THE PERPLEXITIES OF A MODERATE LIBERAL
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—The recent successes of Liberalism at the polls raise difficult questions in the minds of those Liberals who, in three-cornered contests, have hitherto voted for the Tory
candidate if he seemed to have a better chance than the Liberal of defeating the Socialist. Should they continue to pursue the same policy at by-elections and later at the General Election ? The question, though not at the moment acute, affects hundreds of thousands of voters, and as one of these I should like advice from others on my position.
It may be assumed that we are mostly "moderate Liberals." As a Liberal majority over Tories and Socialists combined is impossible, and a Tory majority over Liberals and Socialists combined is very doubtful, ought we not to work for a coalition between Liberalism and the democratic Tories (practically excluding the " Die-hards ") ? But the difficulty of this suggestkm is obvious. Are the progressive Tories likely, for the sake of preventing a Socialist Government, almost certainly in a minority of the House, and unlikely to last for long, to create a serious and probably lasting split in their party ? It seems to me that coalition with the Tories is impossible for those Liberals who desire to give effect to their Liberal principles.
Many moderate Liberals fear Socialism so much that in no circumstances will they vote for a Liberal candidate unless the Liberal leaders declare that they will not form Coalition Government with the Socialists (even the moderate Socialists) and will not support a Socialist Government after the fashion of the 1924 policy. It seems certain from their public declarations that the leaders of the Liberal Party will not give any such pledges as will satisfy these strong anti=
Socialist Liberals.
Nor, again, supposing that the Liberals at the election come
out a hundred strong (a generous estimate), could moderate Liberals regard with complacency a Liberal Government kept in office by Socialist votes in Parliament? A Liberal Government sustained by Tory votes seems to me an impossibility, since (I say it with regret) at least three out of four Liberals prefer Socialism to Toryism and would refuse to temper their policy in exchange for Tory support.
Thus, we moderate Liberals appear to be between the Devil and the deep sea. Though it is impossible at the moment to frame a policy of tactics for the uncertain future, we are bound to try to make our views effective, and the future with its uncertainties should be the subject of our earnest thought.
Could not you, Sir, or some of your readers who are moderate Liberals, give us a little advice as to how we can make ourselves an effective factor in the not-far-distant fight for individual liberty, and the full right of self-expression ?—I am, Sir, &c.,
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