UNIONIST CRISIS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 11 January 1913, Page 5

UNIONIST CRISIS

THREATEN ED (RESIGNATION OF

MR BONAR LAW,

MEMORIAL OF CONFIDENCE.

(Received Last Night, 10.35 o clock.*) , LO;NDON, January 10. Tho Morning Post states that when it became evident that tho bulk of the Unionists were unwilling to accept the policy enunciated in the Ashton speech of Lord Lansdowne. Mr Bonar Law intimated his intention of resigning. The policy had previously been endorsed hy all the front-bench-ers in the House of Commons. and ex-members of tho Cabinet in the House of Lords, who are therefore barred from accepting the leadership. When the crisis became known, tho back-bench drew up a memorial, affirming their belief in Imperial preference, and their unabated confidence in Mr Bona r Law as leafier. Two hundred have now signe<l the memorial. but it is still doubtful whether Mr Bonar Law is willing to withdraw his resignation. The Dailv News declares the memorial to be a long and complex document, the contents of which are strictly secret. . . The Times states that the crisis over the leadership is now a thing of the past. The Standard says that it believes that Mr Bonar Law that the memorial has eased + l,r > s position snfficienUv to enable liiin to continue the leadership, in the circumstances with greater confidence.