"A RED PERIL."

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1920, Page 5

"A RED PERIL."

lEW DANGER TO BRITAIN. ■PREMIER AND A DISSOLUTION. By- Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright ' Received March 25, 2.25 p.m. London, March 22. The Westminster Gazette says it wild not surprise anyone in the inner olitical circle if the Premier were to ush the Budget through and announce dissolution. His intimates affirm that Mr. Lloyd ieorge really believes in the existence fa "Red Peril" in Britain; hence the arty's new electioneering slogan "Coalbion, or Bolshevism." The question of an Immediate appeal o the country depends on the results f several pending by-elections. —United lervice. THE FUSION DENOUNCED. THE AIMS OF LIBERALISM. SPEECH BY MR. ASQUITH. Received March 25, 5.5 p.m. London, March 24. Mr. Asquith, in a ipeech at the National Liberal Club, said the Premier's :hallenge ought to be taken up immediitely. The fusion was being watered lown into a closer co-operation, and the •eal point was whether they were going .o respond to the Premier's invitation. Since Labor was hostile, and since Independent Liberalism intended to remain independent, were they going to link up with Tory organisations, which were the )nly organisations satisfying Mr. Lloyd 3eorge's definitions and likely to supply his need? Why should Liberals abdicate their primary functions as a great historic Party 1 He expressed the opinion that nothing more would be seen of the AntiDumping Bill, and he declared the Government's Irish Bill did not seek to amend, 'but to repeal, the Home Rule Act, and substitute therefor a fantastic scheme which was a. travesty on selfgovernment. Liberals were asked to agree to the fusion owing to the new peril vulgarly called Bolshevism. He denied there was any antithesis between Liberalism and Labor. Labor was everything to Liberalism, and there were many roads they could travel side by side. The Premier's appeal was on the lines of a class cleavage, and was most mischievous. Free Liberals were not going to be tied to the Tory chariot wheels—they were going to retain, preach, and practise their principles.— imperial Service.