The association of Mr. David Lloyd George with the official Liberal op-Position group led by Sir Herbert Samuel will be strengthened by the oratorical support given by Viscount Snowden. Nowadays the prohibition against Peers taking part in Parlia~ mentary elections is blandly ignored. Lord Snowden's company with the Liberal spokesmen before the microphone will, therefore, be wel-In the last election "the Liberal vote dropped to 2,320,000 as against $308,510 in 1929," Tt must be remembered, however, that the situation was complicated by the circumstance that the Liberals in opposition to ths Government then were the handful following Mr. Lloyd George. Sir Herbert Samuel and his party were dossed with the Government supporters, Sir Herbert holding office in the Cabinet until 1032, when he and his group went into opposition. - This election, therefore, may sce a definite revival of Liberal activity. Mr, Stanley Baldwin has never failed to recognize that the vote of 1931 was given te National Government and not to any one perty. His followers have not always accepted that view and it recent months Liberals have felt that their ce-operation has been treated by Conservatives in too cavalier a fashion. Mr. Winston Churchill's return to service under Mr. Baldwin may strengthen the Conservative leaders' pation with own right-wing. It may equally per-turd the Liberal voter who will inclined to consider that his party may be swallowed up in the predenimantly Conservative mass. Sir John Simon is the leader of those Liberals who adhere to the National Governent. He has been the most criticized of all Cabinet Ministers and the criticism has been bitterest. from Liberal ranks. These considerations suggest that the official Liberal party which has so often been described "dead if not damned" may come to life again. The present assumption that the Government will have an easy task to secure its return may bbe open to review when the nominations have been formally received. It is probable that many electors will not be prepared to accept Mr Buldwin''s argument that the only alternative to. National Government is a Socialist administration. Past experience has taught the danger of Paying too much attention "tabellad" election. The "khaki" elcetion of 1900 brought the Conservatives a heavy reverse six years later. Mr. Lloyd "George's "hang the Kaiser" appeal of 1918 swept the country but looked pretty foolish when the Coalition broke and gave way to the Conservatives in 1922. Genuine tnough, the National Government's appea!
as in 1931. there is no doubt tht Labour dissidents have been able sedulously to create the impression that Mr. Ramsay MacDonald made the nation's flesh creep beyond the needs of the occasion. This, of course, is due to the success achieved by the National Government in steering the country {o recovery. Yet the psychological effect of endeavouring to repeat that kind of-appeal may be interesting. That is where the Liberal opposition will perceive ther opportunity. The voter who is stil neertain of the soundness of Labour [policy and who dislikes being asked give his support on the. basis of the present crisis over Ethiopia may bbe inclined to consider Liberal -re~ presentations more favourably than at any time in recent years. The umber of Liberal candidates small—only 180—compared with 563 Government and 530 Labour candi Jdates. In 1981 515 Labour candidates Produced only 52 Labour members fand 119 Liberal candidates produced 37 Liberal members. It seems to be accepted that Labour will inc strength in the House and there is no reason why a similar result should not accrue to Liberal effort. As a leader, Sir Herbert Samuel has lacked inspiration. He Is not endowed with the magnetism of a Lloyd George or the devastating brilliance of a Simon. He has, however, some of the solid qualities for which Mr. Baldwin -is admired and to them he adds real intellectual ability and a proved reputa-ton as a man of affairs. In the House of Commons during the last session showed to considerable advantage, disclosing a satirical genius whicn may well prove a useful asset in the hurly-burly of an election,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.