THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1920, Page 2

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

BRITISH POLITICS.

(United Service). LONDON, Marech 22. The “Westminster Gazette” says: ‘lt would not surprise anyone in the inner olitical circles if the Premier (Mr Lloyd George) were to rush his budget through, and to announce a dissolution. “His intimates affirm Ai r Lloyd George really believes in the existence of some “Red peril” in Britain. Hence they say his Patty’s new electioneering slogan will be ‘The Coalition of Bolshevism.’ “The question of his making an immediate appeal to the country, depends on the results of several pending byelections.”

SPEECH BY ASQUITH, REPLY TO LLOYD GEORGE. (Imperial News Service). LONDON, March 24. Mr Asquith in a speech at the National Liberal Club, said the Premier’s challenge ought to be taken u pimmediately. The fusion was now being “watered down” to a mere agreement. The real point was whether they (the Liberals in the Coalition) were going to respond to the Premier’s invitation. Since Labour was hostile and since Independent Liberals were determined remain independent, were they going to link ftp with the Tory organisation, which were now the only organisations satisfying Mr Lloyd George’s definitions and the only ones likely to supply his need. Why should they—why should the Liberal's—adbidcatc their primary functions as a great historic Party, He expressed opinion that nothing more would he seen of the Anti-Dumping Bill.

He declared the Government’s Irish Bill “did net «eek to amend,*but was meant to repeal the Home Pule Act, and to substitute therefore a fantastic scheme, which is a travesty on self- | government.” ! The Liberals were asked by Mr Lloyd George to agree to a fusion owing to some new peril vulgarly called “Bolshevism.” He denied that- there was j any anthithesis or opposition necessarily between Liberalism and Labour. Labour owed everything to Liberalism. There were many roads that they two could travel side by side on. The Premier’s appeal was on the lines of a class struggle. It was an inimical one. The free Liberals were not going to he “tied to the Tory chariot wheels.” They were going to retain, preach and practimo their principles