Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-07
tABOR'S POLICIES
SOOTH ENGLAND
Acceptance of Macdonald
+: Speech Indicates Nation
7 Wants Breathing Spell.
BY HAROLD E. SCARBOROUGH.


~ Radio to The star.
: LONDON, July 6.-That all parties
are ready for a breathing spell in the
British, political game Is indicated both
BY the Labor governments program as
set forth in the Kings speech on Tues
day and by its reception by the other
two parties and by the press. The
speech, which his Labor ministers pre-
pared for the King, was studiously mod
crate and the newspapers of all shades
Of opinion recognize 1t as such. At the
same time, however, they do not lose
an opportunity to point out that within
many of MacDonald's soothingly valued
phrases there Turk the possibilities OF
decided action. Although the London
Times thinks the members Of Parlia-
ment ARE humanity sure of quiet life
until the House rises at the end of the
month" and the Daily Telegraph de-
clares this surely Is not the Socialist
Kings Speech" Sother journals, both
Conservative and Liberal, comment, in
effect, that proof of MacDonald's good
intentions will lie in the legislation in
which they are ultimately embodied.
Labor's preparations for tackling the
unemployment problem follow lines
which already have been approved by
intentions with reference to the repeal
of the trades disputes act ca measure
outlawing general strikes and restrict
ing trade union prerogatives) remain
vague, as almost anything might be
done within the limits of "remedying
the situation created by this act"
Likewise reorganization OF the coal
industry gives ample scope for any
thing that might be contemplated.
Ill hot 1ad OnnRro1IV
anticipated it will become evident
whether the Labor government intends
to consolidate its tenure OF ONCE by
combining itself to the more or less
non-contentious legislation.
Left Wing Laborites have already
begun to make trouble for the premier
by tabling the amendment to the
Kings speech, which in effect calls Tor
Socialism in our time" and which
constitutes a virtual vote of censure on
the government. OF course, neither
this amendment nor others like 1t are
expected even by their proposers to be
adopted. But from the numbers OF his
nominal followers, who vote for similar
motions, Macdonald will be able to
gauge the extent to which he will have
to fall back on measures sure OF Lib
eral or Conservative support. Com
cidentally from his method OF dealing
with his wild men," the premier will
to some extent either enlist or forfeit
the support of other parties.
References to the Kings speech to
foreign policy were as vague as those
dealing with domestic affairs. Al
though considerable optimism was
shown in the references to naval dis
armament, it has been observed with
qualification by diplomats who have
this subject very much at heart that
Macdonald evidently does not intend
to rush matters for the sake of Secur-
ing problematic success of agreement
in principle" but that he is willing to
fall in with President Hoover's idea OF
making haste slowly. Finally, that
Macdonald intends to continue the
effort made by the Conservative gov
eminent of having the empire so far
as possible act as a unit to foreign re-
lations Is shown by the fact 1t was
carefully announced in the Kings
speech that the dominions will be con-
suited before anything definite is done
with regard to a resumption OF normal
relations with Russia.
Copyright, 1929