Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-23

American interest in the recent dls-
cussion of the naval understanding be-
tween France and Great Britain ex-
tends to the British present political
campaign, in which there is tendency
to blame the Conservative government
for secret negotiations at a time when
general peace measures are under con-
sideration.
''The heartening feature of the entire
affair" In the opinion OF the Cleveland
News. sis the severe castigation which
the Conservative government has SUI
fered, not only from the opposition. but
also from within its own ranks. Cab
met leaders have been told that the
people of Britain do not want war, nor
do they wish their government to be a
party to any understanding, secret or
open, which may intensity friction
between nations. The Liberal Man.
chester Guardian speaks for the entire
country in asserting that the naval
agreement made mockery of disarma-
ment, which 1t was ostensibly designed
to promote. 1t involves conception of
foreign policy that leads inexorably to
war;"
1.-THE Tory government Is on the de-
fensiye against the charge of secret
diplomacy" says the Brooklyn Daily
Eagle, which quotes former Premier
Macdonald as criticizing the Baldwin
government "for diminishing the eff
fectiveness of the pact to outlaw war by
in which the British government Is spe-
cially interested and demanding
more efficient cooperation with the
Disarmament Commission of the League
of Nations"
Noting that the British govern
ment's foreign policy Is the vulnerable
spot toward which the opposition shafts
are directed" the Indianapolis Star
observes that "the treaty has been
seized as a major campaign issue, al
though the extravagant lengths to
which its critics have gone may be sur
prising to Americans" Mentioning
treaty's chief foes" and quoting his
denunciation Of the pact as "the most
sinister event since the war;" the Star
suggests that, being on the outside
looking In, Lloyd George naturally con-
fines himself to frantic viewing with
alarm, although he has widespread
support in attacking the naval arrange
ment. The government admittedly
Numbered"
The effectiveness of his fight is uues-
toned by the Providence Journal,
which comments: $50 far as the Lib
erals are concerned, the attack to be
launched on the basis of foreign policy
might we'll be intrusted to other hands
than those of Mr.. Lloyd George. His
own postwar foreign policy, particu-
larry that part Of it associated with
the Treaty of Versailles, was never very
popular with the British people, as
doubtless the Conservative orators will
remind the voters from time to time
when the campaign really gets under
way"
Feeling that the Conservative gov
eminent has the capacity to handle the
affairs of the nation, the Charleston
Evening Post states: Great Britain
still suffers dreadfully from unemploy-
ment and the other industrial ills. but
probably not so much as If the Labor
government had been continued In
power under its old leadership. There
Is wide recognition of the sincerity and
good faith of Baldwin and his capacity
for material restoration, and 1t is ma
terial recovery that Great Britain must
have in this period il she is to get
ahead in other directions. It is too
early, of course, to judge of campaign
tendencies, but 1t would be surprising
If the Conservative government were
not kept in power by the British, for
the time being, at least"
Again united under David LLOYD
George" remarks the San Antonio Ex-
press, "the Liberals probably will put
numerous candidates In the field during
the campaign. Both Liberals and
I,ahorites oppose protective duties, par
ticularly on foodstuffs; but the former