BRITISH LIBERALS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1932, Page 6

BRITISH LIBERALS

1 IMPENDING RESIGNATIONS. , (United' Press Association.—By Electrio Telegraph- -Copyright,) \ LONDON, September 28' Viscount Sir H. Samuel, and Sir A. Sinclair resigned when Cabinet decided that the postponement of the Ottawa agreements was impracticable-. ■ The junior Ministers, Lothian, Hamilton, Foot, Graham, White, .Rea, MacKenzie-Wood, Johnstone are also resigning: “DAILY MAIL'S” SPECIAL PLEA. LONDON, September 28. • The “Dally Mail” jsaysr “In the Dominions an impression may be produced that the British people and the . Cabinet are seriously divided on the /issue of preference under the Ottawa .agreements. This is not the case. It is quite, certain , that the last thing that the democracy desires is to see the Dominions rebuffed, and Britain once more the world’s dumping ground.”

VISCOUNT SNOWDEN. REASONS FOR RESIGNATION. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, September 28. Viscount. Snowden in a letter to Mr MacDonald states : “I cannot, without loss of self respect, remain a member of a Government pursuing a policy disastrous to the country's welfare, leading to a disruption of the .Empire, and: fraught with great danger to international relations. The acute, national emergency no longer exists and the main purpose of the National Government has ,been achieved. The British delegation went to Ottawa with the intention,of increasing inter-Imper-ial trade and-the lowering of the world tariffs. They have returned after weeks of acririlonious disputes and sordid -struggles with vested- interests, with agreements Wrenched from them to avert the collapse of the conference, 'blit which expose'the hollowness of the talk of Imperial sentiment in economic i affairs. These agreements maintain |the existing tariffs, increase the existing duties l oris footstuffs, impose a* duty ,qn wheat; and raise the price of meatarid bacon by some incomprehensible .plan- for restricting foreign imports. The Dominions 1 are to dictate to us where we shall, or shall not buy. The agreements have surrendered our fiscal -autonomy and handed 1 to the Dominions .the control of British trade and policy, reducing Britain below the status of a Dominion-. You’ cannot expect free traders to acquiesce in such a policy of national humiliation and bondage. If unfortunate results follow the break up of the National Government, the Tories ' iftust" ."b&aY the" f Aspotfs'ibility. I am convinced the- Tories tariff imperialist policies are more dangerous in their permanent effects than last year’s crisis:”