HOME POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1922, Page 5

HOME POLITICS.

BREACH IN CABINET. EXIT MR. MONTAGU. SUPPORT FROM ELECTORS. By Telegraph.—-Press Assn. —Copyright. Received March 12, 5.5 p.m. London, March 11. Mr. E. S. Montagu, who lias just resigned as Secretary of State for India, addressing his constituents, said the country should welcome Mr. Lloyd George’s return to the principle of Cabinet responsibility. The genius dictator now ruling had on many occasions reached epochal decisions without consulting Cabinet, the most notable recent instance being his decision to invite Russia to Genoa. Later, Mr. L. C. Amery (Secretary to the Admiralty)_ without Cabinet authority, published the Admiralty’s reply to the Geddes Economy Committee’s report. Mr. Montagu said that the real explanation of his dismissal was that in view of the threatened collapse of the Government Mr. Lloyd George wanted to offer his head-on charger to the Conservatives. Every member of, the Cabinet had a copy of the Indian■. despatch a week prior to its liberation for publication, and Lord Curzon or anyone else could have vetoed its publication if they had wanted to, but no one did. Lord Curzon, whose policy of missed and bungled opportunities has disastrously embarrassed his policy in India, instead of raising a question in Cabinet, wrote him after a Cabinet meeting, hectoring a protest against the proposed step. Mr. Montagu said he had been on the verge of resignation, but carried on hoping he would be able to show Indian Moslems that Britain’s pledges had not been irretrievably broken. Concluding, he offered to resign his seat, but the meeting refused to accept it and passed unanimously a vote of confidence in him. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

COMMENT BY THE TIMES. THE GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. London, March 10. The Times, in a leader, states that Mr. Montagu’s resignation will cause no regret, but the harm done to national and Imperial interests is so far-reaching that it will be necessary to take urgent steps to prevent it spreading and to persuade Indian opinion that the resignation does not indicate any weakening ■of the Imperial Government’s effort to secure the fullest and most favorable treatment of Mahommedan aspirations. Similarly no pains should be spared to make plain Britain's position regarding the Near East during the forthcoming negotiations with our Allies, and what remedial steps can be taken. Lack of co-ordination in the Govern ment remains the chief which made Mr. Montagu’s conduct possible. The Government must give.some proof of power, to deal coherently and firmly with great Imperial issues or give plae? to some administration less dangerously divided against itself.

A PLEA FOR UNITY. MANIFESTO TO UNIONISTS. Received March 11, 5.5 p.m. London, March 10. A largely signed resolution will be submitted to a meeting of Conservative Unionist members of Parliament on Tuesday pointing out the grave concern with which the signatories regard the tendency to weaken the solidarity of the party, emphasising the conviction that in view of the economic depression, the widespread unemployment and the urgent necessity for continued effort at the reconstruction of Europe the conflicting action within the party is deplorable. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SUCCESSOR TO MR. MONTAGU. Received March 12, 5.5 p.m. London, March 11. The Daily Chronicle states Mr. Lloyd George has invited Lord Derby (formerly British Ambassador to France) to take up the position of Secretary for India.