No Alliances for the Liberal Party - Both Sir Archibald
Sinclair and Mr. Ramsay Muir, in their speeches at the National Liberal Federation, were emphatic in denouncing the idea that the Liberal Party should attempt to enter into any alliance or agreement with the Labour Party for common action against the Government. It is well to say " attempt," since there are no signs at present that the Labour Party would be willing to come to any agreement that would not be altogether to the disadvantage of Liberals. On the basis of " The Liberal Way," the statement of Liberal policy which 'was adopted by the Federation, it is not easy to see how a common ground of policy could be found. The Labour Party is insistent on nationaliza- tion of the banks ; the Liberal Party strongly opposes it. The one is not merely committed to Socialism, but in- clines towards a policy of Socialization in one move ; " The Liberal Way " is considerably more anti-Socialist in its tone (and this is worthy of note) than Liberalism has often been in the past. The removal of trade barriers is in the forefront of the Liberal programme, whilst Labour is likely to prove as Protectionist as the present Government. If there is not some agreement about policy, it is obvious that there is no means of coming to an agreement for common action in the consti- tuencies against the Conservatives.
