LATEST CABLE NEWS BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1923, Page 2

LATEST CABLE NEWS

BRITISH POLITICS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LIBERA US FOKEGATHEP.. LONDON. Dec. 18. At. a meeting of Liberal Commoners at the National Liberal Citth. Mr Asquith said there had been no overtures whatever hv Liberals with the leaders of either of the other parties. He intended to preserve that freedom completely. Liberals controlled the situation. The days of the present Government were numbered. The Government's record was one oi importance. They had reduced the country to a cypher in the councils of the world. He would not move a linger to connive at a prolongation of their disastrous stewardship. Lloyd George said he completely agreed with Air Asquith's policy.

AIH ASQUITH S STATEMENT. LONDON. December IS. Air Asqttuh has cleared and crystallised the political situation in his sj ceclt at the National Liberal Assembly. especially in his statement that a Labour Government could hardly lie iiieil under sale conditions, lie added : ‘•Whoever may he the incumbent qf i flice. it is we Liberals, if we understand our business, who really will conttol the situation.’ - Air Asquith went on to dcline the conditions under which tfu- Prime Minister was entitled to demand a dissolution from the King. It would he a subversive constitutional ns-

;u>c. anil ] ernicious to the inteiests ot the nation, if a minority of less than one third could demand a dis solution.

LONDON, December 19. The "Daily Herald", editorially, suvs: Air Asquith has declared that the power to dissolve belongs, not to tile Prime Minister. hut to the Somereign That is flummery! The Sovereign can act only upon the advice of his Min* isters. Air Asquith knows that as well a - anvbodv.

THE LIBERAL TACTICS. IXANDON. December 18. 'flic newspapers legard Mr Asquith’s speech its an indication that the King should not grant a dissolution to Air Kumsay MacDonald. if lie takes office, cud as a sign that Mr Asquith would not he unwilling to take office, if and when, haboitr were defeated.

Air Asquith’s insistence upon the tin conditional independence of the Liber id Patty was loudly cheered. Apparently Air Asquith intends that the I.ihi til's and Labourites shall join forces to defeat the Government on the debate o.i the Address-iu-Reply, commencing on the loth, of January. Later, "lien Labour would he beaten by a combination of the Unionists and Liberals, the latter would accept office in older to avoid an immediate general election. The Unionists would then under an honourable obligation, maintain the Liberals in office, and would not attack tlie Liberal policy in tile country. The “Daily Express” says it: agrees v, ith Air Asquith that Labour ought to have its chance. ‘‘Nothing,,-" it says, ‘■■s more certain to damage the lies* interests of the country, anil warp its growth. than a manoeuvre hy which Labour would he “diddled - ’ out ol an opportunity to shoulder real responsibility. To load the dice against Labour by an unreal combination of the two other parties would drive the country into a class war. which is its givat-c-t peril.” The "Da-ily Chronicle - ' says:--“Mr Asquith’s speech makes it clear that Labour cannot claim a dissolution while an alternative Ministry is prepared to carry on with the support of a inajoritv in Parliament.

FOREIGN POLICY. LONDON, December 18. Sir F. BrauTiury. while selecting two British representatives for the Reparations Committees made a surprise visit to Mr Ramsay .MacDonald, who is spending a holiday at Lossiemouth. Sir F. Brad bury explains that lie consulted Air .MacDonald, as lie hail consulted Air Baldwin and Air Asquith, not as H'o | respective Prime Minister.