EW BRITISH PARTY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 50, 22 November 1917, Page 5

EW BRITISH PARTY

10 REPRESENT NATIONAL AIMS

PLATFORM STATED ?

~ihe following' manifesto on the subect of a,new politioal party was reiently circulated in the United Kingdom

After most earnest consideration we have come to the 'conclusion that wo "can best assist our country in tho present grave •situation by severing our ■connection with the Unionist Party and by taking independent action, in which I national considerations will be our "sole concorn. Tho Unionist, Liberal, 'and Labour Parties aro equally responsible iji coalition for the dolays in providing men, aeroplanes, and other mechanical heeds; for the failure to ..punish the incompetent; for permitting eectional iuterforence in diplomacy, and for leaving tho country in a state of Uncertainty and discouragement, as a ,result of vague _ statements in which ;the whole truth is rarely divulged. For j'ears past tho old party system has ■teen nothing better than an organised (inocker,y of the true spirit of tho nation. If we are to win victory in the war—and after—wo must free ourselves, somehow or other, from tho clutches of this octopus. Tho future TO the Coinmonwealth of British nations _ depends upon tho honesty and jcapacity of our publio men. Politics 5s a matter of national' life or death. Should it oontinuo to be played as a igameof party interests and personal jambition, served by two machines which aro kept in funds by tho sale wf honours, the end can only be disaster. So'long as war lasts, members of [the National Party will give their loyal jrnnd eager support to any, Government jWhich happens to bo in power, providing only that it will follow unswervingay the path which loads, through vic'•tory, to an honourable and abiding :j>eace. The _ aims of the National •Party aro briefly as follow: — A national as against a class, sectional, or sectarian.policy. Complete victory in the war and after tho war. Tho provision of adequate men, guns, and aeroplanes, and a vigorous diplomacy, to sunp(ort the fighting men in their heroio struggle for victory. The eradication of German influence. I , ' Honest administration, a pure 'political system, and no sale of honours. : Class unity and confidence between employer and employed. Maximum production oombined with fair wages and fair profit as. i the strength and safety of the na'tion demand that its vital needs should be produced from its own ' soil and factories. The safeguarding of our industries and agriculturo and the right of both capital and labour to share in the advantage of national economic defence with due regard to tho interests of the consumer. Tho unity of the Empire in council and defence, and a policy of mutual and reciprocal aid in the development cf all the territories and natural resources of the British Commonwealth. A national social policy based upon tho principle that the people shall be reared in such surroundings, in such conditions, and'with such opportunities, in lite, work, and play as will ensure a contented, patriotic race. A polioy of demobilisation and reconstruction which will eliminate iyaste_ in citizen life, preserve the liberties of tho people, and ensure that the interests of sailors and soldiers with .regard :to employment, ponsions, etc., are secured

on their return to civil life. A National Party would obviously .be a contradiction in terms were it to consist solely, or'even mainly, of peoplewho have hitherto belonged to the Unionist Party. It must have a much wider basis. Consequently we shall welcome ■ the aid and counsel of men nnd women of all parties not only in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, tut throughout the whole British Empire, who have, come; liko ourselves, to the conclusion that the old political associations are no£ merely inadequate for the work of national reconstruction, but are obstacles in the way of it. i 1 /

In no quarter do we find any want of respect, affection, or loyalty to the Throne or to tho fundamental British traditions of freedom and self-govern-ment; but in every quarter— among all classes at home, no less than in our armies abroad—we are faoed with openly expressed disgust for the politicians and the front tenders who have been saddled on us in recent years by a worn-out party system and its ruthless machines. 'Everywhere there are the same loud complaints of want of moral courage, which is commonly regarded as the chief evil of the time. Courage, honesty, thoroughness, and industry are qualities which the war has taught us to seek for, and to rate far above cleverness, eloquence, and skilful selfadyertisement. There is a widespread universal desire to maintain and to extend in peace that sense of comradeship which has been won in war; and there is also a deeply rooted conviction that wo must go back to the great and simple principles of life and politics if wo are to find salvation.

We invite tho co-oporation of all men nnd women who agree with the general lines of our policy. We are conscious that when tho war ends tho direction of any organisation which we may now succeed in sotting up will assuredly be taken out of our hands. When those who have fought this war return- they will rightly insist upon taking over control. Our solo object is to make a beginning, at once, before it is too late; and if at an early date our movement passes into worthier hands than our own., we could wish for nothing better. Communications should be addressed to the secretary, the National Party, 22 King Street, St. James's, London, 5.W.1.. This manifesto was issued to the Press, and miblic by the following members of both Houses of Parliament and other public men, who have already boon assured of the svmpathy of a number of members of Parliament now serving overseas, nnd a largo body of ptihlio opinion at Home:— Colonel Lord Ampthill, G.C.5.1.. G.C.1.E.. Sir diaries .Allom, Colonel Earl Bathurst, C.M.G.. Colonel Henry Bowie*. Major Alan H. Burcrnyne, 51 .P., Brigadier-General T. C. Callev, 0.8., •M.V.0., lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Douglas Carnegie. M.P., ,W. Child Clark, Esq.. Sir Ric'inrd Conner. Bf„, M.P.. H. '"'age Croft, r M.r:M.P.. Hie Venerable Arch'deacon Cunningham, D.D., Major W. H. Drnmmond. C™tn'"n the Wnunt TMurannon, M.P., Lord Ebury, Francis Francis, Esq., Lioutennnt-Cnionel Sir John Harrington, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.0., C.8.. the Hon. J. G. Jenkins. Lieuten-ant-Colonel Lord Lcconfield, Lord Tieith of Evvie, Lioutenant-Colonel Sir Morvyn Mnnninghnm-Buller, ftt.. Admiral Sir Albert fastings Markham. K.C.8.. George Millor. Esq.. Colonel Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, 0.5.1., Colonel It. H. Rawson, M.P._. T._ W. Raymond, Esq.. J. Mure Ritchie. Esq.. Lieutonant-Coloncl Lord Stafford, D.S.O.