Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-08
MCDONALD SPEECH
ERASES JUS. DOUBT
Premier's Plea for Co-oEera-
ton in Peace Cause Strikes
Home in Senate.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
The applause Of the United States
Senate for the declarations made by
Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald still
is ringing in the ears Of ofiicial WASH
ington.
To say that the speech Of the British
prime minister was q sensation is to put
1t mildly. Not since the memorable days
when President Wilson addressed the
Senate in the middle Of the war on the
foundations Of peace has there been "A
scene OF greater significance IN world
affairs.
If there had been any doubts that
Great Britain means to stop the race for
competitive armament, 1t was erased by
Mr.. Macdonald's pledge given unre-
servedly. His plea for personal contact
between governments. and his insistence
that a public psychology" be created SO
that problems Of peace and armament
could be solved successfully, was like a
breath Of fresh air.
Frankness Strikes Home.
The voice of liberalism has been
stilled more or less in the last few years,
particularly with the discussion of big
walton Of guns. Mr. Macdonald's frank
ness struck home and the Senate APP
plauded because they believed the prime
minister of Great Britain spoke not
merely for himself but for q friendly
people. He knew that he must at the
outset dismiss any idea of an alliance,
but that he must speak only OF under
standings and cooperation in the cause
Of peace. He sensed exactly the spirit
Of the American Congress when he
pointedly remarked that the British at
titude toward America today lis the
free, open, intellectually and spiritually
attracted cooperation Of friends"
Mr.. Macdonald's speech before the
Senate was indeed a triumph of per-
sonal diplomacy. His tribute to M.
BRAND Of France and the late Gustav
StreSemann OF Germany was no less
tactful than his careful use of words
in referring to the future relations of
the United States and Great Britain.
For a long time TO come the words
Of Prime Minister Macdonald will re-
main in the minds OF the United States
Senate. 1t will allay the activities OF
those groups which might be expected
to oppose ratification Of the naval
agreement. II there Is q weakness at
all in the position OF the prime minister
1t IS the thought suggested here and
there ON this side Of the Atlantic that
the British Labor government and Mr..
Macdonald may be politically over
thrown at any time. To offset this,
British officials here declare that the
entire British nation is a unit OH the
policy of better reations with the
United States and a naval agreement
England former Prime Minister Bald
win united in pledging cooperation
and ratification Of any policy agreed
upon between Mr.. Macdonald and Mr..
Hoover.
Understanding Long Sought.
For generations, British statesmen
have tried to bring about real under
standing with the United States.
Failure to settle the Irish question kept
constant conflict between Washington
and London. The creation of the Irish
Free State noticeably has diminished
anti British agitation in the United
States. Indeed, the reception given MT.
Macdonald in New York and WASH
ington would not have been possible
Is years ago. The steady pressure Of
liberal elements throughout the world.
with the vision of British statesmen in
the war period, made possible the solu-
ton of the Irish question. but nobody
realized that the fruits of that settle
ment would be as quickly recognized in
the development of a better under
sanding between the two English-speak-
ing nations
The problem now is how to trans
late British-American leadership in
world affairs into something practical
that will not be misunderstood as an
alliance or balance of power. The
forthcoming naval conference in London
II 70 foSk tho inn
planting into the minds of French and
italian and japanese statesmen the
idea that it Is world accord and not
merely an understanding between two
nations with big navies which Is going
to bring about the first important sequel
to the anti-war treaties, namely re-
duction of armament to point con-
siStent with domestic safety.
tCouyright. 1927