BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1922, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

NEW PREMIER’S POLICY, PEACE IN IRELAND. EMPIRE TRADE PLANS. UNITY OF UNIONISTS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Oct. 26. Mr. Bonar Law, addressing the West Scotland Unionist Association, said there had been a great change and people hardly knew where they were. He himself was one of those in that position. In the action he had taken he had not been actuated by any desire for personal advantage. It seemed to him he had no choice in the course he took. One result of this was that the Unionists were fighting as a party. As he believed the nation wanted rest and tranquillity his policy would be a negative one in the sense tha* his aim would be to leave the recv.. y from the effects of war to the free untrammelled initiative of private men and women who were working out their lives in this country. Mr. Bonar Law, in his address to the electors, said he intended to act in close consultation with the Dominions. He intended to ratify the Irish Treaty and was also pledged to safeguard Ulster. He proposed to consult the Dominions and, if they approved, to summon an economic conference as early as possible to consider the best method of. developing Empire trade. RETURN TO NORMAL. Mr. Bonar Law has issued a manifesto to his constituents. He considers it most important that there should be the most speedy and complete return to normal pre-war procedure. The time had come for change in the machinery of the Central Government. The work of the Cabinet Secretariat in connection with the Treasury must be continued, but the Secretariat in the present form must be ended. Instructions had already been given to transfer the machinery in connection with the League of Nations to the Foreign Office. As regarde any future international conference, even where it was necessary for the Prime Minister to attend, the machinery of the conference would be performed by the Foreign Office, not the Cabinet Secretariat.

The first foreign interest of the Empire and the world was the re-establish-ment of peace. The Government, in its foreign relations, would pursue an even course, loyally fulfilling its obligations* but resolutely determined not to extend its commitments and to curtail them should reasonable occasion arise. Only by frank and full co-operation, similar to that in war time, with France and the other great Allies, could they hope to eolve the difficult problems with which they were confronted. He confidently hoped that, ihder the well-tried guidance of the Foreign Secretary, negotiations for the settlement of the Near Eastern crisis ivould result in a true and lasting SUPPORT FOR LEAGUE. It would be his earnest aim to give •,he League of Nations whole-hearted tnd practical support. The maintenince of friendship and a good underitanding with the United States, based aot on a formal alliance, but on comnunrty of inherited ideals and recent tomra'deship in arms, must always be ;he principal aim of British policy.

•‘Above all, we mean in all matters tffeefing external policy and the security of the Empire, to act in close and jontinuous consultation with the Governments of the Dominions and India in order to ensure that our policy shall teep fully in view both the interests ind sentiments of our fellow subjects averseas and at all times have behind it the moral support of the whole British Commonwealth.” The Government’s first task, if returned to power, would be the ratification of the Irish Treaty. “We are prepared to take part in making good the treaty, both in the letter and spirit, and to co-operate with the Irish Government in the new relationship within the Empire which the treaty has created. We are equally pledged to safeguard the freedom of choice, the security of the Parliament and Government of North Ireland. “We desire to promote the quiet and orderly development of India under the constitution conferred by the Act of 1919. REVIVAL OF TRADE. “The chief preoccupation at Home will be the state of trade and employment. The plans considered by the late Government to deal with unemployment will be re-examined with the view of possible improvements and immediate action. A real recovery, however, is dependent upon the revival of trade. The first essential is the reduction of expenditure and relief from taxation which is clogging the wheels of industry. The most helpful method of reviving industry is the development of inter-Imperial trade. Therefore we propose immediately to consult the Governments of the self-governing Dominions and, if they approve, summon at the earliest possible moment an economic conference, with the view of finding out how, by mutual co-operation, we may best develop the vast trade of which in my opinion the resources of the Empire admit.” Referring to the serious condition of agriculture in Mr. Bonar Law Eays: “The Government will immediately re-examine the problem, in the hope of making proposals to assist the agricultural community and to overcome the difficulties.”

Finally, he says he does not recommend other desirable measures because the nation’s first need is to get on with its own work with a minimum of interference at home or disturbance abroad. REGRET AT DISSOLUTION. TIME OF DIFFICULT PROBLEMS. FULL RECOVERY NOT MADE. Received October 27, 8.5 p.m. London, Oct. 26. Mr. Lloyd George and Lord Birkenhead were the principal speakers at the annual oyster feast at Colchester. Lord Birkenhead said the Government ,was faced with great problems, and “it is our intention to afford them euch help as is in our power.” He. observed with pleasure that the new Government had given proper recognition to the House of Lords, and it would seem that all the great departmental discussions there. He did not think

the Government’s policy differed much from that of the late Government.

Mr. Lloyd George regretted that the comradeship which had won the greatest victory in Britain s splendid story had not been preserved until all difficulties were over. The country at present was in a subnormal condition; we had been by the bedside of a patient and the thermometer was not yet up to the ■little black spot which means normal. We had been doing our best to promote its recovery, and had said do not let us quarrel in hospital until the patient has completely recovered. He thought a great deal of the oyster, because it was the most attractive of the molluscs that loved tranquillity.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

GOODWILL IN IRELAND. NEW PREMIER’S POLICY. Received October 27, 8.5 p.m. London, Oct. 26. Mr. Bonar Law’s manifesto referring to Ireland states: “We are equally pledged to safeguard the freedom and security of the Northern Parliament and earnestly hope that further progress will be made in dealing with anarchy in the South. The prosperity of Ireland as a whole can only be achieved by goodwill between the Governments and people in noth portions of the country.” Mr. Bonar Law expressed the confident hope that under the well-tried guidance of Lord Curzon the negotiations for a settlement of the Near Eastern crisis would result in a true and lasting peace. MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. FIXED FOR NOVEMBER 20. Received October 27, 8.5 p.m. London, Oct. 26. A proclamation summons Parliament for November 20. LLOYDS OFFER A GAMBLE. Received October 27, 11 p.m London, Oct. 26. Lloyds have effected insurances against Labor winning a majority oyer all other parties at the rate of five guineas per cent.