Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-22
British Reaction to
American Tariff Law
BY A. q. GARDINER,
highlands Greatest Liberal Editor.

LONDON, June 21.-The Hawley-
smoot tarin bill, now Law in the United
States, In having serious repercussions
on the whirlpool of British politics
With the total Of unemployment mount
ing in the neighborhood of 1000 900
and no prospect Of check TO the rising
tide as yet visible. the government has
waved the IS o 8" signal to the oppo-
sition.
In the House Of Commons on We'd
nesday, Premier Macdonald issued q
definite invitation to Stanley Baldwin
and David Lloyd George to enter into
consultation with him on the subject
Of measures dealing with Jlnemploy-
ment Lloyd George had anticipated
the invitation by an interview in an
of1cial government organ In which he
offered to Macdonald q guaranteed ma
joFity If he agreed to hold an emer-
geney session to pass on emergency
measures. He suggested q joint COM
mittee of Liberal and Labor members
and added that the Liberals must be
called in as equals. The interview gave
the impression that he wanted to save
the Liberal party by q coalition with
Labor.
Maedonald's invitation, on the other
hand, is aimed at a general consulta-
ton Of all the leaders without regard
to party, but leaving the government
the prerogative of taking the decisions.
To this proposal Lloyd George agreed.
Baldwin remained silent. Subsequently,
at q party meeting the Conservatives
decided not to take a part in the con-
ference on the ground that no cure for
unemployment exists except safeguard
ing of industry by tariff and that the
government will rule out safeguarding
from consideration.
This refusal emphasizes the momen-
tum Of the protectionist movement
within the Conservative party, and the
feeling aroused by the new American
tariff has strengthened the Beaverbrook
faction IN its conflict with Bald
win and the executives of the party
This week the conflict has reached
crisis which threatens to overthrow
Baldwin or split the party. 1t will
be remembered that Baldwin, who.
while q protectionist, draws the line at
food taxes, undertook in the event of an
agreement with the dominions to sub
init such taxes to referendum OF the
electorate. Lord Beaverbrook accepted
the compromise, but has since recanted
and demands that the referendum idea
be abandoned and that the ConServa-
tives declare outright for protection, In
Guiding food taxes, with free trade with
in the empire.
This week Lord Beaverbrook has
through the Rothermere Press, appealed
in broadcast for subscriptions to the
Empire party to enable it to run food
tax candidate wherever an oficial Con-
sentative candidate takes a stand on safe
guarding for industries and a referen-
dunn for food taxes. This places Bald
win In most dif1cult position. Lord
Beaverbrooks revolt Is formidable, first
because he has the support of the pow
erful Rothermere press and, second,
because the bulk OF the rank-and-file
Conservatives are full-blooded protec-
tionists held in check only by a leader
who fears the adoption of a 'food-tax
plank would be fatal In the country.
In effect, Lord Beaverbrook and Lord
Rothermere are engaged in stampeding
the party, against the official leaders
and threatening to wreck any Conserv-
alive candidate who refuses to accept
food taxes. They have scored q VIC
tory over Baldwin In the Norfolk cleo
ton, now I'm progress IN which q Con-
sentative candidate has adopted the
food tax program and rejected the
referendum. IT,. as Ia possible, the
Conservative wins the seat, Baldwin,s
position, which Is already weakened,
will be seriously endangered, and,
coupled with the feeling aroused by
the American tariff, the whole Consery-
alive party may drift into advocacy
Of naked and uncompr6mising protec-
ton.
This would mean the retirement of
Baldwin, Which is one of the objects
Lord Beaverbrook and Lord Rothermere
have IN view. Baldwin, has always re-
fused TO accept marchinako orders from
the press nagnates and In fevenge they
have decreed his fall. Their, plan Is to
dethrone him and substitute az Robert
Horne - the instrument for q protec-
Zionist policy with an tmperiaN favor-
ing q tree trade.
(ConyriHht, 1901 -