Evening star., 1924-09-14
BRITAIN STIRRED
BY LLOYD GEORGE
Declaration of War on Mac.
F., Donald Policies Makes an
[ Election Probable.
By A. G. GARDINER.

BY haoio TO The Star.
LONDON, September 15.-David
Lloyd Georges declaration Of war to
the knife on Prime Minister Mac
Donald makes an election seem
imminent Mr.. Lloyd George has
seized the issue of the Russian
treaty as the occasion for bringing
the government to its knees or to
the ground.
Herbert H. Asquith. who, by the
way, celebrated his I'D birthday Fri
day, has not declared his position so
far, but Lloyd George has stampeded
the situation and may carry the bulk
of the Liberal party with him. He
has been impatient from the outset
with the policy of the Liberals in
keeping Labor in power, and he has
been awaiting the opportunity to de-
liver a knockout blow, which seems
now to have presented itself.
MacDonald's Action In Doubt.
Will Macdonald fight or surrender?
If he fights he will certainly be
beaten by a combination of Conserva-
tiVeS and Liberals, and he will go to
the country on the cry, Peace with
Russia" He will have the advantage
of a breach in the. Liberal ranks
Many members of the party are
hostile to Lloyd Georges tactics. The
Liberal policy has been favorable to
Gil accommodation WITH RUSSIA, ana
while the proposed treaty is vulner-
eble in detail the opinion prevails
Sn some quarters that it should be
examined and considered and not met
with a blank negative.
This view is strengthened by the
fact that the present treaty is only
provisional and that the proposed
aoan of forty millions only becomes
operative with the fulfllment by
Russia of stringent conditions. If
Macdonald fights and an election fol-
lows. the writers impression is that
6he party situation will not be sub
Stantially changed and that in the
new Parliament the Liberals would
still have to decide whether to put
the Conservatives or Labor in power.
Sniper Tactics Employed.
Meanwhile Mr.. Macdonald is be-
ing sniped on all sides. On Thursday
the Harnsworth Press launched a
dhunderbolt in the shape of the sug-
geStion of corruption. 1t stated that
fn March Mr.. Macdonald was regis
tered as the owner of $4,000 pre-
ferred shares in famous biscuit
manufacturing firm in Edin burgh,
and that in June the head of the firm,
Alexander Grant, an old friend OF
~MacDonald'S, appeared in the honors' |
list as the recipient of a baronetcy.
vi. hdCDoHdlu uoSS Iot QtHy THESE
two facts but he says they have no
relation TO each other. The money
invested is not his, he says, and the
shares are invested only technically
in his name. The honor conferred on
Grant, he explains, was in recog-
milton of his gift of a national library
to Scotland and other we'll known
philanthropies in respect to which
the freedom of Edinburgh already
has been conferred on the benefactor.
Trade Unionists Hostile.
While MacDonald's character is as
sailed by his enemies he is in hot
water also with the trade unionists |
He has written an Introduction to a |
Socialist book, in which he denounces |
many features of Labor opinion as |
being hostile to the Socialist ideal of |
honorable service to the community.
His deliverance undo oubtedly was
courageous and much needed in view
of modern tendencies of labor, but |
much resentment is being expressed |
at what is regarded as an attack on |
his own supporters.
Newspapers Discuss Wales
The newspapers here are much en-
gagged with the question whether the |
Prince of Wales was present at the |
Wills-Firpo fight His doings in |
America are followed with keen in |
terest and the welcome accorded him |
has created a most favorable impress |
sion.
Meanwhile we English are summing |
ouSelves in the presence of distin- |
guished American, to wit. Jackie !
Coogan. That eminent citizen of a |
great republic arrived at Southampton |
on Friday, attended by his suite, and !
was received with the honors due to
so distinguished an ornament to the
film world. The newspapers are full |
of details of the princely state in |
(which the marvellous child moves and |
fhe functions of which he is to be |
the center.
No one so far has recommended that
packie's proper place is a nursery
And that the whole affair is a rather