Britain. It would be impossible to bring peace to Europe if Russia were left out. That was the biggest reason for the treaty. “ We will not ask the House of Commons for a blank cheque. If the House will not permit us to make the treaty it had better censure us. I do not think the country wants a break, hut if forced to go we shall go to the public platform.”