The Washington herald., 1922-01-20
PREMIER HEADS
new POLITICAL
PARTY in BRITAIN
National Liberals" to Be
Formed by Lloyd George
And Churchill.

LONDON. Jan. 1s.-The definite
secession of Lloyd George from the
old Liberal party and the formation
of new party to be styled the
National Liberals" is the somewhat
startling disclosure in publication
of the agenda for the coalition-lib-
eral conference scheduled for Fri
day and Saturday. Lloyd George is
to be president of the new organi-
zation and Winston Churchill vice
president.
The decision, which is of far
reaching Importance In British poll
tics is annoncedin the principal reso-
luton to come before the meeting, in
which 1t is declared that: THE con-
ference, believing that Liberal prin-
ciples are vital both to national,
imperial and international affairs.
and having been denied the right of
developing these political activities
within the limits of the existing Lib
eral organization decides to form
National Liberal Council for the
promotion and defense of these
principles"
The platform Of the new political
group includes: Free trade, social
reform. disarmament, and unem-
DlOYhcuI II 10 uCoAbhCo ~
attract moderate Liberals, free trade
Conservatives, Laborites. ex-sol-
diers, bat II is also definitely op-
posed to advanced Laborites" and
socialistic schemes for nationaliza-
tion and abolition of private owner
ship.
Cabinet Liberals Included.
The party includes all the Liberal
- he nnhfnat and laaVaa
the Asquith following cinging to the
remnants of the old political ma
chine.
Political observers have predicted
a new party alignment practically
ever since the war.
The unsettled domestic political
situation of England, revolving
around the question of the dissolu-
ton of Parliament and a general
election, is approaching a climax in
a series of speeches by members of
the government which are expected
to clarity the issues now before the
public.
Austen Chamberlain. speaking at
Glasgow Thursday, has definitely set
tied the question of an immediate
election. He declared that Lloyd
George would not call for the disso-
luton OF Parliament until the Irish
situation had been completely set
tied, and that he had the unanimous
backing Of the cabinet in this in
tention.
Until the legal establishment of
the Irish provisional government has
been completed. there can be no dis
solution of Parliament" Chamberlain
announced.
Asquith Attacks Waste.
Herbert H. Asquith, voicing the op-
position, was speaking at the same
time in London. He attacked the
governments wasteful expenditures
and high taxation. and condemned the
Versailles treaty.
Reports that a split in the coali-
tion is threatened by which Lloyd
Georges position is rendered inse-
cure met with a vigorous denial by
Chamberlain that any dissession
existed among the liberal and union
ist members of the government. The
situation will not be entirely clear.
nevertheless. until Lloyd George has
made his eagerly anticipated speech
next Saturday, when he is expected
to make a forceful appeal to the
country emphasizing, first the neces-
sity of Irish peace, with legislative
action permitting fulhllment of the
treaty.
The second point the premier will
make will be Importance of the eco
nomic conference at Genoa, stressing
his belief that only through that
gathering can world trade and Eng
lands commerce be revived.
As far as Lloyd George Is con-
cerned. the domestic situation is COM
pletely bound up in the international
crisis. which explains the premier's
anxiety for a readjustment of rela-
tions with France and his desire
to stimulate the interest OF Amer
lea in Europes problems. That the
Irish question Is not completely set
tied from England's standpoint was
made evident in Chamberlain's speech.
I'VE have taken a grave departure
from our Irish policies" he said.
I'VE have entered a new course and
we can not do anything to jeopardize'
the success OF our departure. We
must bring the ship to harbor be-
fore we take any risks. A solution
of the Irish question along the lines
of the treaty is a process which re-