London, Sept, 20, "The Ottawa proposals represent a partisan not a national policy, and are contrary to the permanent interests of the nation," declared Sir Issac Foot, Minister of the Mines, in a speech at North Car-dian to-day.
"We are therefore bound to. oppose them. We entered the government as Liberals and free traders' and we shall remain Liberals and free traders.
"Tf the Ottawa proposals become law, they will deprive Parliament of budgetary independence. Sir Herbert Samuel will state at the right time the decision of the Parliamentary Liberals' party. We desire the government policy to be truly national."
The provisions in the draft of the Ottawa agreements were condemned in resolutions passed by the Executive Committee of the Consumers League, which is calling consumers throughout the country to Oppose the ratification of the agreements, which are "calculated to interfere with our necessary supplies and imported commodities; particularly foodstuffs, whether by protective taxation or by application of the pernicious quota system without first consulting an electorate."
Sept. 21 Despite Sir Isaac Foot's speech last night, there is a growing impression that the Liberal Ministers will not resign, as a number of them believe that they can have more influence in toning down the Ottawa policy if they remain in the Government rather than out of it.
Meanwhile, the Executive of the National Liberal Federation had a meeting this afternoon and passed a resolution condemning the Ottawa decisions, which they declared, if carried out, would hinder rather than help the recovery of trade and would "create a grave danger of endless sordid bickerings between the countries of the Empire."
Sir Herbert Samuel, the Home Secretary, who addressed the meeting, gave no indication of the intention of himself and his Liberal followers, beyond pointing out that the Cabinet would meet on September 28 to consider the whole question of the Ottawa decisions.
Mr, Lloyd George made a speech at Aberystwyth to-day in which he compared the position of the Liberal Ministers to that of a cat with her head in the cream jug and someone trying to pull her out by the tail. Sept. 23.
A strong plea to the Liberal Ministers not to cause a Cabinet split over the agreements reached at Ottawa was made by the Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr, J, H, Thomas, in the course of a speech luncheon here to-day.
"I don't intend to apologise for the agreements we made," he declared.. "Grave as was the position twelve months ago, it is no less grave to-day.
If it was necessary for men and women to subordinate their personal interests twelve months ago, it is no less necessary -at this moment and, above all, what justification would there be for a oh what involves Empire policy?"—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.