BRITISH ELECTION

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9849, 30 October 1924, Page 5

BRITISH ELECTION

REDS AND BRITAIN,

THE COMMUNIST LETTER

WAS IT FABRICATION?

ZINOVIEFF’S PROTESTATIONS

United Press Association—CopyrightMOSCOW, Oct. 28. ZinoviefF, in a statement to the press, declares that the alleged letter is a forgery. He was undergoing a “euro" at Kislovodsk on Septeinber 15, and was unable to sign any official letters. The alleged instructions to the military section of the .British Communist party were nonsense. Sucli a section does not exist. The party has far more important things to consider than creating a British Red army, especially the task of bringing the views of the Communist .International before the masses of British workers. ZinoviefF underakes to abide by the decision of the British Trade Union Commission in regard to the authenticity of the letter. Ho declares it was fabricated m Poland.

AN AMAZING SPEECH. CHARGE AGAINST FOREIGN OFFICE. LONDON. Oct. 28. Air. Baldwin gave a- pledge that he will not introduce protection until ho receives the country’s verdict in its favor. The Times says Mr MacDonald broke silence in an amazing speech. He directly charged the Fore gti Office with tabbing action without authority precipitately. The Foreign Office cannot despatch or pubk.sh a note without the authority of its chiefs; therefore Air MacDonald is responsib'e. One thing is perfectly clear that Air AJacDonald committed an action that was unpardonable according to accepted standards of British public life, in trying to shield himself in a difficult situation by insinuating that the permanent officials acted without his authority af Foreign Secretary. He disavowed by insinuation and innuendo the important _ despatch sent to a foreign power in his name. Never in modern times has a Minister of the Crown descended so low in exposing the Civil Service, not empowered publicity to defend itscli, to attacks for which the Minister alone is constitutionally responsible.

AIR. MACDONALD INDISPOSED

THOMAS PROFESSES OPTIMISM

LONDON, Oct. 28

Air MacDonald was indisposed anu unable to address a meeting at Demy. Air Thomas made pred.ction that Labor will return stronger than ever-. He said the I.aborites would not resign as a result of the election, fhey would face Parliament and present the ICing’s Speech, wherein the r policy would be set out. Those democrats, those progressive people, will be obliged to face Parliament and go into the lobby, when not only will they lie obliged’ to say they are turning us out, but also who they are putting in our place. That will be a very interesting division. —- Reuter.

TORIES EXPECT ’MAJORITY. LABOR* AND LIBERALS RECKON TORIES WILL BE BIGGEST PARTY. (Received Oct. 29. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 28. The eve of polling is signalised by a final outburst of speeches, the leaders indulging in frantic motor-car rushes through the industrial centres. - Mr Baldwin concluded a tmn ot Oldham. Ho said ho was confident tlie Conservatives would do splendidly in Lanoashiie.

It is reported from n number of constituencies that the Liberal leaciers*’are giving an eleventh hour au-i-ico to vote for a Conservative, where there is a straight fight against the Socialists.

Mr MacDonald is suffering from over-plus electioneering, causing insomnia. He went to bed after his speech in Aberavon at noon. He makes his final speech this evening. Addressing 3000 at Aberavon this morning, tho Premier- claimed that the Government had handled, the sucaelld “Red plot” in an efficient businesslike way and had nothing to he ashamed of. The plot had been thwarted.

The newspapers state that the Foreign Office staff are indignant at Mr MacDonald blaming them. The evening Standard says the Foreign Office, contradicting Mr MacDonald, asserts that the Zinovieff letter reached London on the Sth and was known to Mr MacDonald on the Deli, which was the day of dissolution decided upon. Lt was inconceivable that Mr MacDonald only received the letter on the loth.

Lord Curzon, at Derby, sa.M Mr MacDonald's action was the shabbiest in trying to throw the blame on the officials, It was a dirty trick to turn on their own subordinates. Arrangements have been made throughout the country to distribute the results of the polling to-morrow night and Thursday morning, including wireless broadcasting, lanterns and screens in the streets. Many huge loud-speakers will be employed. Experts at party headquarters were busy to-day, chocking the revision estimates of the results. It is admitted everywhere that prophesy is more difficult than for many years past, largely owing to the fact that the effects of the Zinovieff letter cannot lie estimated. The Laborites insist that its results will he negligib e, while the Conservatives and Liberals assert that reports indicate that the affair is causing loss of votes to Labor in all parts of the country. The Daily Express gives the following estimates of the. results made tonight by the various party- headquarters. The Conservative estimate :

Conservatives 311. Labor 205. Liberals 03. Other parties 6. The Labor estimate is: —•- Conservatives 290., Labor 235, Liberals 85Other parties 5. The Liberals estimate is:— Conservatives 291Labor IDS. Liberals 124. Other parties 5. No estimate gives any single party a. clear working majority.—A. and. N.Z.C.A.

THE BIG ISSUE. "UNION JACK OR RED' FLAG ? (Received The leaders of all parties made their final speeches last night. There were no new developments, except the “Daily Herald” statement that the Foreign Office never had either the original or a photograph of the Zinovieff letter, only a typewritten copy purporting to be. a copy of the original letter. , r Mr Baldwin, at Bolton, defined the only issue as whether tho country would have the Government pledged to Socialism' or preferred to continue the natural evolution of its social system. " * i, The “Morning Post” says_ the choice resolves itself into the Union Jack or the Red - Flag. (Continued loot qff next column.)

Tlie “Daily Chronicle” says that there neve,” was'an electron in winch tliere..was less certainty on the eve or tlia poll regarding tlio prospects of the parties. Llovdk 5 selection rates are unchanged.—A. and N.Z.C.A. '• INTERESTING FORECAST. (LONDON, Oct. 29’. The ‘‘Daily Express” states that the Conservatives expect a few ga ink in London, hut believe the-greatest successes will occur in Lancashire, the Midlands and home counties. . . Labor is expecting live gams in Scotland and ten in London. , ■ Amon'g the Ministers the likeliest casualties are expected to be Mr. Civ nos and Miss Bondfield. — A. and N.Z.C.A.