Liberals and Labour Hostile: Faint Praise from Conservatives and Baldwin Oppoc:
London, Feb. 17.
Lord Beaverbrook, the well-known newspaper proprietor, who has been associating himself with the Empira free trade policy, has, issued a manifesto announcing the launching new political party named the United Empire Party.
'The purpose of this. new party, Lord Beaverbrook explains, is to carry into effect the "plain' prineiples for which the Empire crusade was launched." He says that, al ready 200,000 men and women have enrolled as founder members, whi the events of the last few' weeks have demonstrated that no one of tthe existing political parties is big enough to embrace the doctrine of Bumpire free trade in its entirety.
Rothermere to Aid Beaverbrook Feb, 19. the cornu. 1 oe, free trade and superstition.
Mr. Amery reaffirmed his loyalty to the former Conservative Premier, Mz. Stanley Baldwin, who is now the leader of the Opposition.
Sir Austen Chamberlain, the Foreign Secretary im the late Conservative Government, addressing Conservative conference at Bir-bingham to-day referred to the announcement made by Lord Beaverbrook, the well-known newspaper Proprietor, of the formation of the new "United Empire Party" in favour of free trade within the, Empire.
Sir Austen moved a resolution assuring Mr. Baldwin of Joyal sup-Port of his leadership and expressing hearty approval of the policy he stated before'the Country recent-
Wiscount Rothermere, chief proprietor of the "Daily Mail," "Daily "Mirror," and.other papers, has. whole-heartedly joined Lord Beavorbrook principal shareholder in the "Daily Express," Sunday Express" and "Evening Standard," in demanding a clean sweep of the existing political parties, He has mised actively and energetically to support the policy, including. taxes on food-stuffs, of the "United Empire Party," which proposes to candidates at bye-elections and "to seontest half the seats in the Gountry at the next General Blection.
Tt was reported yesterday that} Lord Beaverbrook had issued manifesto announcing the launching: of a new political party named the "United Empire Party."
The purpose of this mew party, Lord Beaverbrook explained, was to carry into effect the "plain principles for which the Empire crusade was Iaunched." "He said that already 200,000 mon and women bad enrolled as founder members, while the events of the last few weeks had demonstrated that no one of the existing political parties was big enough to embrace the doctrine of Empire free trade in its entirety.
In a further announcement regarding the "United Empire Party," Lord Beaverbrook says it is intend-edu the first place to proceed with the organization through local, centres, and in the second place to raise a' fighting fund of £100,000 of which the trustees will be the Rt. Hon, C, A. MeCurdy, K.c., formerly, chairman and managing-director of United Newspapers, Ltd. (Daily Chronicle," "Sunday News," ete.) and Sir Hugo Cunliffe Owen, chairman ut the British-American Tobacco Ca, Lord Beaverbrook is appealing for subscriptions to this fund, em phasiaing that "everything we do in the pursuit of our aim will be done full day light."
The attitude of politicians and the press generally towards the "United Empire Party" is now beginning to take shape.
At is generally Youbted whether the crusade-will spell-bind the electorate sufficiently to change the whole face of Party politics. The Party leaders themselves are silent. The Liberals and Labourites are hostile and disdainful. The Conservatives from whom—the crusaders anticipate the largest} secession. dawn the new Party with faint praise, declaring that Free Trade within the Empire has long been an ideal of the Conservatives but that it has been roled out o practical polities. A "fourth party, it is thought, can only weaken the Gonservatives in the fight against the: common foe.
'The "Morning Post" in refusing to print the crusaders' advertise-ament, describes the tactics of Lore. Beaverbrook and Lord Rothermere as wrecking" tactics.
The formation of the new Party! has been given prominence in Canada, but comment there i neutral.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.