LIBERALS RESIGN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1942, Page 3

LIBERALS RESIGN

INDEPENDENT ACTION DESIRED TROUBLE OVER PARTY CENSURE MOTION. ATTITUDE IN COMMONS DEBATE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, February 12. Mr Hore-Belisha, Mr E. L. Granville, and Sir J. H. Morris-Jones, have resigned from the Liberal National Party in order to take an independent critical attitude to the Government. Sir Morris-Jones and Mr Granville walked out from a private meeting of the party and then sent a letter resigning, explaining that in future they must take an independent, and if necessary, a critical attitude in the House of Commons. The meeting intended to censure Sir Morris-Jones and Mr Granville for their critical attitude, particularly in connection with the tabling of an amendment at the recent confidence motion. When Mr Hore-Belisha was speaking. Sir Morris-Jones and Mr Granville, who explained that they could not accept limitation of their actions by party ties and regulations, left the meeting. The letter says: “For some time we have been convinced that something more than the present policy of the Government is necessary to win the war. For a year we have taken the strongest action to plead for an Empire Cabinet, effective strategy, reorganisation of production under a single Minister and reconstruction of the Government. We believe, if this policy for which we have fought had been carried out, then valuable lives at vital positions and the worst series of events, culminating in the grim situation at Singapore might have been avoided. Today we are facing the gravest situation in the history of the British Empire.” After declaring that there was no place for party politics, the letter recalled their desire to obtain assurances for adequate air reinforcements in Malaya and Singapore and stressed the general need for more aircraft which could only be achieved by a plan organising the whole resources under a single direction. “We believe this represents the feelings of our constituents and the country,” they stated. Mr Hore-Belisha resigned as a protest against what he called the illiberal action of the party in calling to account Sir Morris-Jones and Mr Granville.