BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1922, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

CABLE NEWS

unionist caucus

DIVIDED COUNSELS: (WKtU4N AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LONDON, Oct 19. At the meeting of the Unionist Party at the Carlton Club, various views were expressed. Air Pretyman said that the new issues could best he met by conservative principles, rather than by a Coalition of which the members were doubtful. Not only were their old party measures dead, but the party itself was dead in the senso that there was a vast mass of opinion without definite allegiance t.o the Conservative or the Liberal Party.

The country was seeking a lead. It was determined on a change of Government. It would be a national disaster if the only Government available was to be a Socialist Government. It was the Conservative Party’s duty to come out under its own leader and its awn policy. It would be better for the Party, even if it did not win as many seats as it would otherwise win. He thought the Unionist Party would he perfectly willing to co-operate with anyone willing to assist in preventing the advent of Socialism. There was no reason for the proscription or .the exclusion of those who had hitherto worked with them, hut the resolution ‘ho said, did not mean tiffit because the CoMsarvatives went to the election as a Conservative Party, they were no longer pledged to the Coalition. The Conservatives in any constituency were quite free to put up their own candidate, but, as a Party, they should not definitely oppose the Coalition, with Liberals.

Mr Bonar Law said the real question was:—“Ought the Coalition to continue ” If they adopted Air Chamberlnia’s proposal, and if any Conservative felt that his return was possibly due to Air Lloyd George’s influence, it would be infinitely more dishonourable to ask Air Lloyd George to retire after the election. If it were possible lie .said, he would urge Air Chamberlain to abide by the Party’s decision regarding a continuance of the Coalition, but he was afraid that it was too late, and that the Conservative Party was now faced with an inevitable split. Personally, he attached more importance to keeping their Conservative Party united than to winning the election. He did not think there was danger of Labour coining into power. The country was not that way inclined. Labour had won many of the bye-elections. This was because it was the only alternative to the Coalition. A Party that was composed of everyone who was not Labour would, he thought, inevitably result in a Labour Government ultimately. It was obvious that a heartfelt union no longer existed. It was like a marriage in which one of the parties was determined to go away. The feeling against the Coalition was so strong that the Conservative Party would be broken and wot the least evil would be that what was left of the Conservative Party would become reactionary. If they agreed with Mr Chamberlain, then the body that would be cast off would slowly become the Conservative Party, but it would take a generation to recover its influence. On the other hand, if this meeting decided against the Coalition, the great majority would continue members of the Conservative Party, if no compromise were possible. Tie would vote, therefore, in favour of their Party going into the election as a g Party, fighting to win. If it could have gone as a United Party, at least it would have had a good chance. Whether it was Lloyd George’s fault or force of circumstances the Government had lost the Conservative Party’s confidence. Ho thought that in tho main, it was the. foree of circumstances for no Premier could have avoided unpopularity in the years through which Afr Lloyd George had passed. There was no good, however, in trying to keep the Coalition Government alive. Lord Balfour said that he had never seen any sign of Air Lloyd George forcing his Conservative colleagues to adopt Liberal principles. A modification of views had always occurred on the part of the Premier, much more than on the part of his Conservative colleagues. He (Balfour) absolutely denied that he had been unfaithful to any of the substantial principles which he had advocated all his life. He said “Why anticipate difficulties which do not exist? Why advocate a return to the two-party system, when the realities on which it was based were in abeyance? Lord Balfour said Afr Pretyman s proposal was preposterous. They could not fight on such lines. The principles on which a two-Party fight was proposed had not been produced. The only practical way of restoring the two party system was by dividing the Conservative party, which was an undesirable remedy. He did not believe that the most expert electioneer knew what the country really thought as between the parties. When this election was over, they would know infinitely more, and, in the light of that augmented knowledge, a reconstruction of the Government would have to be reconsidered. He had listened painfully to the lip service that was paid to the leaders as compared with the actual practice.

CARLTON CLUB MEETING. LONDON, October 19. Mr Austen Chamberlain, Lord Birkenhead, Lord Balfour, Sir K. Horne Sir L. Worthington-Lee, and other Ministers have issued a declaration, affirming Conservative Unionist opinions, but stating they are quite nnalilo to inform Mr Lloyd George that under no circumstances could lie retain the Premiership after a successful election.” FEAR OF LABOUR THE REAL FACTOR.

Mr Chamberlain, addressing a meeting at the Carlton Club closely followed the lines of his Birmingham speech. He declared that tlie old party issues were dead. The real issue was not between the Liberals and stood for free industry, and those who Conservatives, blit between those who stood for Nationalisation, with all its inefficiencies. • Mr Baldwin said the root of the whole difficulty was the position of the Prime Minister. He was a dynamic force and from that fact all their troubles had arisen. It was owing to his dynamic force and remarkable personality that the Liberal Party to which lie belonged, bad been smashed to pieces, and in the course of time he was convinced the same thing would happen to their party.

U.S. PRESS COMMENT. NEW YORK, October 19. Commenting on George’s resignation, the New York “Times” says: “An old England maxim that England bates a Coalition which seems to

been falsified by the events of the past years in the end emerges triumphant The result is to confuse the political situation extraordinarily. The breakup of the Government comes "hen matters of the utmost importance are pressing for decision. In addition to the Near Eastern Conference, there is the question of the Irish Constitution, which is about to be approved by the Dail Eireann. Its subsequent ratification by the English Parliament is necessary. 'All predictions concerning future' events will be gratuitous, until it is known wliat line Mr Lloyd George decides to follow. The situation confronting him calls for a display of sue 1 a. mastery of political art as even he lias never before exhibited.