The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-26
The Pacifist as ImperialistI

@4 IN 49, -
Editors Note.-Here is an
other article on the pig develop
ments in Great Britain. 1t is by
J. 7. Murphy, prominent Com
munist and trade unionist, whose
enlightening writings are already
familiar to large number of our
readers. There will be other ar
ticles in the near future on other
phases of the developing struggle
in Great Britain.
BY j. II. MURPHY.
II HE whole labor movement of
Britain was shocked on Friday
morning, Feb. %, 1924, when it read
of the labor governments action
with regard to cruiser building. Even
the dock strike and the rent restric-
ton bill were overshadowed by the
amazing scenes of Thursday night
The pacihst premier had become the
champion Of the conservative pafty's
program of cruiser building. The
first big storm within the ranks of
the parliamentary labor party since
taking Office broke even into the
debates in the House of Commons.
Without discussing the matter with
the labor members or even the new
liason committee between the labor
party and the government, the latter
declared to the house their prepared
ness to proceed with the building
of five new cruisers Immediately the
tenders had been given and the
House had voted on the matter.
Cabinet Divided.
When this was announced even
the cabinet was divided and the
government benches were sounding
varying notes in the debate. w. II.
Hudson, the under secretary of the
chancellor of the exchequer, was
prepared to second a motion against
the government moved by Pringle,
of the liberal party. The ranks of
the labor party itself were in tur-
mol. "What did this means? What
the devil was Macdonald thinking
about? We have preached disarma-
ment for years and we have fought
for our own distinctive policy for
the treatment of unemployment. The
government has thrown down the
very foundations of our interna-
tional policy and it has stamped
upon our unemployment program.
1t will pay heavy price for this
surrender to the admiralty" Such
were the outbursts Of the labor
men.
The Times was more jubilant
concerning the decision. It said,
at goes far enough to establish that
Mr.. Ramsay Macdonald and his
colleagues know how to appreciate
the indispensable necessity of main
tanning our first line Of defense at
an efficient standard. They have
shown a real largeness Of view in
rising above deep rooted prejudices
of many Of their adherents about
"unproductive expenditure" upon
ornaments, and degree Of moral
courage, not common in any party,
in acting upon their knowledge Of
what the interest Of the state de-
mand against the known wishes of
a large section Of their supporters. !"
The voting was also interesting.
The motion against the government
revealed a swing of the pendulum.
Instead Of labor government bJ
kind permission of the liberal party
it was now a labor government by
gracious permission of the Tory
party. The motion was defeated
by 372 votes to 70. Only one
of the later was labor vote, the
rest were liberals. Two labor men,
Maxton and Nichols, refused to
vote. Altho Hudson had spoken
against the government he voted
with it after Macdonald had had
conversation with him. Hudson
served two years or more in Jail
as a conscientious objector but now
Macdonald explained that he was
not increasing ornaments but only
proposing requirements so he sue
cumbed and voted with the govern
ment.