Evening star., 1924-06-08
TRANSPORT STRIKE
FULL OF DANGERS
Most Sinister Labor Movement Yet
Seen in London, Liberal
Editor Thinks.
HARD ISSUE FOR PREMIER
Macdonald Faces Test or Break
With Communists.
BY A. G. GARDINER.

Py Radio to The Star.
LONDON, June London is again
held up by the transport workers.
The present strike is the most sinister
event that has yet happened in the
industrial history of the community.
1t is definitely a communist attack on
society. 1t emanates from a small
group of men engaged in the power
houses of the underground railway
system, which supplies three-fourths
Of the facilities of London traffic.
The gravity of the situation is
shown by the helplessness Of the
trade union, which repudiates the
strike and denounces it as the work
The public was taken utterly by sur
prise and was left in general be-
wilderment as to the motive OF the
strikers.
In Bad Position.
The writer's impression is that the
strike is purely political demon
stration. The labor government is
in an awkward position. On the one
hand, it is called on to take measures
to protect the vital interests of the
public On the other hand. it heSitAteS
TO take steps, which will tend to
Ming them in collision with their
communist supporters. Ministers
take cover by explaining that such
things are inevitable until railways
are nationaliZed.
Sooner or LATER Prime Minister
Macdonald will be compelled to de-
eide whether he can afford to con-
nists, whose aims are revolutionary
and who have nothing in common
with the moderate policy of the gov
ernment
Like a Dogs Tail.
The Labor party is like large,
sober dog afflicted with a violent tail
which gives it no rest and which it is
Political attention here is occupied
with the great drama proceeding in
Paris. In we'll informed circles in
London the impression prevails that
France is trembling on the brink of
some sort of an adventure in fascism
and that the result of the election
may be countered by a coup detat
by reactionary forces. Liberal op1n-
ion is deeply disappointed at the de-
dsion of Edoua.rd Herriot not to form
a government, although his decision
is understood in view of Millerand's s
attitude and his notorious tendencies
toward converting the presidency into
q dictatorship.
Hopes Tor heff1Ot.
High hopes had been raised by the
policy foreshadowed by NJ Herriot
who not only indorsed the Dawes
scheme, but indicated an entirely new
attitude toward the league Of nations
as an instrument for making France
safe and pacifying Europe. The new
turn of affairs leaves the outlook
much more problematical.
If behind NJ Millerand clerical and
militarist influences are moblizing
for a political coup. prospects for
cordial cooperation between England
and France on the basis of the Dawes
schemes are seriously prejudiced.
The tide of visitors to London Is
now at full blast, and. in spite of the
bad weather, attendances to the
Wembly exposition are Unprecedented
IN magnitude. The success of the
vast enterprise is assured, and a pro-
posal is being seriously considered to
reopen the exhibition next year.
All London went out Wednesday to
see the Derby, which was run in a
ceaseless downpour of rain. The vic
tory of Lord Derby's horse was very
popular. His family gave name to
the worlds most famous race, and it
had been trying unavailiigly to win
It for 1877 years.
Copyright, 1924. by Consolidated Press)