Tag: 100 Years Ago

13 DECEMBER 1923

The National Executive of the Labour Party declared its opinion that the party should at once accept full responsibility for the Government of the country should the necessity arise.

American financial experts were appointed to take part in the Reparations inquiry.

The Secretary of State for War has decided that, in the present circumstances, it was desirable to cancel the proposed visit of General the Earl of Cavan, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, to Singapore and the Dominions.

12 DECEMBER 1923

The Cabinet agreed that it was their constitutional duty to meet Parliament at the earliest available opportunity. Parliament, therefore, was recalled for 8 January 1924.

The Portuguese Government said that they had repelled a revolutionary movement of radicals and extremists in Lisbon.

Winston Churchill was cross-examined at the resumed trial at the Old Bailey of Lord Alfred Douglas on a charge of criminally libelling him. Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Francis Oliver said that Lord Balfour drew up the Jutland bulletin at the Admiralty in his own handwriting and Mr Churchill had no part in its preparation.

11 DECEMBER 1923

Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, met King George V but didn’t, as had been expected by some, offer his resignation.

Further election results were announced in Argyllshire, the Western Isles and Inverness where Liberal candidates were returned.

Sixteen Scottish representative Peers were elected at Holyrood House. Lord Sinclair took the place of the Earl of Rothes who hadn’t sought re-election.

The trial of Lord Alfred Douglas on a charge of criminally libelling Winston Churchill in a pamphlet dealing with the Battle of Jutland was begun in London. Lord Balfour was listed as a witness.

10 DECEMBER 1923

The media reported that Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, was today meeting King George V and was likely offering his resignation.

Two statues of King Tutankhamen, one of gold and one of silver, had been discovered at the tomb of Luxor.

The result for Fermanagh and Tyrone was announced with a Nationalist and a member of Sinn Fein elected.

9 DECEMBER 1923

It was reported in the media that Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, was considering resignation after failing to get a sufficient majority at the General Election.

Labour said that there would be no partnership with the Liberals in Parliament.

Ramsay MacDonald, the Leader of the Labour Party, said “we are fifty stronger than in the last Parliament. We could have dropped the Capital Levy and Nationalisation, but we are not out to snatch seats and win a premature victory. When our time comes we shall be ready. Our present task is to educate opinion”.

London County Council Highways Committee cut fares in a bid to recover some of the custom that had been lost to the buses, which had increased from 780 to 1,000.

8 DECEMBER 1923

The General Election result was reported as 253 Unionists, 193 Socialists, 151 Liberals and 5 others.

Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, said that by looking at the election results, he would have a difficult time ahead.

Mackenzie King, the Canadian Prime Minister, speaking in Montreal said that when he was in England he had been told by leaders of all the political parties that the attitude taken by the Canadian Government at the time of the Chanak crisis was the right and sound one.

7 DECEMBER 1923

Polling continued in the General Election, with the first results being expected in the evening.

Calvin Coolidge, the President of the United States, in his Message to the American Congress, indicated adhesion to the principle of a Permanent Court of International Justice, and indicated his attitude to a proposal in the Senate to accord support for such a body. With regard to the United States tariff law, he stated that it had secured the prosperity of the country.

6 DECEMBER 1923

Polling took place in the General Election.

Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, speaking in Bewdley, said that his policy was devised to help unemployment. He sincerely believed in the instruments he proposed to use. He said if he failed, his reputation would be gone; but he was going to have a jolly good try.

David Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister, addressed Liberal rallies at Camberwell and Brighton.

Herbert Asquith, assisted by Lord Buckmaster and Lady Bonham Carter, wound up his campaign in Paisley.

5 DECEMBER 1923

Speaking at Great Malvern, Stanley Baldwin, assured pensioners that the policy of the Government would involve no peril to their interests, as had been insinuated in Liberal quarters. He characterised it as a discreditable insinuation, which showed the bankruptcy of the party that made it.

Austen Chamberlain was prevented from addressing a meeting at West Bromwich being shouted down by Socialists.

David Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister, spoke in Cardiff.

4 DECEMBER 1923

The Prime Minister delivered the last national speech of his election campaign at Liverpool, emphasising the country’s grave situation, and the momentous nature of the electors’ choice.

Viscount Younger defended the fiscal policy of the Government in a speech at Balfron in support of the candidature of Sir Harry Hope.

Election speeches on the Liberal side were made by Herbert Asquith, David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill.