IN SORE STRAITS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1483, 4 July 1912, Page 6

IN SORE STRAITS.

APPEAL BY THE PREMIER.' OFFERS TO RESIGN. Light is thrown upon the condition to which tho Liberal party has been leduced hy the following circular letter which has been sent by the Prime Ministe- ulie Hon. T: Mackenzie) to each of tho members who attended the caucus, in March last, at which ho was Mooted Leader:— "TO THH MEMBERS OF THE LIBKUAL PARTY AND THEIR ALLIL.S. "Dear sir,—When in March last, von entrusted mo with tho task of .forming ii Government, and pledged yourselves to support-it. I folly recognised (he difficulties and responsibilities of the position. ''Tho circumstances were critical; and in tho course you took you sank differences and waived personal claims in i.rdor to save tho country from fho danger |],nt threatened it, viz., tho defeat if (he Lilieral parly. "That -danger was averted for tho moment, but it still exists; and the riut-a-lion now is how best to meet it.

"As regards the coming no-confidence motion, I liavo no fear «f tho result if wo stand shoulder to shoulder. Having been selected by the party, this confidence should, 1 submit, be accorded me. We shall then win, and alter the strugglo is over I will w=P>r<>, if u-c-.s-.t-v. that trust unsullied to those who gav« it. "1 would like lu oii.i-.isi at this moment (ho solidity of the Opposition—a s.didily in face of extremely diverse views—with what is said to be the position of our own party, and to .'b;ervo that if we are defeated by a solid thirtyeight,, it will not hi a defeat bv the Opposition party, but will be brought about (and constitute) political suicide in cur own ranks. "WhntcuT differences of opinion mav exist, among you os to the personnel of the Cio.veriiir.ont and the geographical re-prc.-oiitation in the Cabinet, 1 cannot believe that anv one of yon will desert the parly at a time when the result of that desertion might be lo throw back the progioss of the countrv for years, and mean ike ili-intrgratioii of (he fortes of Liber alism for a long period. ''liven, however, when the no-confidence motion is defeat oil.' the difficulties of I he position remain. Tho strength of pnrlhyi, the Hetitc is sojiearlv that the

possibilities of a dissolution cannot bo ignored. 1 am confident that the country is with us. and that if we go to it as a united body we shall come back with a good working majority. "Tho one aim of myself and my colleagues is to accomplish this, .so that the development of tho Dominion may continue on tho same lines of progressive Liberalism as have proved so advantageous hitherto.

"J'eiMmally, I have done all in my power to justify the confidence reposed in nie, when you elected me leader, out after full and careful consideration of Ihe whole position, I think that in order to ensure harmony and unanimity of action in tho face of a common danger, an opportunity .should be given to you of considering the matter afresii.

"To this ond I propose, if we succeed on the no-confidence motion, to call a caucus of yon all, and place tho Government in vour hands, leaving it i'oi you to determine afresh, if vou so desire, the question of leadership' and tho personnel of the Ministry. "This step is (alien solely with the desire for unity and to remove all cause of complaint, and is not taken for the purpose of advancing the interests of any person or persons cither within or without the Cabinet. "fn talcing this course I havo Uio hearty concurrence of my colleagues."