BRITISH POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 155, 26 March 1920, Page 7

BRITISH POLITICS

DISSOLUTION CONSIDERED PROBABLE PRIME MINISTER'S BELIEF IN RED PERIL'S EXISTENCE a By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyriulit London, March 22. The "Westminster Gazette" bays it would not surprise anybody in the innei political circle if the Primo Minister were to rush the Budget through, and announce the dissolution of Parliament Persons who are intimate with the Prime Minister affirm that Mr. Lloyd George really believes in the-existence of a Red peril in Britain, hence the party's new electioneering slogan, Coalition 'or Bolshevism. The question of an immediate appeal to the country depends vpon Ihe result of several pending by-elections.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, MR. ASQUITH CRITICISES PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH NO ANTITHESIS BETWEEN LIBERALISM ANI) LABOUR, (Rec. March 25, 5.5 p.m.)' London, March 2i. Mr. Asquith, in a-speech at the National Liberal Club,-said the Prime Min. • ister's challenge ought to be taken up inmediately. Fusion was/being watered down into closer co-operation. The real ■point was whether thev were ;going to •respond to the Prime Minister's invitation, since Labour -was -hostile, .and since Independent Liberalism intended to remain independent. Were they .going to link up with 'Tory organisations which were only organisations satisfying 'Mr. Lloyd-George's definitions, "and likely to supply his need? Why should they? Why should Liberals abdicate their primary functions as a great historic 'party. Ho expressed the opinion that nothing, more would'bo ; seen of the AntirDumping. Bill, and -declared that the Government's Irish Bill did not 'Reek to amend, but to repeal* the Home Unle Act and substitute'therefor a fantastic scheme which was a traversty on'self-government. The Liberals were -asked to agree to fusion owing to the new peril vulgivrly called Bolshevism. He-denied that'there -was any antithesis 'between Liberalism 'and Labour. Labour 'owed -everything to Liberalism, and thero were many roads they could travel -side by :sido. The Prime Minister's appeal' was on the lines >of class cleavage, and: miscliiovous. Free Liberals were not going to be tied to Tory chariot wheels. They were -going to retain, preach, and practise their prin-cipies.-imperial News : Serv,;ce.