EARLY ELECTION

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 83, 5 October 1931, Page 7

EARLY ELECTION

HOSTILE LIBERALS

SIMON DISSENTS

LONDON, 3rd October. A four-hour meeting' of the executives of the National Liberal Federation, the Liberal Women's Federation, and League of Young Liberals, heard statements from Sir Herbert Samuel and Sir Archibald Sinclair, after which they passed a resolution endorsing the leaders' resistance to the precipitation of an unnecessary and dangerous election, and declaring ■ that the proponed general tariff would have a most unhappy effect on the,electorate, increasing the cost of living-following wage cuts and taxation. , . The meeting decided to-adhere, as firmly as ever 1 to free trade, "the only basis enabling the restoration of national and international prosperity." j "Tho game of formula hunting has continued long enough," said Sir John Simon, when 'informed of the federation's resolution. "The country's best course is to put confidence in the Prime Minister. That is the course I mean to follow, and I have tho best reasons for knowing that this, is the •■ view of other Liberal members." Viscount Grey has now made it plain that he does not jupport Mr. Lloyd George's uncompromising opposition to an election, but he insists that economy and sound finance should be the paramount issue. If a tariff is made the issue, of the election, it would degenerate into a party fight, and the national cause would- be jeopardised, he says. \ , The "Sunday Times" hears that Mr. Lloyd George is seriously contemplating resigning tho Liberal leadership.