HOME POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1922, Page 5

HOME POLITICS.

THE OUTLOOK OBSCURE. MANY FAVOR ELECTIONS PREMIER MAY CARRY ON. PARTIES MOBILISING,. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 16, 9.50 pjn. London, Oct. 16. The Press continue to be obsessed by ■ the obscurity pf the political situation. Most journals predict an early dissolution, •while others point out that Mr. Lloyd George is not the resigning sort. He is profoundly impressed by the warmth of his reception in Lancashire, and may attempt to carry on in the belief that he is sufficiently strong to break down his antagonists as previously. Lord Birkenhead, Mr. Winston Churchill and others are pressing Mr. Lloyd George to appeal to the country, but on the other hand other Tory members of Cabinet declare that if the Premier forces an election without consulting the Conservatives as a party they will resign immediately and precipitate a crisis. The Conservatives and the Independent . Liberals are preparing for a fight, the latter having 300 candidates ready to take the field at the shortest notice. The Westminster Gazette declares Labor’s chances are greatly strengthened by Mr. Chamberlain’s invention of the Bolshevik bogey.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (ELECTION - IN NOVEMBER. STATEMENT BY DAILY MAIL. Received October 17, 1 a.m. London, Oct .16. The Daily Mail lobbyist states a general election in November is now regarded as a certainty and the probable date is November 6. The Labor Party has arranged to begin its electoral campaign on October 28. The Times, in a leader, expresses disappointment at the Premier’t speech. It says he failed to answer the main criticisms and he dealt with the problems of the impending peace conference in a spirit which would be justified only if Christendom was waging a holy war against the Turks. FRANCE AND NEAR EAST. PREMIER’S WORDS RESENTED. REVELATIONS PROMISED. Received Oct. 16, 8.5 p.m. Paris, Oct. 15. There is much comment on Mr. Lloyd George’s speech. He is accused of relating history in his own fashion for his own purposes, and there is resentment against the accusation that the French abandoned ’ the British. His words are regarded in some journals as more wounding than any which enemy countries directed against j France during the war. Le Temps, in a violent attack, says: “It pleases him to appear amid the lightning of the European storms.” MM. Franklin and Bouillon, whose ac- i tions at the Near East discussions have been criticised in British semi-offical quarters, say: “We will reply to Mr. Lloyd George, and the world will be surprised when it knows exactly what happened.”— Times Service. Received October 17, 1 a.m. Paris, Oct. 16. Public opinion resents Mr. Lloyd George’s references at Manchester to the French agreement to protect the neutral zone, which France interprets as an allegation that France broke her word. M. Tardieu, in the Echo de Nation, describes the speech as a firebrand calculated to start a conflict. In the mouth of the Prime Minister, he said, there are words of conflict unheard of between London and Paris for twentyfive years. Le Temps accused Mr. Lloyd George of seeking election advantages at the expense of European peace. PREMIER PLEASED WITH TOUR. London, Oct. 15. Mr. Lloyd George had an enthusiastic reception on returning to London. The crowds cheered him heartily. Mr. Lloyd George, who had a long interview with Mr. Churchill, was greatly impressed by the warmth of his welcome in the North of England. MR. ASQUITH'S CRITICISMS. London, Oct. 14. Mr. Asquith, speaking at West Hartlepool, said: <f We hear a great deal of talk about the imminence of the general election, and the sooner it comes the better. The story of the coalition is a long and almost unbroken record of delusion and disappointment. There is not a single problem of the many and complicated problems the war left in its wake, except two or three minor matters, that are not any nearer solution than at the time when the peace treaty was signed.” HONORS FOR THE PREMIER. London, Oct. 14. After leaving Manchester, Mr. Lloyd 3eorge, in the presence of a large audience at Salford, was presented with the freedom of the borough. A similar ceremony was performed at Blackpool, where 3000 were present. “BEWARE OF LABOR.” London. Oct. 15. Whether Labor shall or shall not be allowed to govern seems likely to be the basis of the Government’s appeal both to Coalition members of Parliament and the country at the elections, judging from Mr Chamberlain’s speech. Mr. Chamberlain’s attack on Labor was no surprise. Mr. J. H. Thomas states that it is evident the Coalition battle cry will be the wicked Labor Government. He added: “We accept the challenge and I feel happy respecting the outcome.” Mr. Clynes declared that the Government was trying to shield itself by shouting “Beware of Labor.” The Times, in a leader, pronounces Mr. Chamberlain’s speech as a failure. It was an unwise, unfair, misleading and deliberate attempt to conjure up the TAhor Party as a terrible menace. It betrays an attitude of mind, which demonstrates that the Government is no longer fitted to control the destinies of the nation.