Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-16
British Premier
Gives Reason for
General Election

London, Nov. 15.-(By A. PD-The
House of Commons tonight, after q de-
bate in which the prime minister and
Mr.. Lloyd George took part and much
heclling and derisiye remarks were in
sAulged in. rejected the labor motion
tof' censure introduced by J. Ramsay
Macdonald. by vote of 2S5 to 100
amid ministerial cheers.
The government thus maintained it's
parliamentary majority and cleared
for formal dissolution tomorrow. when
the struggle, which already bears evil
dence of being of an exceptionally de-
termincd character. will be transferred
from the parliament to the constitu-
encies. Ministers and members alike
will distribute themselves all over the
country. where great oratorical cam
pai@h is already in full swing. Pre-
mier Baldwin today told the House Of
Commons something about his tariff
plans and the reasons for precipitating
general election. He was specific
regarding only what he proposes to eX-
clude from taxation. that is. wheat.
-four and meat. including mutton and
bacon, and cheese, butter and eggs.
For everything else the prime min
lister reserves "a perfectly free hand"
for later decision. On what articles
he proposes to raise the tariff he awaits
the advice of a committee appointed to
consider the subject.
His plea of necessity for protection
was based largely on the argument
that in the matter of tariffs every ma
TONS hand is against Great Britain.
All other governments. especially the
United States. Italy and Spain. had
greatly increased tariffs since the war.
Mr.. Baldwins speech was in no sense
an grafton. He gave the house per-
fectly plain talk such as the chairman
OF company might give to his board
Of directors. On foreign affairs, which
under the excitement of the impending
campaign are almost forgotten, he said
the Allies had been informed that the
British people could NOT continue in
definitely to maintain the spirit neces-
sary for cooperation under the exist
Ing situation. and he deplored the fall
lean cooperation.
Mr. Lloyd George replied briefly.
criticizing the governments policy in
calling a general election. He main
tanned that a settlement In Europe
would be a better remedy for unem-
ployment than tariffs, and regretted
that the government had dropped inter-
national negotiations just when the
United States had Joined with Great
Britain in them.
The Labor members heckled both
speakers, wanting to know particular
ly what Mr.. Lloyd George had done
for the unemployed when he was in
power.
The debate was started by J. Ramsay
Macdonald. leader of the opposition.
who offered vote of censure of the
government. Mr.. Macdonald said that
over a third of the unemployed were
from the engineering and other metal
trades, and shipbuilding. cotton and
distributing trades. The engineering
and iron and steel trades in the first
nine months of 1923 had, imported
goods to the value of 100000 pounds
sterling and exported to the amount
of 100000 pounds sterling. Tariff
reforms in such conditions offered no
help for the unemployed. Bribing ag-
riculture with 100000 pounds annu-
ally, he asserted, was of doubtful le-
gality.
Altogether. today's session was
tame affair. contrasting sharply with
other historic days when other prime
ministers have had to eXpound policies
of vital Importance to the nations des-
TIMES.