BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1924, Page 1

BRITISH POLITICS.

iOUTHALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. PARLIAMENT PROROCUED, M.B M.icDOXALD'S REGRETS. LONDON, October 10. A large crowd assembled in Downing Street and cheered Air AJaeDonald as he departed to sue the King. There were cries of “ Good for you, Sir, let’s tight. Stick it Mac.” The interview with the King lasted an hour. ...r .MacDonald, oil his return said—“l am sorry that events turned out as they have. Everyone knows the situation has been forced upon, u.s. I should have been glad if Labour had been allowed to carry on its policy, which I maintain has been honest polities for the common weal.” The King signed the prorogation in the afternoon. KING’S PROROGATION SPEECH. [Reuters Telegrams.] I.OXDOX, October 10. The King in a speech at the prorogation of Parliament .said he believes the Dawes settlement will largely contribute to the restoration of international commerce, lie hopes the disarmament .security protocol adopted by the Assembles- of the League of Nations, which will ho laid before Parliament at the earliest possible moment, will lead to the lirst practical measures lightening the heavy burdens mi the nation. The speceli refers to the Auglo-Russinn treaties as a necessary element in the general pacification and economic reconstruction tion of Europe and regrets the failure of the informal discussions with the Prime .Minister of Egypt. It says stops will he taken in conjunction with the Government of the Dominions for a more efficient marketing of food in this country. Though there are signs of a distinct improvement in industry, a severe depression continues. Alinisters have been actively engaged in the development of a constructive policy to stimulate industry and encourage trade as the only means of dealing fundamentally with unemployment. Aleanwbile the provision of increased unemployment benefits has lightened the burdens of the ante payers and alleviated The .sufferings of innocent victims of the industrial depression. It hopes a measure for a lil'teen years building programme will effectively remedy serious overcrowding. The speech concludes by referring to measures taken to assist agriculture and regulate the wages of agricultural labourers, and io the taking of a new census production, free education and the development, from recent restrictions. great public interest. LONDON, October 11.

The public interest in the general election promises to lie of the keenest The issues everywhere are being discussed. Mr MacDonald, at Downing Street, and the Conservative and Liberal leaders at their respective headquarters, were to-day cheered. A crowd ill Downing "Street, observing the arrival of a furniture van, expected to witness the removal of Hie Premier’s furniture. Instead, the van brought a new Jacobean suite ter lie- drawing room. A :.ci tion o! the I*r< -• - - iioiliouc, strongly to urge that three-cornered contests should -la* avoided, especially in the seventy seats in which Labour last election won against Conservative and Liberal candidates.

The “Morning Post” however, dedares that the Central Conservative and Liberal Organisations do not intend to participate in any arrangements seeking to avoid triangular lights. They consider that the question must he left to ihe local pally leaders. While, undoubtedly, negotiations to this end are in progress in many places, there are indications that a line of demarcation as heLween Conservatism and Liberalism is being maintained elsewhere. Lord Cray, speakng a Sheffield, said he did not feel any more disposed to join the Conservatives now than lie did before. It was time the Liberal Party had a chance.

Sir John Simon, at Sterling, also declared: “For myself. T "ill ’"it abate one jot or little of my Liberalism. f utterly refuse to merge it into Tory reaction. We are going to light on a positive policy.” Tt is early to prognosticate, hut the “Morning Dost” says that Labour expects to gain ">0 scats from the Liberals, and to lose ‘JO to the Conservatives.

Air Whcallev (Health Minister) speaking at Carlisle, said that it was imposishle for Labour to lose the election even if it tried. The most, interesting of last night’s speeches was that of Air J. IT. Thomas at Derby, in which he declared that if there had been pressure on the Government in the Campbell ease, he would unhesitatingly have resigned. Mr Hamilton F.v.fe, the editor or the- “Daily Herald” (Labour), speaking at Tunbridge Wells, said that the chief factor in producing the present situation was the same alliance which, prior to the 192:1 election, attempted to secure the return of the coalition. The scheme was one which Air Lloyd George, Air Chamberlain. Mr Churchill, and Lord Birkenhead had plotted and which they had failed in. owing to the collapse of tho Coalition Liberals, hut the idea had not been abandoned.

The “New Statesman,” in a review which has generally supported the .1-a-|,oiir Government, scathingly attacks Mr MacDonald. It says: “As a leader of the Opposition, ho was tough enough. As Prime Minister, lie seems too thinskinned to live. If we were not aware of his rigid sobriety, we should have said no sober man could have said what Mr MacDonald said at the Labour Conference on Tuesday. Ilis epithets passed belief. This election "as precipitated. because someone has

wounded Mr MacDonald's ridiculous amour prop re.” A LIVELY CAMPAIGN. LONDON, Octobor 10. "With the exception of the Party leaders, there has been a stampede of members of Parliament to the constituencies to make tlio most of tho whirlwind campaign. The outstanding incident for tlio moment, is the report that secret nntiSocialist negotiations arc going on, aiming at direct fights, so that where a Liberal has the best cliancc, the Conservative will not stand, and vice versa. A most hopeful view is taken by anti-Socialists of these negotiations. If they succeed, the chances ol' three Ministers, Messrs Loach, Buxton and Roberts will not ho rosy. Air Ramsay MacDonald sets out on Monday from Glasgow on a Scottish tour. Thence he is working southwards.

The Labour campaign is really being opened hv Mr A. Henderson at Burnley on Sunday night. The Premier’s son, Mr Malcolm MacDonald, who is oil route to Australia, is contesting Bassellaw, where his sister Tsohel will probably deputise for him.

The Premier will have a straight fight at Aheravon, where he is opposed by a Liberal. Captain "Williams. The London Liberals have adopted as a slogan, “Peace, Security and Progress.” It is already obvious that wireless is being used largely to make up for tho lack of time. There will he a plague of loud speakers, discussing the candidates’ views. Air Lloyd George, for the first time will have a Labour opponent. ’fhe preference issue has been taken up by the Conservatives Empire Development Branch, wherein sixty people from the Dominion*; have offered their services. FRENCH OPINION". PARTS, October 10. French official opinion inclines to tho belief that the coming British elections herald an attempt to return to tho twoparty system, the Liberals and the Conservatives against Labour. fit is recognised that this procedure will mean the doom of the Labour Parly, hut that is regarded hero as being sooner or later inevitable. , AVhnt the French would welcome would he a Government, whether Bourgooise or Labour, capable of standing on its own feet. ;i ’A lil. r A AI E X T DI SSO L V ED. LONDON, October 11. A Royal proclamation, dissolving Parliament, was published last night. The writs have been issued in tlio constituencies. Air Baldwin has sent a message, for display in 2000 cinemas, emphasising the neeil for a stable Government, which would maintain {lie country’s honour unsullied at home and abroad, and work unceasingly for a restoration of prosperity and happiness for all classes.

A Conservative manifesto probably will hi issued to-day, at length, ill the form of Air Baldwin's address to his own constituents at Bcwdlcy. It will deal with tho Russian Treaty, the Campbell case, and the alleged failure of the Government in respect of unemployment. It will outline a Conservative policy re housing, agriculture. tra' l ". education, tie. { LABOUR'S MANIFESTO. LONDON, October 11. The Labour Party's election manilosto, which is being published on .Monday, charges the Liberals and Conservatives with conspiring to force a general election, thus preventing tho submission of a number of measures which would have been passed during the autumn session, and next year.

It points out Labour's policy includes:— Tl lo Taxation of land values. Pensions for women deprived ol their bread-winners. A progressive scheme I'or the reorganisation of the electricity supply in the country. .A AIK INCA AVATCHING. N'lvW YORK, October 12. The Ilritish election has injected a new element into the political campaign in the United States. The politicians in this country are waking up to the tact that tho fate at the polls of Air Ramsay .MacDonald and of his Party may have an important hearing upon the Presidential election on November •Ith.

.Should the British Labour Government he strongly upheld, that fact will give great encouragement to the America n Federation of Labour, and other Labour elements supporting Senator La Folette. The fate of the British Labour Government may also have an important hearing on the conference to ho held in ’.lie United States, after the Presidential election, at which it is hoped to form a permanent Third Party.

WIIKN Till’. BATTLK WILL BK JOIN I'll), (Bv an Old Stager). LONDON, Aug. 28. The game of high polities is .subject to sudden opportunist emergencies always, and the role of political prophet is ono hi which good men have been bruised before now. But so far as can ho seen at present, and unless some •surprise crisis briskly presents itself, the challenge to the Labour Government will cmiio during tho present autumn. And there is not much room for doubt that it will he on the question of official Labour’s attitude towards its Rod extremists the gauntlet will he cast at Air Ramsay MacDonald’s feet.

A most significant sequence of revelations have brought this denouement about. It is known now, on the candid and elate avowal of the Communists themselves, that the Labour Cabinet’s hands wore forced to two important issues. First there was the prosecution instituted by the Government’s own law officers against a Communists editor for publishing seditious propaganda inciting his Majesty’s sworn force to mutiny. The proceedings were taken on Labour's own legal advice, and when some of the stalwarts objected to the action, Sir Patrick Hastings firmly defended and endorsed the prosecution on the floor of the House of Commons. A few days later the proceedings were abruptly abandoned. and a reluctant magistrate informed the accused that ho was free to stop out of the dock, on the application of the Crown counsel. AVhat had happened was. as tlie accused Communist has made no bones about revealing in bis exultant journal that Labour M.’sP. who sympathised with the Communist article and its author, bluntly informed the Cabinet that the prosecution must he dropped, otherwise they would resign their seats and fight hostile by-elections against the Government, to which was added the assurance that, if the case wen on, most of the Cabinet Ministers would be subpoenaed .into the witnessbox. and confronted with extracts from their own past rhetoric. Next came

the Russian Treaty’s hasty signature. This is an even more serious affair. So obstreperous and preposterous were the demands of the Russian delegates from Moscow that even their keen admirer, Air Ponsonby, felt constrained to' call the negotiations off. The moment tlio announcement was made by Air Clynes to an appreciative ITousc of Commons, the Labour Beds got busy. Some nr the most extreme men held a conclave, Air Lanslmry well in the picture, and the same terrorist tactics were repeated . „ Unless an agreement with the Russia n Soviet was fixed up. the mutineers averred, their seats in safe lied constituencies would be vacated, and tho Government’s action challenged at hostilo by-elections. Meanwhile, the group hastily chartered a taxi, and dashed ntT to interview the Russian comrades while they were packing their hold-alls. They graciously intimated the terms on which they were ready to sign a Treaty with us. and these were transmitted, regardless of taxi costs, to AR MacDonald, with another intimation that he must accept this stroke of round-the-eorner diplomacy'. The Prime Alinister promptly climbed down, and that is how the Anglo-Russinit Treaty, proclaimed throughout Holy Russia and the cicdnlous East as the convincing victory for the Soviets over capitalist Britain, came to he signed. No wonder all allusion to his Majesty King George A . was omitted from that precious document. under which Russia agrees she “ought” to pay part of her debts to us, we intimate that we realise she cannot do so. and Bolshevik agents ill this country, whose machinations financed from Moscow have caused some of the worst of our post-war domestic upheavals, are to he accorded full diplomatic status, and consequently call snap their lingers at Scotland T ard, and he free from all such little liiconvcnicncs and indignities as being searched for incriminating evidence. These episodes have culminated in a remarkable London Conference of the Red Minority Labour movement, which is in full sympathy and affiliation with the Moscow Third International, and openly espouses the doetrnes and practices of Lenin and Co. At this precious meeting speeches of a sinister character were made. Tho burden of their song was an effort to equip a selfconscious proletariat with lethal arms for a class war, and tho necessity for a brute force social revolution with bloodshed that might he regrettable, but was quite inevitable. These are literally, and not at all metaphorically, tho phrases and sentiments espoused by the Labour “Reds.” who have, over since the present Government was formed controlled policy and actions by means of the ill-omened liaison committee.

That body was formed simultaneously with Mr Ramsay Alacßonald’s call to office, Imt not to power, and ’ls membership includes the most deepdved lleds in the Labour Left AVing. Until the closing weeks of last session the liaison committee liid its light under half a. bushel. Hut it has now shown its Red band in unmistakeable manner, and there is no doubt the opportunity of raising the Communist (|iicsiiou will be seized by the combined Opposition forces. It must be remembered that the substitution. as leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister, of Air MaeDonahl._ a great f.L.P. man, for the moderate trade unionist, Mr Clyncs. was the work of the Labour Reds. They regard themselves as tin' political king-makers, and they nio quite happy in the prospect of a straight general election fight on their altitude, license they had held from the first, that it was a mistake to accept office without an independent majority. and they demand now the prompt insistence on the full Socialist programme. That they will be beaten does not concern them. They are out for the real thing—not now perhaps, but later on. And they think it will come all the quicker if they do not masquerade, under pinky-white Hags. Xot without its due political significance, the Red headquarters were burgled by amateur cracksmen, who left all the money in the till, but carefully took the most interesting documents. This is the first real move of a 'Fascisti campaign —although the Puke of Northumberland's official British Fascist i may have no connection with it—which is, sure as daylight, going to develop rapidly here unless the politicians show a firm determination to oppose actively, and drastically the Red Terror.