San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-27
d-George's Attack Con-
sidered Effort at Pol
Z itical Comeback.
BLOW TO ENGLAND
Disturbance in Parliament
May Affect Reparations
Settlement.
BY A. G. GARDINER.

Copyright. 1924, by Consol. Press Assn.
London, April 26.-Parliament re-
assemblies Tuesday after the Easter
vacation under a sky thick with
storm clouds.
Three main troubles threaten the
future of Premier Macdonald. sThe
first is the breaking of the storm
between the Liberals and Labor. La
Dor support put Premier Macdonald
into power and has kept him there.
But the attitude of Labor toward the
Liberals. both in Parliament and out,
has been one of undisguised enmity.
Labor is carrying on the war against
the Liberals in the constituencies with
redoubled intensity. Feeling in the
Liberal party has reached the break
ing point, and this week David Lloyd
George seized the opportunity 10
force a crisis by delivering two Bit
ter public attacks on the premier in
terms deliberately calculated TO make
a breach unavoidable.
The more responsible elements
among the Liberals deplore this at
tempt to force a final breach. 1t
was made in the absence of III. III.
Asquith, the Liberal leader, who is in
Southern France, and the writer has
good reasons to know that he looks
with disfavor on this Infatuated re-
taliation.
However. it is difficult TO see how
the breach can be patched up.
Anxious to Avoid Crisis.
Although Labor has behaved badly
toward the Liberals, the main current
of party opinion still is anxious TO
avoid a crisis and give Premier Mac
Donald an opportunity to impose
more civil attitude on his followers.
But Mr.. LloydGeorge's fierce per-
soual attacks would now put the
premier in the position of surrender
ing to public humiliation.
The writer's view is that Mr..
Loyd-George is aiming TO carry aSI
many Liberals as possible over to
Center party and revive the old
Lloyd-George- Churchhill- Birkhead al
lame. Under the circumstances,
continuance of the present government
is extremely doubtful and already the
conservatives are issuing warnings
that a new election is imminent.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Snow
dem will introduce the budget Tues
day in an atmosphere charged with
electricity.
1t ID lamentable that this new con-
fusion should arise at moment. when
the European situation is so critical.
Premier Poincare once more is at
his familiar game of smashing the
reparations settlement. Belgium and
Italy both agree to back the Dawes
report uneQuivocally, but NJ. Poincare
is as obdurate as ever, and treats
the report as though it had no more
authority than the recommendations
of . parish council.
Attitude Creates Disappointment.
This attitude creates profound dis
appointment here, especially in view
of President COolidges undertaking
to summon a new disarmament con-
ference if the scheme goes through.
This offer was most cordially well
coined here, but the comments in the
parish press are extremely contemptu-
Gus and add TO the conviction that
Premier Poincare has no intention of
allowing the Dawes report to become
effective.
The weakness Of the British gov
eminent at this critical moment is
grave circumstance. With England.
Belgium and Italy modified behind
the report, and with. America in moral
agreement, Frances hostility might be
overcome. But with ministerial
crisis imminent in England, the pros
poets are much less favorable.
Ireland Third Difficulty.
The third difficulty which confronts
the government is Ireland. The
boundary conference. called together
at Downing street Tuesday to reach
a decision with regard to disputed
territory, broke I'D without prospect
OF agreement. The territory in dis
pute embraces counties Fermanagh
and Tyrone. At present these coun-
ties form part of Ulster, but both
are about equally divided between
Pretestants and Catholics. and the
Irish treaty provided for a commits
sion to arbitrate on a fair settlement.
The position of Ulster, however.
was quite unyielding and in the criti-
cat condition of things in the Free
State, denial of any satisfaction on
this subject threatens to make Presi-
dent Cosgrave's position harder and
strengthen the Republican movement
which. though much diminished by
his wise rule, is not suppressed.
The failure of the conference is the
most threatening circumstance and
the British government will be COM
PEELED to take action to give effect
TO ats own treaty with the Free
States.