Evening star., 1923-12-16
HOLDS LABOR RULE
CERTAIN IN BRITAIN
Liberal Editor Picks Ramsey
Macdonald to Succeed
Stanley Baldwin.
BY A. C. GARDINER.
Brit1in's Greatest Liberal Editor.

BY Radio TO The Star.
LONDON, December 1.-THE po-
litical waters still are heaving after
the recent cyclone. Prime Minister
Baldwin's stupendous fiascO has left
the conservatives in a hopeless mi
nority and the protectionist cause in
ruins. Mr.. Baldwin,s own disposition
was to accept the verdict and resign
forthwith, but, 8 usual, he was over
ruled and decided to retain office until
the meeting of parliament in-January.
No doubt is felt in any quarter &hat
no will be defeated Immediately upon
the address. The fact that he met
former Premier Asquith this week led
10 a rumor that the liberals would
keep the government in office tempo
rarily. The writer has full authority
TO deny this rumor. Mr.. Baldwin
asked Mr.. Asquith to meet him simply
70 inform him Of his decision to meet
the new parliament.
y" Appeal for Help.
He made no approach for help. He
knew such an approach would be
futile. The whole spirit of the liberal
party is hostile to an accommodation
with the conservatives. The defeat of
Premier Baldwin. therefore, is as
huTeu. II Is uHueTSIou lndl fStlllSdy
Macdonald, the labor leader, will
move to amend the kings address
and that his proposal will be couched
in such terms that the liberals viii
support it.
If the premier is defeated he will
resign, and the king will send for
Ramsay Macdonald to form a gov
ernment. Macdonald will accept Of
fee.
Again. there is no question of a
FORMAL coalition with the liberals.
The election conflict between liber-
ais and labor has left much bitter
ness, and labor has never concealed
its desire to destroy the liberal
party.
Alliance is Doubted.
What, in these circumstances, will
be the attitude of the liberals and
the conservatives toward Il labor gov
ernment? Will they unite to throw
labor out?
The writer thinks not. Response
ble sentiment in the liberal party
favors giving labor fair chance to
show its capacity for government-
provided, of course, il avoids eStrav-
agenCes of policy. On the European
issue the liberals are in entire sym
pathy with labor. and RamsaN Mac
Donald's downright criticism OF Pre-
mier PoinCareS policy, gwen TO the
Paris Matin, created great satisfac-
ton.
1t is generally recognized in France
that the entente based on NJ. Poin-
cares policy is dissolved. Nothing
was more remarkable during the
election than the evident public in
dignation at the Ruhr horror and
weariness at waiting until NJ. Poin-
care reduces Germany to famine and
despair. 1t may be taken for grant
ed that the liberals Will indorse de-
cisive action by the labor govern
ment and that the new year will wit
ness important developments in the
European situation.
HaIdane to Get Office.
Great interest is taken in the prob
able constitution of the first labor
government. 1t is generally supposed
that Lord Haldane, the lord chancel-
lor of the last liberal admin stration,
will return to that position, as he has
associated himself with the labor
party.
The question of a foreign minister
offers great difficulty, as no man in
the party is plainly cast for the part.