Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-25
Idleness Issue Menaces
British Labor Ministry
BY A. g. GARDINER,
England's Greatest Liberal Editor


LONDON. May 24.-The Macdonald
cabinet has sprung bad leak. and TIT
possible inminence Of q general election
Is seriously discussed. The crisis Ia.
come, as had been expected, on TIT
question Of unemployment, which. In
stead Of diminishing under the Labol
regime, has grown all through the
Winter and continues to grow.
The number Of unemployed Is ex.
pected to reach two million during thu
coming Winter. This Is due mainly X
world conditions, but this does not re.
neve the government Of the discredit
OF failure In the public mind.
sponsible for handling this problem
made q pathetic figure Of helplessness
in the House on Monday, and the gov
eminent narrowly escaped defeat on the
question Of the reduction OF his salary
M Nk
This was bad enough, but worse fol-
lowed. Sir Oswald Mosley, aristocratic
young member of the government, who
married Lord Curzon's daughter, heir
ess to the Letter fortune, promptly
handed in his resignation from the gov
eminent. He had been appointed to
help Thomas, and, disappointed with
the policy Of his superior. prepared q
memorandum outlining scheme fol
relief measures. This the cabinet de-
cisively rejected 90 wasteful and i'm
practicable. Mosley seized the attack
on Thomas g the occasion for his re-
members, constituting the Left Of the
Labor party, also refused to support
the government, and, with the Liberals
also absenting themselves, the position
Of the ministry was one OF extreme
peril.
Wednesday and doubt Is widely held as
to whether the government viii survive
the challenge, in view Of the split In
the Labor camp, and the refusal Of the
Labor party to accept the cabinet pro-
o scheme Of electoral reform designed
representation.
Two considerations govern the situ-
government. It Is the fact that in the
present critical condition Of India Il
Is felt to be extremely undesirable to
plunge England into political convul-
sion. It Is agreed that the government
Ii handling this most difiicult situation
with moderation and firmness, and with
the publication Of the Simon report and
the surnmoning Of the round table con-
ference both imminent, there Is q gen.
eral indisposition to swap horses in
midstream ut this moment.
The other consideration 10 less ia
vorable and more formidable. with the
loss Of prestige by the Labor party over
unemployment, the Tory tide Is un-
doubtedly rising In the country, and,
impracticable as Lord Beaverbrooks So
called Empire Free Trade scheme L..
1t has disclosed an undoubted revival Of
the protectionist cause. Even In flee
trade circles 1t is admitted that opinion
in the country, under the influence Of
trade depression, is swinging strongly in
the protectionist direction. Labor it.
position Is tottering even in the Lam
cashire cotton trade, which hitherto has
been the most tmpregnable rock Of
free trade In the country. but which has
suffered the most OF any staple indus
try since the war, and u prepared for
any experiment which offers the ap-
pearance Of relief.
X X y +
In these circumstances the Tories
are confident they have recovered from
their disastrous overthrow Of the last
election, and are impatient to force an
appeal to the country, especially In view
Of the fact that the imperial conference
with the dominions Is fixed for Sep
TENDER. This event has q crucial bear
ing on the prospects Of protection and
the Tories are anxious to take the con-
troll of 1t out of the hands Of Philip
who Is the most uncompro-
missing free trader In the Labor cab
inet
The danger Of Premier Maedonaids
position q increased by the refusal %
bis partyig executives 10 accept the cab