Evening star., 1930-12-07
All-Party Government
Discussed in Britain
BY A. q. GARDINER,
Ensland's Greatest Liberal Editor

The political world Il asoE this week
end with rrmors Of change. The in
ability Of the Macdonald government 10
stem the tide Of unemployment has de-
prived it Of public confidence, and every
by-election emphasizes the conviction
that an appeal to the country would
result In its complete overthrow.
Labor has shot It's bolt and is rid
died with mutiny within and growing
dietrust without. It's only asset Is q
general disinclination to force an elec-
ton for fear that worse things would
befall.
The most significant fact at this time
10 the loss Of faith in all party systems
and Shibboleths and even In parliament
tary government. The traditional po-
litical creeds seem unrelated to the
emergency, which is entirely economic,
and the idea of forming an all-party
government to tide the country over the
crisis Is being widely discussed. David
Lloyd George was popularity regarded
as naneuvering for this solution. but
at q meeting Of Liberal members of Par
tional government was out Of the ques-
ton, because the Conservatives were
unwilling to cooperate.
Meanwhile, Premier Macdonald has
made gesture to the Liberals by un-
dertAking to bring in the electoral re-
form bill, which is expected to give the
Liberals fairer share of parliamentary
representation. This will secure for him
Liberal support, which should carry him
well into the new year unless the revolt
Of Sir Oswald Mosley, who seems de-
termined to challenge the leadership Of
Mr.. Macdonald, succeeds In detaching q
ROnGidcT0hla krI.
party.
It is impossible that Mr.. MacDon-
aid himself may fall, for his personal
position is becoming extremely difficult
and 1t Is being widely suggested that
he may seek q way of escape by him
self becoming the next Viceroy Of India.
That appointment Is giving cause for
grave concern. The Labor party has
no member Of the caliber for the POSI-
ton in the present exceptional circum-
stances, but Mr.. Macdonald himself Is
the cordial approval Of the Indian dele
gates to the round table conference by
his conduct Of the proceedings and his
reputation among the Indian people
is perhaps higher than that Of any
other living English statesman.
No prime minister ever before has
become Viceroy Of India, but the de-
parture Is warranted in view Of the
unprecedented opportunity. If, as Is
now hoped, the conference here evolves
new Indian constitution acceptable
to Parliament, the success Of the ex-
pertinent will depend upon the viceroy
and Mr.. MacDonald's gifts are those
peculiarly adapted to the task.
There are obvious difficulties in the
way, but this writer has reason to
know that Mr.. Macdonald Is flattered
by the idea and Is probably not 1ndis-
posed to have an excuse to quit his
present unthankful post But should
he resign the premiership his successor
would be neither Mosley, the aristocrat,
nor James Maxton, the Communist,
but Arthur Henderson, the working en-
ONCE has been the most successful
feature of the Labor ministry.
Mr.. Henderson, who is Wesleyan
Of strong Puritan leanings, is q man
Of great force Of character, sobriety of
Judgment and rare reserves Of natural
wisdom. His prestige in the Labor
party is unequaled and he Is free from
the temperamental defects which make
Premier MacDonalds relations With his
party difncult.
These speculations may be wide of
the mark, for the situation Is too COM
plex for confident forecast, but dras-
tic changes are inevitable in view of
the deepening concern over the coun-
try's economic position, especially in
relation to the dole, which Is now
9lermlngly out Of hand. This week
MlaS Bondfield, the minister of labor,
secured an increase Of borrowing pow-
ers for the insurance fund to the tune
OF $3.50 900, 900, and while the dole sys-
tenn undoubtedly has kept the country
quiet in most prolonged trial, It's
present administration has assumed the
character Of menace to national
solvency.
(CopyriEht 1esO0s