Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-01
MCDONALD VISIT
RECALLS LAST TRIP
Came to U. S. in 1927 to See
Scenes of Honeymoon
80 Years Ago.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
NEW YORK. August Ramsay
MacDonald's last visit to the United
States was a sentimental journey with
almost tragic end-his return here in
October will be to wrestle with grim
problems of world peace and Anglo
American naval parity. BY important
conferences in London with Ambassador
Dawes and others the British prime
minister began active preparations for
his American mission.
Honeymoon memories of 30 years ago
in the old New England town of Con-
cord, Mass, brought Macdonald back
to America in 1927 but his pilgrimage
ended with illness in a Philadelphia
hospital. He hurried back to England
where fears continued for his health.
Called on Old Hostess.
At Concord, however, he had called
on Miss L. S. M. Perkins, then SO years
old, who had entertained him and his
bride. Her hospitality never was for
gotten. MacDonald'S love story is as
romantic as his rise to power, but his
wife died while he was a struggling
Labor leader. and as a widower he has
had two purposes in life-the rearing of
his flock of five children and devotion
with religious zeal to the cause of
Labor.
Profound are the changes wrought in
his own life and in the history of ma
tons since the young Scot first visited
American shores. During the World
War he was a hunted man, hated and
3eviled as a traitor-now he leads the
empire.
Two weeks ago the Moray Golf Club
in his old home town of Lossiemouth,
which expelled him as "paciflSt" dur
ing the World War, rescinded its action.
Thus his restitution to responsibility is
complete.
With this dour, romantic Scotsman
and with President Hoover may largely
rest the future Of Anglo American rela-
tions, for MacDonald's visit is fraught
with tremendous possibilities. Another
failure to solve pressing problems of
ornaments, repetition Of the Geneva
Arms Conference and worst fears Of
Anglo American observers might be
! realized.
The prime minister is expected in
? the United States early in October
Parliament reassembles October 20.
Whether his daughter Ishbel, who &C
companied him on his sentimental jour-
ney of two years ago, will come has not
been announced. She has grown from
schoolgirl to seriously minded English
social worker and member of the Lon
don County Council. One of his sons
Malcolm. is a member of Commons with
his father
Behind in Great Britain the prime
minister will leave his new government,
barely month old, as secure as the
eXigencieS Of British politics permit
His cabinet has weathered we'll the
squalls Of its first short parliamentary
voyage.
Three Main Points.
BY his negotiations with President
Hoover. Macdonald boldly sets out to
accomplish the moderate program which
won for Labor the British election Of
May 80, when. unheeding the cry Of
extremists for Socialism in our time"
the Laborite chieftain announced three
main points of his campaign-world
peace. disarmament and a desire to
deal with the problem of British en-
ployment in more energetic fashion.
His administration has enjoyed I'M
usual support from other parties Safe
from extreme Socialist legislation by
weight of combined mum bers, opposition
parties practically declared truce with
Labor so the minority government can
carry on the Kings government.
Oddly enough, MacDonald's only OPP
position until the flurries over Lord
Lloyds resignation and reparations
late last week came from Laborites
themselves. The Labor party still is
'agin' the government" wags of West
minister say. When Labor extremists
upbraid the stolid leaders Of the party
on minor policies, on larger issue, there
Is no danger of split. and Macdonald
will come to the United States this
Autumn secure in leadership.