BRITISH LIBERALS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1932, Page 5

BRITISH LIBERALS

NO DECISION YET JAAY BE ENTIRELY RE-UNITED. * » (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, . September 27. The Liberals who follow Sir Herbert Samuel,.and those, who jollow Sir John Simon, held their meeting at the House’ of Commons. It lasted for 90 minutes. It adjourned without reaching any decision, but, it was revealed that, the Simon. supporters still attach importance to their Liberalism, and contrary to expectations 'they are • reluctant t,o commit themselves to downright support of Mr Ramsay MacDonald.

It, is now being suggested in certain quarters that the followers of Sir John (Simon will voluntarily quit th e Cabinet if the followers of Sir Herbert Samuel in the Ministry go, the object in view being the re-union of the Liberal Party, but that they will support the Government during the National emergency in everything except their fiscal policy. FURTHER CABINET CHANGES. their majesties return. lUIGBY, September 26. The King and Queen will leave Scotland on Thursday for London. The Royal special train is arriving at 'London on Friday morning. They went t,o Balmoral Castle on August 22nd, and they are returning to London ten days earlier than they had originally intendof the newspapers connect His Majesty the King’s return to London from Balmoral Castle, Scot and, with extensive Cabinet changed which are likely to be announced during the coming week-end. The “Daily Herald” (Labour) says : ’•‘Tho Prime Minister is reconstructing th e entire Cabinet.” . The “Herald” adds: “Sir John gintin is likely to b e removed from the Foreign. Office, where he has given universal dissatisfaction, except to the French.”

EARLIER PRESS COMMENT. OTTAWA TO. BE DISCUSSED. RUGBY. September 26. The business before Wednesday's Cabinet meeting will be the final <Bs-1 cession on the legislation arising out of the Ottawa Conference. Much public interest is shown- in it owing to the known attitude of the executive committee -of the National Liberal. Federa tion, which passed a resolution condemning the agreements reached at Ottawa. At that meeting Sir H. Samnel referred to the provisional conclusions agreed to by himeelf. and h ® Liberal colleagues in the Cabinet, and it is under-stood the natur e of these conclusions hav e already been conveyed to the Prime Minister, . It is( generally assumed that the opposition of the Liberal Ministers to the Ottawa agreement is still maintained* “The Times” says: Apparently the- only conditions on which present composition of the Cabinet can be maintained during the World Ecbnomio Conference is that legislation arising out of Ottawa should be postponed. This can hardly commend itself to the majority of the Cabinet, and indeed the i provisional plans have already been made to start the Ottawa legislation on October 18, when thp Commons meets.” [n these circumstances the newspapers anticipate that the Liberal Ministers will resign f rom fhe Cabinet, as also will Lord Snowden. It is understood s .that if the (Liberals resign they will not go into opposition, but will co-operate witih the National Government on all questions othe- ..ian that of Ottawa legislation. The T-ime Minister is already assured of the —>ntinned suprmvt of Sir .T. Simon, Mr Ruitciman and most -of the other Lib eral National Ministers. _ .

A lull attendance of Ministers is expected at Wednesday’s meeting of the Cabinet. Sir J. 'Simon, in order to be present, left Geneva by tram rind flew from Paris to London. Mr Baldwin, who returned from Aix-W-3-bains, had , a long conversation with the Prime Minister, and with several other colleagues.