The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-23
A NEW BRITISH REGIME

1 1I appears tHdt dll true SCACoSIu6uy regardless of party affiliations, have in common breadth of vision that prevents any real division on subjects of foremost importance. For exam pie, the words of Ramsay Macdonald, leader of the British Labor party which some regard as socialistic in its leanings, are reassuring to those who fear the present political trend in England. Says the new premier: "It is true there is tremendous amount of fear of labor government. So far as the fear is well-founded we shall do our utmost to allay it; but is not most of it manufactured" MT. Macdonald sharply criticizes those who represented Labor as about to confiscate property and declared: "This sort of misrepresentation depre- ciates stocks and destroys credits" !" Such expression at the very outset of the Labor regime will do much to comfort those who feared for their cherished possessions. As long as their securities and investments are safe, what care they what party is in power?
 The sharpest criticism uttered by the new premier was directed at the foreign policy of the Baldwin govern ment, which has likewise been the subject of lively attack by the Liberal MT. Lloyd George, who, with his fine sense of dramatic effects, lead the file of Labor and Liberal members as they marched into the left side of the house of commons to record their vote denying confidence in the Baldwin government, On foreign policy Mir. Macdonald said Some say. that the reparations problem may break us. It might. We shall do our best but still, it might. If we fail, Pre- mier Baldwin's place would be beside us, consoling us on our failure by reciting the colossal failure of his own" This is frank admission that the Labor leaders, while possessed of confidence and belief in their own
 
 ties, and are not afraid to look the chance of failure in the face. The only question that arises in the mind of the, reader is. whether. Mr. Mac Donald,s advisers share his lofty views. At any rate, they have had sufficient vision to acknowledge his leadership.
 What foreign policy the Labor party will adopt will soon be outlined, when the new premier delivers his first message to parliament. It is known that there is sympathy on the part of the laboring masses of Eng land for the laboring masses of the continental countries. Inasmuch as the previous diplomatic fencing has been without effect upon basic condi- tions, perhaps the new regime will seek a more fundamental method of dealing with stubborn situation. Perhaps it will be perceived that much of Germany's distress is deliberately contrived for, the purpose of evasion, and that the unemployment there is due to lack of wisdom in the govern ment. If so, perhaps due justice may be extended to the German working man without at the same time preju- dicing the claims of the French gov ernment, which is alse supported by the efforts of the laboring masses in it's own country. It would not"be con- sistent for the British Labor party to show such consideration for the Ger man workingman as would disregard the rightful claims to consideration of the French laboring person. The world awaits the promised new deal with considerable liveliness of antici-
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