New-York tribune., 1922-04-06
Lloyd George Is
UpheldAgainbv
288-to-95 Vote
Die Hards' Motion Censur-
ing Government Swept
/ Aside After a Long
and Acrimonious Debate
Lord Hugh Cecil in Tilt
Assails the Prenier ani!
Chamberlain for En-
dangering the Nation

LONDON, April 5 By The Associ-
.tcd Press. Although number of
Iaborjtes and Independent Liberals
voted with the die hards,' the motion
Of Sir William Joynson- Hicks, Union-
;st. censuring the government. which
was debated in the House Of Commons
lengthily and acrimoniously tonight.
vas overwhelmingly defeated No di-
vision was taken or the motion itself
but an amendment of the Coalition
Unionists was carried, 2sS TO 95.
The motion read:
"Jn the opinion of this House, lack
OF definite and coherent principle in
the policy OF the present Coalition
government can only be remedied by
the establishment Of ministry COM
posed of men united by Identity OF
political principles.
Bitterness Discernible
The Unionist party meetng,' as
Joseph Devlin described the discussion
Of the die hards resolution, attracted
a full house. There was much banter
throughout the debate, but bittrness
was discernible below the surface be-
tween the "die hards" and their Union
lat colleagues. Joynson Hicks appealed
to the Conservative leaders to take
command of the Conservative party as
the country's greatest instrument for
political good.
Austen Chambe rlain, the govern
ment leader, who at an early stage en-
tered the arena, declared that the gov
ernment was anxious for a vote. He
tvitted the die hards on the delay in
Introducing the motion, asserting that
there was rot a single principle con
definition of faith. The die hards. he
declared. were either unable to define
their principles or deliberately re-
Trained in order to swell the small sec
ton Of the Conservative party which
they might be able to split away
from it.
Mr.. Chamberlain said that Joynscu-
Hicks and Ronald McNeill held safe
Conservative seats, and asked if they
had considered the opinion Of the
Unionists in Scotland or in the great
industrial centers.
Lord Hugh Cecil violently assailcd
the government generally. and MI
Lloyd George and Mr. Chamberlain
particularly, declaring that their sc-
tons and failures were endangcring
the country's safety. He and Mr. Cham
berlan had several sharp tilts, min
isterial uproars drowning some of Lord
Hugh's coustic remarks.
"If the government cannot follow
their political principles they should
resign" he cried, and he added that
he feared the discredit Of Britain had
affected it's commercial reputation
throughout the world.
In speaking 20 his motion Joynson-
Hicks disaVowcd any intention of
personal attack on the Prime Minister
or his colleagues.
Neither DO I attack the Premiers
principles he continued. "What
object to is the application of Liberal
principles to Conservative policy
He feared that if the coalition were
pernetuated on the present lines it
would inevitably result sooner or later
In q revolution or an attempted revo-
luticn
Ronald McNeill, in seconding the mo
Great Britain's democratic system to
conduct politics on party lines.
Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Hurst. of
Manchester, moved the amendment. de-
claring that "lack Of definite and CO.
herent principle in the policy of the
present coalition government is a myth
cngendered by misunderstanding and
Misrepresentation" Those agreeing
with him, he declared were not trying
either to wreck the government or to
srGt parties. Nothing in the govern
ment's record offended the principles
OF the Conservative party. The Cabf-
net was united. he said, and, in view Of
the great danger of socialism and Boil
shevlsrn, the coalition was necessary.
Rising to prolonged cheers. Mr.
Chamberlain said he was anxious for
lutl debate on the motion. and added:
fy all means, let the House divide
Mnnn Ii ~