BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

IN THE COMMONS.

MR BALDWIN’S QUERIES

OVER LORD LLOYD’S RETIREMENT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright). (Received this dav at 10 a.m.) LONDON, July 26. Jn the Commons, on the motion for adjournment Tor the summer recess, Mr Baldwin drew attention to the great gravity of the matter of Lord Lloyd’s resignation or dismissal. He hoped -Mr Henderson would lie able to dispel Wednesday’s mist which developed on Thursday for the House of Lords. Mr Baldwin traced the history of our policy in Egypt to 1922, the declaration recognising Egypt’s independence subject to reservations. He alluded to the failure df the Zaghloul Pasha treaty m which it was stated the presence of British troops in nowise meant occupations or prejudiced Egypt’s sovereign rights. (Labour laughter.)

Air Baldwin continued that failure was due to the extremists belief that they could get better terms under another Government, but there was nothing in the negotiations between Zaghloul and MacDonald to show the' latter was prepared for any serious departure from the 1922 declaration.

Mr Baldwin recalled Mr MacDonald’s statement in the House just before his defeat in 1924 that no Government in the light of the world war should divest itself wholly of its interest in the Suez Canal, which was a vital link in British communications. (Opposition cheers.) Lord Lloyd occupied one df the most difficult posts. He was of a type who was not afraid to speak his mind and was able to argue and criticise, which it was the Foreign Office’s duty t listen and receive. Their representative must carry out instructions, or if he disagreed, he must resign. If h<~ ’•egarded the subject as sufficiently nr important matter of principle why did Lord Lloyd resign or why was he dh missed P

The question was far greater than Lord Lloyd’s personality. Did the Government desire the resignation because it did not want a public servant who criticised its decisions? Did it want a dummy, or was there a change of policy which would lead to Lord Lloyd’s resignation, so that it was simpler to get him out of the way before a change df policy occurred. (Opposition cheers.)