Evening star., 1924-02-10
MACDONALD CABINET
GAINS CONFIDENCE
Premier Indicates He Will Make
:, Strong Effort to Keep Europe
) From Ruin.
EARLY PANIC DISAPPEARS
British of All Glasses Disposed
to Give Labor Fair Deal.
BY A. G. GARDINER.

By Radio to The Star
. LONDON. february s.-The labor
government will meet parliament on
Tuesday next. when Prime Minister
Macdonald makes a statement on his
policy.
1t is his intention to take the public
into the fullest possible confidence on
diplomatic issues, and the official an
nouncement of government aims, pub
liShed Friday, is remarkable for its
candor, directness and good temper.
: Mr.. Macdonald has been criticized
for his soft words toward Premier
Poncare in view of the intolera5le
doings in regard to the Cologne area
and in the palatinate. But there is
no harm in man treading softly il
he carries big stick. Mr.. Mac
Donald certainly has no intention of
continuing to allow Europe to drift
to ruin without an attempt by the
British government to reverse the
engines. His declaration that he is
prepared to enter a conference.
whether 1t is called by the league Of
nations or by single power, is an
indication not merely of passive in
tent but of active intention.
He Is most anxious to avoid doing
anything having the appearance of
desire to influence the course of the
French elections. Such conduct
might have the effect of strengthen
ing Poincare. which nobody wishes.
Even the Rothermere press has
begun to learn wisdom and has ceased
chanting hats off to France"
Rnps Lloyd George Errors.
The delicate situation is not help
q o1yxy of
errors, the Lloyd George interview.
Much public resentment is expected
at such a proceeding at such time
The sentiment of the public has been
deeply moved by the death of Mr.
Wilson. who, in liberal opinion, was
regarded as one statesman who sin
cerely desired to make a. peace which
would give the world d secure foun-
dation.
That this lamentable talk about
= secret compact" should be
launched on the day of the Wilson
funeral is universally deplored.
Lloyd George has disowned the in
terview and Harold Spender who
brother Alfred, accepts all the
blame. Harold has been the closest
journalistic ally of Lloyd George for
twenty-five years and sincerely be-
lieved he was doing him a service.
Certainly he is the last man to delib-
erately invent a yarn. but he had
spent a week end with Lloyd George
and the experience had been little
overcoming to SO devoted a disciple.
Relations Threatened.
The incident has passed without
prejudice to Wilson's memory, but it
threatened to imperil the new rela-
tions which Macdonald is anxious to
establish with France. However, the
affair is dismissed as mere gaucherie,
involving no one but Lloyd George
and his NJ
The Irish situation is beginning
to attract attention in view of the me-
gotiations over the boundary between
Ulster and Free State. Ulster shows
lem threatens to be a grave bone of
contention between the two Irelands
1t is admitted that the condition
OF the Free state is improved and that
itary accomplished. But the repub-
lican movement has not been sup
pressed and it's leaders even claim
they will win the next election.
Their policy Of boycotting the dali
parliament. 1t is improbable that
while this internal menace to the
Free States continues that Ulster will
be reconciled to policy of common
action with the rest of Ireland for
common interests which are neces-
sary for the welfare of the country
as 4 whole.
Clothes Offer Problem.
Among the questions raised by the
advent of the first labor government
Is that of clothes. The labor govern
ment hitherto had no associations in
court life and assumed rather an air
of detachment from all official func-
tions and finery. Advent to office has
brought them definitely into the
governing circle and the problem of
clothes for official and state occa-
sions has become a practical difficulty. |
The king has very yiSibly modified
his demands in regard to official
dress which now is simply evening
dress with knee breeches.
Public interest in the new govern
ment is very keen and all the panic !
feeling with which it was anticipat-
ed has vanished. Mr.. Macdonald SO |
far has created the impression of |
being responsible and competent |
minister. and popular feeling is
definitely sympathetic and anxious |
that he should have fair play. |
Two dangers are ahead. Can he |
hold his communist left wing? Can
Mr.. Asquith keep the liberal party
solid in support of the labor adminis- |
tration? |
: Events when parliament meets |
Tuesday will quickly show what fate |
awaits Macdonald.
fCopyright, 1924D