POLITICAL PUZZLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1922, Page 5

POLITICAL PUZZLE.

THE POSITION IN BRITAIN. ELECTIONS LIKELY. FATE OF THE COALITION. PREMIER READY FOR POLL. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 19, 12.20 a m. London, Oct. 17. The Daily Mail states that the Premier, addressing Coalition-Liberal members of the Government, gave important information about future political developments. He stated that the issue still depends entirely on the result of the Unionists’ meeting on Thursday, but it is now narrowed down to two alternatives. i If the meeting supports Mr. Austin Chamberlain’s pica for a continuance of the Coalition there will be an immediate dissolution, but if it rejects the advice Mr. Chamberlain, with other proCoalition Conservative leaders, will resign from the Conservative Party. The Premier and the Government will then resign, and it will then he open to the Independent Conserv tives to form a new Government if ‘.hey wish. The inevitable result in either case Is an immediate election, since no Conservative Ministry could carry on in the face of the opposition created by defections. The Premier added that he was convinced he could command a large majority at the elections, and he intended to appeal to the electors for the continued co-operation of the Con servatives and the Liberals on the grounds that stability was still needed in the conduct of the Government. Lord Long, speaking at Hammersmith, said: “Personally. I firmly believe in the Coalition, h-t I cannot disguise from myself that there is a deepseated feeling among workers and the Conservative party that there ought to be a Conservative Prime Minister. This conviction arises from no feeling against Mr. Lloyd George. It does not come from above, but from the rank and file of the party. We must not smash up the Conservative Party in a hurry. ’ Mr. Arthur Henderson, speaking at Newport on the election, said the Coalition’s disruption was inevitable to lighten the burden of the national debt. The Labor Party would create a war debt redemption fund by a levy on accumulated wealth, beginning at fortunes of £5OOO. Mr. Cecil Harmsworth (Under-Secre-tary for Foreign Affaire) has notified his constituency that he is not standing at the next election. Received Oct. 19, 12.5 am. London, Oct. 18. Lt.-Col. Sir R. A. Sanders (Under-Seer?-* tary for War), who is a Coalition-Unionist, has resigned. He was officially requested to defer his resignation pending the Unionist meeting on Thursday. AN UNIQUE ELECTION. NUMBER OF M.P.’S REDUCED. London, Oct. 17. The approaching general election will be the shortest political struggle ever held in Britain, and will return the smallest House of Commons for over a century. The Representation of the People Act, 1918, increased the membership of the House of Commons to 707, but the establishment of the Free State reduces Ireland’s representation at Westminster to 13, representing Ulster exclusively, and this reduces the House of Commons to 615. Under the Franchise Act, 1918, all polls must be taken on the same day, and on the following day, practically the whole constitution of the new’ House of Commons will be known. The whole campaign between the dissolution and the declaration of the polls will last three weeks. It is considered that a stable Government will be impossible unless some party or group of parties commands at least 325 votes. Estimaters in all the parties expect Labor to be the second largest group. Mr. Lloyd George will speak at Leeds, Hot Newcastle, on Saturday. THE DIEHARDS' POLICY. London, Oct. 17. Lord Salisbury, leader of the Diehards, addressed Conservative members of both Houses. Lord Gurion was present. Lord Salisbury said he could not agree to Mr. Chamberlain’s Birmingham view=. The Go ernment’s extravagance, its abandonment of authority in India and Egyptj and the deplorable conditions in Ireland were notorious and the Conservatives could no longer be responsible for such political events. A crisis such as they had just passed through was a discredit to their foreign policy. The Conservatives as a party were entitled to reconsider their position. They wanted a united Conservative and Unionist party.

SPECULATIONS ON DATE. DEFINITE NEWS AWAITED. London, Oct. 16. The newspapers are full of speculations regarding the political situation. Despite Mr Lloyd George's indefinite announcements at Manchester events have moved rapidly during the week-end towards a quick ending of the suspense. Mr. Churchill gave a dinner party on Sunday, attended by Mr. Lloyd George, the Liberal members of the Cabinet and Mr. Chamberlain, Lord Balfour and Lord Birkenhead, who are definitely in favor of a continuation of the Coalition. It is reported that at the dinner attempts were made to induce Mr. Chamberlain to agree to a rush election as a Coalition, without any preliminary Unionist Party meeting. It is understood that Mr. Chamberlain declined, hence the summoning of the Unionist members of Parliament to the Carlton Club gathering on Thursday, which political writers agree will be the deciding factor. At the meeting Mr. Chamberlain is expected to recommend that the Conservative and Liberal wings shall go to the country as separate entities, but hold themselves ready to co-operate in Parliament after the election. The Diehards, however, will press the meeting to decide that the Conservatives should no longer uphold the Coalition. The decision will be reached in the shape of a vote of confidence in Mr. Chamberlain, which the latter’s friends believe will be carried. At preliminary meetings of Unionist Min irters and Under-Secretaries to-day a large majority supported Mr. Chamberlain. On the other hand the Diehards claim that they have the support of many back benches. If the Carlton Club meeting votes against the continuance of the Coaliticu

Mr. Chamberlain and most of his colleagues will resign from the Government. A powerful factor in the background is believed to be Mr. Bonar Law’s opposition to the continuance of the Coalition with Mr. Lloyd George. If the Unionist Party renounces the continuation of the Coalition Mr. Lloyd George is expected to hand over the control to a purely Conservative Ministry, which will immediately face the electors.

The leaders of all parties have made many speaking engagements for the next fortnight. Mr. Hewins has given notice to move at the National Unionist Conference in November that the Coalition cease and the Conservative leaders appeal to the country for a majority to enable a new Government to carry out the following policy: (1). The maintenance £f the Entente with France; (2). The aabption of a trade policy confirming the resolutions of the Imperial Conferences of 1917 and 1918 with a view to restoring trade and reducing unemployment.

Labor is planning to contest 420 seats. It cannot afford to waste money on hopeless Conservative strongholds. A party official to-night said that Labor expected to win 150 to 160 seats (in 1918 74 Labor members were returned) and be strong enough to make it difficult for any Government to play fast anu loose with problems. The party did not intend to declare its policy prior to the announcenient of the dissolution, owing to the fear of having its thunder stolen.