Evening star., 1924-09-07
ENGLAND PRAISES
! PREM|ER'S STAND
Considers League Prestige
Increased by Presence of
I Macdonald and Herriot.
BY A. G. GARDINER.

BY Radio TO The Star.
LONDON. September 6-The visit
of Prime Minister Macdonald and
Premier Herriot to Geneva has been
the event of the week. This is the
first occasion on which prime min
listers of leading states have been
present at the league assembly. and
the fact has already enhanced the
prestige of the league enormously
The Importance Of the incident is
increased by the known attitude Of
Macdonald and Herriot toward the
league. This consideration was en-
phasized by Col. E. NJ. House, with
whom the writer lunched Thursday,
on the eve of his departure for the
United States. Col. House has been
IN Europe for some months closely
studying the situation and he has
been in intimate contact with the
leading statesmen of England, France
and Germany. He takes a cheerful
view of the prospects of the league,
especially in view of the fact that
England and France for the first time
now are represented by premiers who
are profoundly inspired by the spirit
of the league as offering the only
means of securing stable reconstruc-
tIon OF the European system.
Praised In England.
Mr.. MacDonald's speech is univer-
sally acknowledged here as most
Impressive deliverance. His rhetori-
cal method follows continental ira
dition much more than the informal
English style and is peculiarly calcu
lated to make an appeal to a cosmo
politan audience. His action In re-
fusing to indorse the treaty of mu
tual assistance created much disap-
pointment in league circles, but his
strong declaration in favor of arbi
tration has been welcomed with great
enthusiasm and his emphatic proposal
for inclusion of Germany and Rus
sla is strongly approved.
The writer understands the effect of
Mr.. MacDonald's speech in Germany
was remarkable and it is expected
that with this encouragement Ger
many will make application for ad-
mission to the league.
Apart from the favorable develop
ment in the main European situa-
tion Mr.. MacDonalds path is strewn
with pearls. Powerful hostility is de-
eeloping to his agreement with the
Soviet government and it Is alleged
that he committed himself to that at
the bidding of the communist wing
of the Labor party. Strong feeling
prevails against granting any loan
to Russia on the present unsatisfac-
tory recognition of existing debts and
when Parliament reassembles on Sep
tember 80, formidable attack on the
governments policy is likely.
Faces Alternatives.
The Liberals probably will not sup
port Mr. Macdonald without import
ant notifications, probably with
drawal of the financial clauses of the
scheme. This situation will present
ha al u
of going to the country on an un-
popular issue or breaking with his
extreme wing. Hitherto he has kept
his revolutionary tail fairly quiet by
smooth words. but none doubts that
in the end he will be compelled to
accept their dictation or repudiate
them. His own sympathies are
his personal hostility to the Liberals
tencs to make him hesitate TO break
with his extremists.
Philip Snowden, on the other hand
leans to the Liberals and he is
open'y defiant to communist fire
brands and is unfriendly to forcing
the pace in England's reait.ons WITT
the Soviet. Another factor in the
Situation is notorious lack of har
muny between the premier and the
chancellor Of the exchequer. Snow
den is accused by some members o"
the party of being too friendly with
David Lloyd George. Undoubtedly
Snowden's tendency las been def
nitely to be right and his genera
attitude on affairs is indistingulsh-
able from the Liberal position.
Troub q also is brewing up from
tht Irish situation. The appoint
ment of boundary commission for
the delimitation of Ulster is in course
n
and all the anti-Free State forces are
combining to make appointment or
the commission difficult. The position
is most delicate. If the commission
is not appointed the existence OF the
Free State will be gravely imperiled
On the other hand. if it is appointed
with Ulster refusing to take part,
what power exists to enforce the
award which Ulster refuses to recog-
niZe?
The Free State cannot enforce it
alone, and the idea Of intervention
by the British government to en-
force the award by force against
part of the British kingdom is un-
thinhabIe.
In addition to Ireland, the out
look in India grows steadily worse
and the demand of Egypt to control
the Sudan continues to be a source
of trouble. Altogether, MIR. Mac
Donald has had a hard row to hoe in
the Autumn session and he will do
well to survive to the next year.
His strong card is that the Liberia S
have no present desire for an cleo
ton. Moreover, Mr.. Macdonald has
shown that he possesses much wis
dom, patience aud staying power.
He will need all his skill to navi-
gate the difficult waters before him.
Copyright. l924D
The Musicians Aisle.