The Connecticut labor news., 1924-02-02
BRITISH LABOR GOVERNMENT
 TO LAST LONGER THAN EXPECTED

ing what IS characterized as the skill and the sagacity Ramsay Mcdonald the new premier, displayed in choos-
 ing his first ministry, not only in care
 fully dovetailing the trade union and
 intellectual wings of his party into a
 composed whole, but also in selecting outsiders whose names are calculated
 to allay any apprehension in the
 country that revolutionary legislation
 will be attempted.
 This initial success on hte part of
 the new premier has led to some re
 vision of the ideas about the duration of his administration The general
 belief is that MT. Mcdonald has been aetuated by two principal mo- lives: first, to take safe line, cal culated to gain much-needed admin istrative experience; and second, to improve the prospects of his party al
 the next general election, whenever that may come.
 If MT. Macdonald gets the fair
 play to which the bulg of the press
 acknowledges he is entitled, 1t is the
 opinion in political circles that his administration may last year or
 two. The belef prevails that the
 touchstones will be finance and fore ign affairs. Without going outside
 the proposals of former Premier Bald wins administration, it is considered that in the kings last speech MT.
 Macdonald can find an ample pro- gram of social reforms concerning un- employment, housing and the like, to which the opposition in the House of &,I~
 for two years at least.
 Finance will hardly trouble the new premier for the present, because his government is practically under the necessity of adopting the budget pre- fairs, especially relations with France, and the reparation problem are ex- pected to prove the first pitfall for the Mcdonald government
 The life of the Labor government to a great extent is in the hands of Her bert H. Asquith and the Liberals When MT. Asquith gave expression to the opinion that the king was not called upon to dissolve Parliament at the request of the outgoing premier, he is considered by the political lead CTS undoubtedly to have had in mind the belief that the Labor government would be of short duration. MT. As quith's idea is thought to have been that King George should refuse to grant dissolution and call upon the Liberals to form government in the event that MT. MacDonald's govern ment is defeated. MT. Asquith has publicly claimed that his party holds the balance of power in Parliament, and it is supposed he counted on benevolent support from the Conser-l vatives to give him fair lease off power if he is ot succeed the Mac Donald government.
 MT. Asquith's view of the kings on the dissolution ques- ton has been very largely disputed and 1t Is now believed that he is dis posed to give the Labor government support during longer period than was contemplated, provided, as it is generally reported, MT. Macdonald to devote himself to a legisla tive program within the lines of the kings last speech. @ .s. ..--.-. .-
 Mr. Macdonald assiduous devotion to foreign affairs lover which he has been working for long hours, early and late, at the foreign office, is con- sidered an indication that he realizes where the test of his administration will come.