7 FEBRUARY 1925, Page 2

But it was when the discussion turned on to the

aims and objects of the party that a certain unreality seems to have crept into the proceedings. There was a signifi- cant little incident on the afternoon of Thursday, January 29th, when Sir Donald Maclean moved the adoption, of a pamphlet entitled "A Declaration of Liberal Principles and Aims," which had been drawn up by the Committee appointed by Mr. Asquith. Mr. Holt, of Liverpool, is reported to have risen to remark that he objected to the adoption of "any programme on principles. Programmes were merely embarrassing to the Liberal Party." We fancy that Mr. Holt spoke truer than he knew.