1926-06-22 — Page 4

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LIBERAL LEADERS.

LORD OXFORD REBUKES MR. LLOYD GEORGE.

CONDUCT

“IRRECONCILABLE WITH POLITIDAL

COMRADESHIP."

PUNGENT CORRESPONDENCE.

From the line then taken, I have never need hardly explain that no deviated in speech or writing. Fortified courtesy was intended towards you. by the assout of my colleagues I spoke in was only anxious to avoid the unplea-. the same ass that afternoon in my santness of provoking discussion upon speech In the House of Commons and in the communications of you and other my observations from the chair at the of my colleagues which appeared in as meeting of the party. I deprecated the paper which had previously refused to general strike and the conduct of the publish your full ideas on the subject. negotiations by the Government, but as It was too late to do anything but ex- I was pleading for conciliation and a hibit differences, when I hoped that in Letters which have passed between the to contribute their counsels to the commistakes made by both parties with much have blown over. I made no public com- renewal of negotiations I spoke of the a few weeks the whole controversy would Earl of Oxford and Asquith and the mon stock. Your refusal to do so I find im- restraint.

ment on any of the declarations as re- Right Hon. D. Lloyd George concerning | possible to reconcile with my conception of the position taken up by Mr. Lloyd the obligations of political comradeshipmenced 1 directed only two criticisms at we had agreed. I know how diflcult it After the strike had actually com-presenting only half the policy on which George during the General Strike were I should have been glad to stop at this the Government. I complained that the has been during the past two and a half subsequently issued for publication. point. Your speeches in the House of Ministerial editor. of the egregious years to avoid tension. I have done my The letter written by Lord Oxford was Commons were, of necessity, so scantily British Gantie-the only means of com- best to prevent any outbreak, but often in the following terms:

and inadequately reported that I make municating Parliamentary debates to the at the cost of some humiliation. no comment upon them.

public--had completely suppressed your

44, Bedford-square, W.C. 1, May 20th. My dear Lloyd George-I have refrain- ed from writing to you until the strike was over and the life of the country had resumed its normal course. I should not be doing my duty as Leader of the Liberal party if I did not now convey to you my regret at the course which you have pursued in the greatest domestic crisis which the country has had to con- Iront.in your time or mine.

ture of our national straits. It predicts

THE AMERICAN ARTICLE. - As to whether it would have been wiser

But I cannot pass by without notice speech in the House of Lords in the offi- the article which, entirely on your own cial Government journal, a speech, by for me to risk friction and attend that account, you thought it right, when it the way, in which, as you pointed out meeting there may be some difference of was above all things necessary to do in your letfar, you had, after the strike opinicu, but ceeing that amongst those monstrate the essential unity of the had started, severely condemned the who condemn my action are men who country, to contribute to the American Government for their mishandling of the habitually disregard your invitation, my Press. I have now had the opportunity situation, and put forward suggestions failure to attend on this occasion hardly of reading the full text. It contains for which I am reproved. All my pro justifies do provocative a document as desponding though highly-coloured pic tests, however, resulted merely that on you have addressed to one of your col- I need not remind you that on the prolonged duration of the conflict, and the following day the British Gazette langues. It is within your knowledge day when the general strike already de- the ultimate wearing down of the stead-inserted a few lines torn from their that this was not the first occasion on clared was about to come into operation, fastness of our people through "worry context, and giving no kind of idea of which decisions have been taken on mat what you had proposed as a means of tars of serious importance to the party -Monday, May 3rd-we discussed with about their vanishing trade." I cannot our colleagues at a meeting of the but deplore that such a presentation of settlement. I then endeavoured, with without may having had any previous op- "Shadow" Cabinet the proper attitude the case should have been offered to the the assistance of the three editors of the portunity of expressing any opinion on of the Liboral party, We were all of outside world on the authority of an London Liberal papers, to have that us critical of some of the steps which in ex-Prime Minister of Great Britain and speech reproduced in the origin and progress of the coal dis- the chairman of the Liberal Parlia- puto the Government had taken, or mentary party. omitted to take. But we were united in It gives me real pain to have to write our determination to condemn and to this letter. As you well know, it is not join with such infuente, as we could dictated by personal feelings. Your exercise or command in resisting the ill-sincerely, advised resort of the Trades Union Council to the anti-Social campaign of! a general strike.

OXFORD.

" UNPRECEDENTED LETTER?”-

SERIOUS EFFECT ON PARTY.

The next day, May 4th, I took the first opportunity open to ms to declare and explain in the House of Lords what I had then every reason to believe and still believe, to be the practically un- animous judgment of our party. I have read over my speech, and I fnd in it nothing to qualify or amend. I did not fail to point out that in my opinion a better use might have been made by the Government of the respite of nine months purchased by the subsidy for the matur ing of constructive proposals in the coal dispute. But I urged as strongly as I could that this was not the moment for criticism of the past la any of its usi pects, and, that our paramount duty was to concentrate on the task of frustrating. the common danger which threatened the whole nation. I added two or three practical suggestions towards the attainment on its contents. ment of peace.

Mr. Lloyd George's acknowledgement

25, Old Queen-street, Westminster;

London, S. W. 1,, May 91st. My dear Uxford-I appreciate fully the gravity of the unprecedented letter you you have written to me, and as de- cision must affect seriously the fortunes of our party and add to its distractions, I propose to take two or three days to consider and consult before I reply. and I am off to the North parly to-day

I only received it lato late last night, Yours sincerely, D. Liore GEORGE.

In a subsequent communication Mr. Lloyd George wrote::

May 24th, 1926. My dear Oxford-I have given very careful consideration to your letter, and have done my utmost to prevent its un- usual tone from defecting calm judg.

·

an independent paper, and on that failing, succeeded in publishing the vital suggestions of it in

one of them.

+

the subject.

As to my American article, you'clearly cannot have read it with any care. was one of the fortnightly articles I con tribute to the Press of many countrieb, the first garbled reports of which did not 1 afterwards called attention to the appear in this country until the strike action of the Government in suppressing was well over. It was there misrepre

souted up to the point of inventing. the appeal for resumption of negotia sentences I never wrote. It was written tions issued by the Archbishop of Canter- on the first day of the strike. I only give bury, on behalf of himself and the other my first impression of it from what I sawan impression which corresponded lenders of the Christian Churches.

with that of scores of artioles which werd Apart from these two eriticismą, my printed in the American papers, and two speeches during the strike were con- which was substantially correct de fined to a support of the emergency menscription of what was actually happen ing I do not profess to discuss the sures taken by the Government; to a plea merits of the dispute. The concluding that these powers should be excrcised | words faifly summarise its.contents: with moderation and impartiality; and

Up to now it is in essonce an industrial to a support of the Archbishop's appeal plicated by this "sympathetic strike" dispute over wages, unfortunately com- for an immediato resumption of negotia There is no revolutionary purpose ani tions on the basis of calling off the gen- mating the union leaders who now in charge. There has so for boen eral strike, a reopening of the mines, and

no bloodshed. There has been no inter a temporary subsidy. These proposals ference with property, and no personal were identical with those embodied in a violengo. The whole influence of the document prepared by Sir John Simon, strike leaders will be exerted in the in the Liberal Parliamentary party. He that, a settlement will be reached whilst approved by the Shadow Cabinet and by terest of law and order. Let us trust summarised them subsequently in bis calm and restraint are being maintained accond speich in the House of Commons on both sides. There are grave rinka in --a suminary which was also mutilated the whole situation. I put my faith on, in the Government organ, which appear British coolness and the British ed to have adopted the policy that no Parliament. Liberal statement should be issued, ex- copt assertions that we were falling in behind the Conservative party and had no constructive policy to offer at all. In what respect do these proposals differ from the policy I urged upon the Govern- that force was no remedy. I applied it out to an elementary Liberal principle mont I was giving expression through-

impartially to strikers and Government.

.

in

Is not this an element which has been regarded with astonishment and admira- tion throughout the whole world!

Tho Manchester Guardian, in its issue of Friday, May 31st, summarises the position in the following words,

have written, and though it is unlikely sible and moderately minded man might It is just such an article on any sen-

that Mr. Churchill would have pamitted its publication in the British Gazette, the Archbishop of Canterbury would cer blessing. tainly have been ready to give it his

A few days later, when we were in the thick of the conflict. .I addressed through the only available organ, the British Gazette, a short message to help to hearten the mass of the people in their spléndid struggle against the coercion of a new dictatorship. Lord Grey wrote in conflict is about, and whether it is on to engage in parleys for peace, until article expremed by the most honoured

саво

NO "DIE-HARD" POLICY. War the Liboral party disavowed the In both the Boer War and the Great policy of refusing to announce terms, or

:.

Since we decided, two and a half years ed forces of Liberalism, I have done my ngo, to effect reunion amongst the divid best in every way to make that re union under your leadership an effective reality, and if open dissension is once more to be promoted in our ranks the responsibility must test elsewhere. If it must come, let us be clear as to what the

I am content with this opinion on my' an issue of principle or on points of a the same sense, and a powerful contribu-purely personal character.

chore had arat been an unconditional and venerated figure in British jour tion to a right understanding of the

surrender. On both occasions that atanliam. As I understand the gravamen of your titude was regarded as a die-hard policy. was made by Sir John Simon in the letter, it consists of a charge that, in

You complain that I predict a pro- House of Commons. None of these do criticising the Govemment and urging censure of my conduct on the speeches 1 Parliament intervens

But I gather you do not base your longed strugglo unless the public and a return to negotiations during the pro- delivered, as you state that you have had damaged trade. Are you sure the indus

to protect our clarations, were in any sense unsym-gress of the strike, I was pursuing a pathetic to the miners; still less were course which was unworthy of my poai- unly cas you read-the Cambridge speech longed unless

uo opportunity of perusing them. The trial struggle even now will not be pro-

"Parliament takes. they hostile to the principles or the unfavourably with the action of Lord speeches will be found in Hansard when the miners are accustomed to prolonged tion in the party, and which contrasts-you expressed approval of. The other hand," as I put it? I point out that legitimate activities of trades unions, Grey, Sir John Simon, and yourself, and published, and as they are the only strikes. You and I have had a painful which Liberal legislation has done so that it calls for solemn rebuke and re- words I uttered in public during the experience of that fact. It is true I ns- much in the past to safeguard.

pudiation. from you as Leader of the strike, I am entitled to ask why they sumed that the Trade Union Council party..

were not at least read before I was con- would stand by the miners to the end.. damned for the course I pursued.

There I miscalculated But was it so outrageous an assumption as to deserve censure1 The net result to a failure to press negotiations has been this deadlock

J

so disastrous to our trade at home.

2

LIBERALS' PRIMARY DUTY.

As to my criticisms of the Government, I summoned another meeting of the they were mainly contained in two It is true I did not attend a meeting speeclies, both delivered before the strike of the Liberal Shadow Cabinet on May "Shadow Cabinet" on Monday, May actually began-one was delivered at 10th. I sent, however, from the country 10th. All my colleagues attended with Cambridge on Saturday, May 1st, and full summary of my suggestions con- the notable exception of yourself. The the other in the House of Commons on cerning the crisis, addressed to Sir God- In conclusion, I again ask if there is reasons for your absence as set out in may I remind you that, at the meeting entirely agreed. I append a copy for would like to know what it is about. Is..

the following Monday. As to the former, frey Collins, with which I believe you to be another schism in the party, one letter dated the sine morning seemed to of the Liberal Bhador Cabinet on May your perumal It represents quite fairly it on a question of policy? If so, what? me to be wholly inadequate. The main 3rd, summoned specially to consider the the position I took. May I point out It cannot be anything I have written to ground alleged was that "declarations in face of the impending general strike, dant at the Shadow Cabinet meetings no censorship in the Liberal party-on-

line to be adopted by the Liberal party that I have been a more regular alten America. So far no I know we exercise have been made in the Government Press you and my other cellengues expressed than any other of your leading col- each other's books or publications Is it by the leader of the party." (te,, myself) warm approval of the line I took in my leagues. You say we were to meet to my absence from one Shadow Cabinet and other Liberals of authority from freech delivered by a Liberal leader to contribute our counsels to the com- my colleagues? Surely this is an in- Cambridge speech. It was the only gether for a full and free discussion, and mesting not to create dissension amongst which you felt obliged to dissent. You which was at all fairly reported, and as mon stock." I thought we had decided adequate reason for commencing a fresh added that you could not

the Liberal Cabinet approved of the de-

on our course of action during the strike feud in the Liberal party. Is it because way to join in declarations which con- marise them. I took three points in the the decision arrived at ther as me same critician of the Government con- clarations contained in it, I will sum at the Cabinet held on the 3rd. I took before the strike began I offered the demned the general strike, while refrain- following order:

guidance, and I never departed from the duct of negotiations, as you tendered ing from criticism of the Government,

direction then given,

during the progress of the strike, pr that who are equally, if not more, respon

On this occasion I thought decision had I pressed upon the House of Commons sible."

been preiudged by announcements in the the sound counsel offered to the antion complete departure from our agread This is surely unthinkable. From that British Golte, which I considered a

by the leaders of the Christian Churches ? policy-announcements which bear no advice, which the Liberal Cablert en- 2. The Government, by their delays kind of relationship to the Liberai policy dorsed at its May 3rd meeting, I did not and 'dawdlings, are primarily resnon as outlined by you, and which the recode, and I cannot now repudiate it sible for the present situation. It had Government had previously suppressed. I have given what I considered to be been "all talking and no thekling."

Throughout this grave national trouble

seo-your

Whether you were, or were not, at this. time aware of the terms of my speech in the House of Lords, I do not know. Though for the moment full and accurate reporting had (as I think, most-short- sightedly) been rendered impossible, yet the gist of what I said could easily have. been ascertained. I regard this as very grave matter. We had reached the most critical moment of the strike. It was, in thy judgment, the primary duty of all who were responsible for Liberal policy and certainly not least of the chairman of the Parliamentary party in the House of Commons, at such a time to meet to gether for free and full discussion, "and

1. The Government of the day must be supported in any action it may take to defend order and to preserve the essential services, "The nation must

come first and all the time.”

They had been issued to the Government

3. Let them get on with negotiations Press without any previous consultation this beat advice to my Countryment And for the first time really tackle the amongst us, but I feared it was too late as one who has taken part often in the job.

to amend them, and that it would be accommodation of industrial: duputer Although the negallations had then wiser for me not to come up from the in Campbell Bannerman's Government, een broken off by the Government and country merely to criticise & polier to ours, and my own. I need hardly say. I general strike was imminent, no one at which we had already been committed shall be prepared to meet you and the his important Liberal Council which by these fica declarations, but to end rest of my colleagues to discuss the tied our policy suggested that the una lotter expressing my view. A diatus: whole position if you consider manh's dis. inditional surrender of the strikers eion under these conditions might lead to ussion will be helpful to the party- buld precede the resumption of negotin friction overà aituation which was in. Even eincorely, tins.

its nature temporary,

D. LLOYD GEORGE..