Category: 100 Years Ago

23 OCTOBER 1924

Stanley Baldwin points out in a message to the women electors that the future of their homes and their children depends greatly upon how the women of Great Britain use the power of their vote.

Lord Balfour, speaking at Peebles on behalf of the Unionist candidate, declared that even a brief experiment of Socialist State organisation would mean national disaster.

Herbert Asquith met with a hostile reception from a rowdy element at his meeting at Paisley, and was continually interrupted during his speech.

David Lloyd George spoke at Haverfordwest in support of his son’s candidature. He said it was a good thing that Labour had had an opportunity of office, if only to convince them of the impossibility of building up a great new social era in six months.

Speaking at Alnwick, Viscount Grey said the three qualities needed in public life today were sympathy, truth, and courage. The Labour Government was directed, not to inducing people to pull together, but to a class war.

Ramsay MacDonald, at Aberavon, said that Labour was making things move. That was why the other parties were so angry with Labour.

Socialists and Communists were present in large numbers at Sir Robert Horne’s meeting in Partick Burgh Hall, and created a disturbance. The stewards had to eject several of the interrupters from the hall.

22 OCTOBER 1924

Sir Alfred Mond was refused a hearing in Hackney, where the Socialists broke up his meeting.

Glasgow Magistrates issued a warning that they would take a serious view of any cases of disturbance or obstruction at election meetings which might come before them in their judicial capacity.

Lord Curzon, at a Unionist meeting in London, strongly condemned the Russian Treaty. He said that the policy of the last Government was British throughout. It was the policy of the firm hand.

Sir Robert Horne, addressing his constituents in Glasgow, said there had never been a grosser fraud perpetrated on this country than the Russian Treaty. Trade Unions had issued a circular stating that the Treaty should be carried through, but he did not believe that Trade Unions would lend a single penny of their funds to Russia.

Winston Churchill at Bristol said the Unionist programme might have served for an actively progressive Liberal Administration. “Trust the people” was a motto which should animate them in the present fight.

Sir Auckland Geddes, at Blackburn, said the Government in the field of foreign policy filled him with grave uneasiness. They seemed to speak not knowing, perhaps not caring, and other countries listening to their words believed them to be full of meaning.

Addressing his supporters at Paisley, Mr Asquith said that Mr Wheatley’s Bill now stood not as a monument to the creative insight and skill of the Labour Government, but as a co-operative undertaking in which all parties in the State had a hand.

21 OCTOBER 1924

Stanley Baldwin, in a speech at Southend, urged the importance of an inquiry into food prices. Referring to Russia in his Southend speech, Baldwin that at one time there went up a cry of “Hands off Russia.” He thought it was time some of them said to Russia, “Hands off Britain.”

Addressing Paisley electors, Herbert Asquith said it was not for the Labour party of all people in the world to descant on the immorality of what we called pacts. The Liberal party put them in office and kept them there so long as it was safe for the country to do so.

David Lloyd George, speaking at Walsall, dealt with the land question and the Liberal programme in regard to it.

Referring to the Campbell case at Aberavon, Sir Alfred Mond said the Workers Weekly article was an incitement drawn up in Moscow.

That this country, if it committed itself to a loan to Russia, would assume a responsibility for the crimes of the Soviet Government was emphasised by Winston Churchill in the course of a speech at Epping.

The Prime Minister, speaking at Leicester, said that to the Labour party the issue of the election was “Is Labour to rule? Is the Labour Government to receive a vote of confidence from the country or is it not?”

In West Edinburgh Mr Ian MacIntyre, the Unionist candidate, is waging a vigorous campaign against both Liberal and Socialist nominees.

20 OCTOBER 1924

Nominations took place on Saturday for the General Election.

Stanley Baldwin, speaking at Cardiff, said Labour leaders forgot that the joint-stock system had taken us far away from the system of our grandfathers, and that the control of industry could be obtained in practice by anyone.

Winston Churchill, in the Epping Division, said the Unionists had definitely adopted a national platform, and they were the only party around which a stable Government could be built.

In a concluding speech of his Carnarvon campaign, David Lloyd George said that of a Government which had failed more conspicuously than any Government which had ever existed, Mr Wheatley had been the most portentous failure.

Replying to certain allegations made against the Socialist Government, the Premier at Aberavon said if he could not win on affairs of the State and his political policy, then let him fail.

Speaking in the Seaham Division of Durham. Mr Sidner Webb said that this election would rank in history as the funeral of the Liberal party.

Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame replies to the Prime Minister’s defence of the Russian Treaty. He states that the effect of the Prime Minister’s policy would be to bolster up those very conditions in Russia which make the development of trade impossible, it would also be a disastrous example to the rest of the world.

4 SEPTEMBER 1924

It is reported in Cairo that Zaghlul Pasha is returning to Egypt on the 22nd inst. without entering into negotiations with the British Premier.

Ramsay MacDonald, the Prime Minister, arrived at Geneva, and will speak in the Assembly of the League of Nations to-day on the problem of security and disarmament.

Georgia and Azerbaijan are reported to have risen against the Soviet forces.

In Morocco the Riffs are attacking vigorously. An official Spanish communiqué admits that several outposts have been taken, and that others were only saved by the brilliant defence of the troops. The Directory in Madrid state that Spain much reply not only from a sense of pride, but for self-preservation. No commentary prejudicial to the troops or the authority of the Government will be tolerated.

Two Federal by-elections in Quebec Province have been won by the Government candidates. The Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzie King, has expressed satisfaction with the results, as an endorsement of the Government’s policy of a moderate tariff.

Mr. SP Gilbert, a former U.S. Treasury official has been appointed Permanent Agent-General for Reparation Payments.

Interviewed by a Press representative, Mr George Terrell, President of the National Union of Manufacturers, said that, without a shadow of doubt, the proposed loan to Germany under the London Pact was detrimental to British manufacturing interests.

That the National Debt formed a dead-weight charge upon industry and reduced the ability of industry to create fresh productive capital was contended by two representatives of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, who appeared as witnesses before the Committee on National Debt and Taxation.

3 SEPTEMBER 1924

The Duke and Duchess of York spent a busy afternoon in Glasgow, where they each fulfilled several engagements. Great public interest was taken in the visit, and their Royal Highnesses were everywhere received with much enthusiasm.

Mr Ramsay MacDonald, the Prime Minister, left London for Geneva, where he is to attend the Assembly of the League of Nations.

Mr MacDonald, who had a cordial welcome in France, stated in an interview that the importance of the present Assembly of the League was great, for it was the first time that it had met after a real step had been taken to establish European peace. The road was more clear than ever for a real discussion of armaments and national security.

An official report has now been received regarding the disastrous hurricane which struck the Leeward Islands on the 25th ult. Many lives were lost, and much valuable property was destroyed, especially in Montserrat and Tortola.

General Obregon, in his closing address as President of Mexico, vigorously attacked the policy of Great Britain in connection with the suspension of diplomatic relations and the expulsion of Mr Cummins, the British agent.

2 SEPTEMBER 1924

The Fifth Assembly of the League of Nations opened at Geneva. M. Hymans, Acting President, said he trusted that the London Agreements would be put into effect, and thus give the world the relief which it so urgently needed. They would mark the beginning of a new era, a successor to the age, the iron age of trial, sacrifice, and suffering. He added that all eyes were turned in the hope that it would find a solution to the problem of security. All motions at this moment towards the League of Nations, the President of the Assembly, was elected

Mr. A. A. Purcell, M.P., chairman of the Trade Union Congress, in his presidential address at Hull, said that their first task must be to bring their Union organisation to the highest point of efficiency and strength. The highest Labour party was only strong and healthy in proportion to the health and strength of a united and scientifically organised Industrial movement. Referring to the Dawes Scheme, he said that the German eight-hour day must be firmly re-established. Workers’ sacrifices were not at an end. The German army and with it a proper minimum wage to safeguard the German workers’ standard of life.

Mr. Ponsonby, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs replying to Mr. Runciman’s recent criticisms of the Russian Treaty, declared there was no question of dictation, threats, surrender or anything of the kind. After the breakdown he accepted an invitation from some of his friends in the House of Commons who were ready to act as intermediaries with a view to the resumption of conversations between the two delegations. By this means they were able to discuss in a satisfactory formula, and the Treaty was agreed to. He could see nothing irregular in the proceedings.

Mr. C. R. Das’s declaration of his future policy for India and his admission of his advocating a revolutionary movement are agitating Calcutta.

1 SEPTEMBER 1924

The London Agreement was signed at the Foreign Office, London, by representatives of the Allied-German Governments. The proceedings were of a purely formal character, and no speeches were delivered.

The French Government replies to the manifesto of the German Government denying that Germany was responsible for the war by reminding Germany that the world has already pronounced judgement upon the nation which, many years before the war broke out, had made up its mind to march through Belgium.

At a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union at Geneva, the question of the manufacture and traffic in arms and ammunition was discussed, and in the interests of peace and security the calling of an international conference was suggested.

The League of Nations Council held its thirtieth session at Geneva. Among the subjects discussed were reports on slavery, the opium traffic; the protection of women and children in the Near East, the financial reconstruction of Hungary, and the Turkey-Iraq frontier.

Efforts are being made to disperse the Chinese war clouds. The Peking Foreign Office has assured the British, American, French, and Japanese Ministers that it does not want civil strife, and is endeavouring to avert warfare.

16 JULY 1924

Before the Finance Bill passed report stage in the House of Commons, the Chancellor of the Exchequer moved a series of new clauses in fulfilment of undertakings given in Committee. These were added to the Bill. One requires companies to state clearly on dividend warrants deductions made in respect of Income Tax. Others provide exemption from Entertainments Tax in the case of agricultural shows, industrial and art exhibitions, and certain charitable entertainments.

David Kirkwood moved in the House of Commons for leave to bring in a Bill to provide for the removal of the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey to Holyrood Palace. The motion was opposed by the Scottish Secretary of State, Sir John Gilmour, and Lord Apsley, but was carried by 201 votes to 171. The Bill was read a first time.

The principal delegations to the Inter-Allied Conference arrived in London. The Conference opens to-day, and will, it is stated, last a fortnight.

The show of the Highland and Agricultural Society was opened at Perth, when there was a representative display of Scottish stock. In many of the principal sections competition was keener than usual, and in some cases umpires were called in to make final decisions. The number of persons who paid for admission to the show was 25,533 compared with 37,735 at Perth in 1904.

Lord Leverhulme, who presided at the resumed general session of the International Advertising Convention at Wembley, described advertising as a necessary arm of business. The Earl of Balfour, who also spoke, referred to the early days of advertising, and mentioned the part which advertising could play in the revival of trade.

15 JULY 1924

The House of Commons discussed the London Conference and the Dawes Report on the Foreign Office Vote, the Premier defending the agreement arrived at with France as the result of his Paris visit.

Questioned in the House of Lords by the Marquis of Linlithgow, the First Lord of the Admiralty stated that there had been no change in the policy of the Government with regard to Singapore naval base.

The Prince of Wales opened at Wembley the International Advertising Convention, which is attended by more than 5,000 delegates representing the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World. His Royal Highness said that the general aim of advertising was to provide throughout the world a more extended market, the attainment of a lower cost of distribution of commodities, and elimination of economic waste. The result, in the elimination of waste, would undoubtedly be found in a lower cost of production, and in the consequent reduction of prices and unemployment. If they were to solve some of the social and economic problems with which the world was faced, “The Future of Advertising,” was, said Sir Charles Higham in a paper, “today more necessary and valuable as the modern newspaper or periodical.”

Burgomaster Adolphe Max, of Brussels, received the freedom of Edinburgh in the Usher Hall. He was afterwards entertained at a luncheon in the City Chambers, and replying to the toast of his health, commented on the similarity in characteristics and antecedents of the Scots and Belgians, and the good relations which existed between the two countries.

The rebels at Sao Paulo, Brazil, are stated to number 15,000, and it is reported that they are preparing to march on Rio de Janeiro.