CALL THEM SOCIALISTS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1924, Page 7

CALL THEM SOCIALISTS

NEW SPIRIT OF GOVERNMENT

(REUTEtt's TEIKKAM.)

' LONDON, 21st January, me House of Commons was packed and simmering with excitement; when Sir John Simon (Liberal) resumed the debate. '

Ha described the proceedings as not the execution of the Government, but the inquest. Referring to the LabourParty, Sir John was exhorted by Ministerialists to call them the Socialist' Party. He did so, amid loud back-bench Labour cheers. He continued to state that hi would support Liberal measures and oppose the unliberal measures proposed by .Labour, declaring that the verdict at the elections showed that the country was as firmly opposed to Socialism a* to Protection, but that a vast majority s favoured a new spirit of government, ; , CHAMBERLAIN TWITS SIMON , Mr. Austen Chamberlain said that Sir John Simon's speech reminded him of a dog who, to gain his private ends, went mad and bit a man. Nobody would be in the Socialist camp sooner than Sir John Simon when that camp became i popular. Mr. Chamberlain predicted that Mr. Asquith would be the last Liberal Premier. The country at the next election would vote either Labour or Conservative. I Miss Margaret Bondfield (Lab.) in her maiden speech, said that the arguments of Sir John Simon and Mr Chamberlain had little to do with the paramount question of unemployment. She proceeded to attack the Government for failing to deal therewith. Referring to the decision to go to the country, Mr. Baldwin said that he had for himself no regrets, but had many for those who fell in the fight. ■ Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. Guest (Lib.) intimated that he would support the Labour amendment in order to condemn Protection, but wanted other amend- ; ments taken in order to give the Lib- ' erals an opportunity of recording their anti-Socialist views. Otherwise he would vote against the closure. Lieutenant-Commander Kenworthy declared that the Conservatives, during the : past five years, had disgraced the Brit- I ish name m Ireland, India, and Russia.