Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-01
Situation MuddIed, as Labor
Falls Fl Seats Short
of Majority.
MACDONALD TO FIGHT
AGAINST NEW ELECTION
Former Prime Minister Expected to
Be Asked to Form Government
if Baldwin Resigns.
T. tbs Associetsd Press.

LONDON, June 1.-1mmediate future
of the British government was in doubt
today. The Liberal party of David Lloyd
George apparently held the key to the
political situation which has arisen aS
"A result of Labors great but insufficient
victory in the parliamentary elections
Thursday.
Although the Labor party rode the
Conservative government of Prime
Minister Stanley Baldwin down to
decisive defeat, almost completed re-
turns showed it lacking 21 seats of 308
necessary for a majority in the House
of Commons. The standing was: Labor,
others, 8.
Several possibilities suggested them
selves:
First, that Stanley Baldwin, prime
minister in the present Conservative
government, would go to the House of
Commons and fight for control, depend
ing upon Liberal votes to keep him from
O vote of no confidence.
Second, that he would resign, either
Immediately or after no-confidence
the Labor party, would be asked to form
q government.
Third, that the political stalemate
which has resulted from the elections
would shortly cause the downfall of any
government which is formed and neces-
state new elections, probably in the
Autumn.
Against Another Election.
Ramsay Macdonald, Labor leader. de-
clared today he would do everything
within his power to prevent the neces-
sity of another English general election
within the next two years. He told in
terviewers, If I can prevent it there
shall be no disturbance of the country
by an election within the next two
years"
Official announcement was made also
that a meeting of the chiefs of the La
Dor party would be held shortly to con-
slider the position growing out of the
general election.
In the Liberal camp it was understood
there would be meeting very soon of
all successful Liberal candidates for
discussion of party prospects.
Hinges on Lloyd George.
The entire situation seemed hinged
on what the Liberals and Lloyd George,
with their balance of power in the Com
AuOLlS, WOulu w. bLOyu OtOIEey III 1870,
made Great Britain'S first Labor govern
ment possible, but he has said in this
election campaign he would not sane
ton Liberal-Labor alliance again.
If Premier Baldwin does decide to try
70 maintain his government, he must
court Liberal support, and even with the
vote of the entire Liberal bloc would
find himself with a bare majority on
any clean-cut party question. If the
T ibnrol coalition c11nIIld ho
no more stable than the Labor-Liberal
coalition in 1923-24, downfall of the
government on some important question
would be matter of only short time.
The prime minister himself was
spending the week end at Chequers,
country place of prime ministers, and
had nothing to say. There may, how
ever. have been prophetic note in the
words of Sir Austen Chamberlain, for
"I hope Mr.. Baldwin will face the
House of Commons and leave Lloyd
George and the Liberals the response
bility of the situation they have Gre
ated." There we're several reports, not
confirmed by the party spokesmen. that
Baldwin is inclined to favor the course
advocated by Sir Austen.
Commons Meets June Is.
He is not compelled to offer the
designations of his government to the
King until the House of Commons
meetS-in this case June 25-and votes
no confidence on an important measure.
It was understood he would confer
with other leaders of his party at
Cheouers over the week end with ref
erence to the situation and to re-
organization of his cabinet, seven mem
bers of which were not reelected to
the House
Should Ramsay Macdonald be asked
to form a government its STABILITY
would depend almost entirely upon
such Liberal support as he could bring
to it. Various members of the Left
wing" of the Liberal party are known
to favor Labor regime as opposed to
a Tory government, and enough sup
port might be gained from them to
make a Macdonald government func-
ton with a majority under ordinary
circumstances.
There loorned inevitably the time
however, when the Laborites, with their
Socialist background. would be found
Numerically opposed to both Liberals
and Conservatives, whose principles are
much more akin. and no-confldence on
an important measure would result
compelling the calling of new cleo
tion, in which the government defeated
in the Commons would carry its fight
straight to the people.
Some political observers thought that
in any event this would hardly be
postponable beyond Autlmn. although
it was admitted depleted finances ot
the three parties probably would pre-
vent new elections before then.
Aware of Power He Holds.
Lloyd George seemed fully aware O
the power he holds. He told interview
ers: Holding the balance of powei
Is a very responsible position. We full
realize it, and you can depend upon j
We shall make no unfair use OF 1t
We shall carefully consider what bes
should be done in the interest of th
country. The Kings government mus
be carried on, and in the present stat
of the country it is essential it shoul'
be steady"
OF 6l5 Commons seats. returns wer
In today for 593, distributed as follows
Labor, 238; Conservatives, $50; Liberals
So: Independents, 4; NatiOnalists 3.
or the remaining seats one repre-
sentcd a postponed election. 10 uni
Iersity seats to be announced next week
and the remaining isolated constituen
Cies always delayed in reporting. Will
the 15 were believed predominant
Continued on Page 2, Column 81