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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18791, 29 May 1923, Page 5

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UNITY OF CONSERVATIVE PARTY MR AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN’S LEITER A letter written by Mr. Austen Chamberlain has created a stir in London political circles. It complains that Mr. Baldwin, the new Premier, has given no opportunity to Chamberlainites to make a contribution to Conservative Party unity. Some newspapers declare that the Government will pay dearly for its failure to close up the Conservative ranks. By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright. LONDON, May 27. In a letter to his constituents Mr Austen Chamberlain complains that no opportunity has been given the Chamberlainites to make a contribution to Conservative Party unity. No communication from Mr Baldwin was made to him until Mr Baldwin formed his Ministry. Had Mr Chamberlain’s help been asked it would have been gladly given. There is not one of the Chamberlainites who would not have been willing to sacrifice any personal claims in order to secure the complete unity of th« conservative Party. He could not but believe that from the ’first indications after his acceptance of the office Mr Baldwin had the same wish for oblivion of past differences and a complete union of the party for the future, but it would seem that other forces intervened. If complete union were not established, it would not be owing to any unwillingness on the part of the Chamberlainites to forget past differences, or any pretention by any of them that his inclusion in any new combination was essential. HOT DISCUSSION AROUSED i TROUBLE IN STORE FOR THE GOVERNMENT. Received May 28, 9.46 p.m. LONDON, May 27. Mr Austin Chamberlain’s letter has aroused hot discussion in political clubs and party newspapers. It was drafted after Mr Chamberlain returned to London after an interview with Mr Baldwin, when Mr Chamberlain dined with .Lord Birkenhead, Mr Churchill, Sir Robert Horne and Sir L. Worthington Evans. The letter must therefore be regarded as the reply of Coalition Ministers to reconstruction of the Cabinet without their aid. Mr Austin Chamberlain’s friends feel that he has been treated with brusque want of consideration, and that the offer of the Ambassadorship at Washington, which practically suggests that he should leave active politics, was a humiliating proposal, the refusal of which must Tavo been foreseen. Some suggest that the antagonism of the Diehards is really due to Mr Chamberlaw assenting to the Irish settlement.

The Conservatives regard the letter as re-asserting Mr Chamberlain’s claim to be a leader of the party, and thus entitled to lay down conditions on which his friends will accept office, a claim which Mr Chamberlain and his supporters are disinclined to allow. It is understood Mr Chamberlain will not attend the party meeting to-day, but will attend the opening of Parliament, and, as ex-leader of the House, may condole with Mr Bonar Law on his ill-health, and congratulate the new Prime Minister. The Westminster Gazette expresses the opinion that Mr Chamberlain’s letter is a warning that the Government has capitulated to the reactionaries. The Daily Express fears that a heavy price will eventually be paid for Jack of cohesion in the pariy.