MR BALDWIN SCATHINGLY ATTACKS NEWSPAPERS

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 65, 18 March 1931, Page 7

MR BALDWIN SCATHINGLY ATTACKS NEWSPAPERS

Press Attacks Spur Conservative Leader To A Fighting Response.

(United Fress Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received March 18, 12.45 p.m.) • LONDON, March 17. SHOUTS of “ Baldwin for ever ” greeted the ex-Prime Minister when he stepped on to the platform at the Queen’s Hall to address the electors in the St George’s election campaign. In a fighting speech he scathingly criticised Lord Rothermere’s and Lord Beaverbrook’s newspapers as engines of propaganda for their constantly changing policies, desires, personal wishes, likes and dislikes and accused them of direct falsehood, misrepresentation and half truths.

Mr Baldwin referred to the “Daily Mail” comment that “an expression of insolent plutocracy came ill from Mr Baldwin, as his father left him an immense fortune, which, according to his own speeches, had almost disappeared. It is difficult to see how a party leader, who has lost his own fortune, can hope to restore those of others, or pf the country.” Mr Baldwin described the first part of this statement as a lie, and the second, by implication, as untrue. The whole could only have been written by a cad. He added that counsel had advised that a libel action could be brought, “but an apology would be valueless,” he said, “while I would not touch damages with a barge pole.”

Mr Baldwin declared that these papers were aiming at power without responsibility, which was the harlot’s prerogative throughout the ages. When the “Daily Mail” was preaching a united Empire and the “Express” was running Empire free trade, both were simultaneously seeking advertisements from America. Instancing Lord Rothermere's refer-

ence to the Zinovieff letter, Mr Baldwin read a letter from Mr Marlowe, editor of the “Daily Mail,” recalling that Lord Rothermere was not aware of the Zinovieff letter before its publication by the “Daily Mail.” He then supported the Conservatives only with the most reluctant consent of Lord Rothermere, who believed the Socialists were winning all along the line throughout the world. Mr Marlowe added that Lord Rothermere only asserted himself in 1926 after a speech in which Lord Beaverbrook alleged that Lord Rothermere obtained a peerage for his services to the Liberals. Mr Baldwin said he did not doubt that Mr Duff-Cooper would be returned, but he hoped the majority would be a lesson to the whole world.

Turning to policy, Mr Baldwin emphasised the need of a wheat quota, which would enable assistance to be given to the Dominions and also prevent dumping and a rise in price. Protection would mean a tax of 27s per quarter, equivalent to twopence halfpenny a loaf, which the industrial regions would never accept.