Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1931 THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN BRITAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 9 January 1931, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1931 THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN BRITAIN

RECENTLY-ARRIVED London files record a speech by Mr Baldwin, which is of much importance, in that it seems to show that the British Conservative Party has healed its internal dissensions, whereas the Labour and Liberal Paities have developed serious internal differences. Speaking to the Central Council of Conservative organisations, Mr Baldwin said: —

The first step we shall take when we come into power will be as quickly as legislation can effect it to impose an emergency tariff on manufactured goods. The reason why I use the word “emergency” is that it is not a simple thing to turn a Free Trade country over to a Protectionist basis. The principal work of the Conservative Government will be to get it thoroughly established on scientific lines. . - • We are prepared to do everything in our power to work with them (the Prime Ministers of the Dominions)—for Imperial unity. , . . Now, in our party wo may have had—we have had our differences, but to-day is not a time to dwell on them. They are past. We say no more about them. We have a national and Imperial policy on which we can all unite. There is no further reason for dissension, and the time has now come for the whole lino to advance.

The meeting had passed “a resolution expressing explicit confidence and unabated confidence in Mr Baldwin,” and after thanking the meeting for the mariner in which the resolution had befen carried, he opened his remarks by saying, “I believe it is absolutely right that we are to-day the only united party in the country. ...” The Conservative leader seems to have been referring to certain developments in the Laboui Party, on which the London “Times ’ of 27th November comments as ..follows: There lias been a serious development in the dispute between the rebel Left Wing of the Labour Party and the rank and file generally, which may have far-reaching consequences. It has been recognised, since Sir Oswald Mos* ley left tire Government, that a difficult position might arise whenever he elected to work with the discontented Left Wing. On Thursday, for the first time, he and his small hand of supporters definitely associated them-, selves with that section of the party. Our readers are aware of the break-away of Sir John Simon and other prominent Liberals from the leadership of Mr Lloyd George. So that, whereas the party in power and the party which keeps it in power are being weakened by internal disagreements, the Conservative Party has healed its differences. The fact seems to be that the Empire Free Trade Crusade of Lord Beaverbrook received a severe set-back from the Dominion Premiers at the Imperial Conference, where they unanimously declared themselves In favour of reciprocal trade-preferences between the Dominions and the Mother Country, but denounced Empire Free Trade as impracticable. Up till that time Lord Beaverbrook had caused something like a split in the Conservative Party, but it seems that with the denunciation by the Dominion Premiers of his policy of Free Trade within the Empire, his influence has much decreased, and the dissension in the Conservative Party has been healed. In any case, Mr Baldwin’s speech, of which we have quoted part, shows that a buoyant and united spirit exists in the Conservative Party, and that it is anxious to submit its policy for protecting British manufactures to the country. That policy seems destined to disunite the Labour Party more seriously than ever. Sir Oswald Mosley appears to lean towards it, and the Trades Union Conference has definitely declared itself in favour of the protection of British industries by means of a restricted tariff. Indeed, the only real free-traders in Britain seem to be the die-hard supporters of Mr Snowden and Mr MacDonald, and their colleagues of the Cabinet, and the Cobdenite Liberals who follow Mr Lloyd George. But that leader and the Premier are united in their fear of going to the polls at tho present time, lest Mr Baldwin’s policy of limited protection should carry the day. However, there seems to be a feeling in Great Britain that the end of the present Parliament may come at any time, either through rebellion in the Liberal Party, or through rebellion in tlio Labour Party, or in both. Moreover ! there are signs that a dissolution would ho welcomed by the country. Above all things Mr Lloyd George desires electoral reform. Some say the price of his support is the Government’s agreement to introduce an Electoral Reform Bill on lines agreeable to Mr Lloyd George. The \ Government, however, hesitates to act in ; the direction indicated, lest so soon as ,

the new Act is passed Mr Lloyd George might desire to make a trial of it. It is a question how long the patience of the Liberal leader will last, At any time lie might demand that Mr MacDonald should produce an Electoral Reform Bill, and if the Premier should refuse his Government might suddenly come to an end. And if he should grant the demand, his Government might come to an end shortly afterwards, in order that Mr Lloyd George might have a chance to improve his party’s position by appealing to the electors.