Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-20
British Crisis Heightened
BY Election Threat
BY A. G. GARDINER.

LONDON. September 1o.--England
trembles on the brink of general
election and the fate Of the MacDon-
aid emergency government changes
from hour to hour.
Responsible opinion In both the po-
htical and financial worlds Is agreed
that continuance Of the government
IL power until British credit Is stabil-
lied beyond challenge Is vital to the
interests of the country. It is argued
that the nation needs consolidation on
the task Of restoring world confidence
and that an election would plunge the
country into q tumultuous struggle
eminent has done to save the pound
sterling from disaster.
~ Il
But the Conservative caucus is de-
termined to force an immediate appeal
to the country on tariffs, which has
been their objective for 30 years. They
are confident they can carry the coun-
try now and that delay would involve
them in the appropriately which is
pretty certain to oyertake the present
government.
The calculation possibly Is Dund, but
1t Is an unbmshing party gamble with
the nations destinies, and 1t Is notori-
Gus that Stanley Baldwin Is opposed to
taking the enormous risk and wants
the new national government to see the
country through the crisis.
Winston Churchill has swung round
to his side on the point and the Lon
don Daily Mail, for once on the side of
caution, Eliminates daily against an
election Is the end Of all things. But
the Conservative press-the London
Daily Telegraph, Morning Post and the
Times-is in full cry for instant disso-
luton of Parliament, and inside the
cabinet the tide IL going strong against
Baldwin, who is In imminent danger Of
being stampeded.
The ground is visibly slipping from
under Premier Ramsay Macdonald,
who, deserted by his own party and
now at the mercy Of the CONSERVATIVES
Is In q tragic position of helplessness,
his only supporters being the Liberals,
who are solidly for the maintenance of
the government and hostile TO the in
production of the tariff issue. The imam
cial district is in deepest gloom at the
prospect of an election and its fears are
intensified by the ominous collapse in
Holland.
Nothing but absolute assurance Of
victory could justify the Conservative
clamor for an election. The probabili-
ties are with them, but the risk is
great. II the government appealed to
the country on q broad front of de-
tense of national stability and q con-
tinuance Of the present policy, its VIC
tory would be undoubted and certain
notifications of the tariff would be
possible: but an election on q full pro-
tectionist program would split the gov
eminent and the country,
4 *N#*
The Liberals would be torn between
fear Of protection and fear of q return
Of the Labor party, with fatal conse-
quences to the country's financial posi-
ton. The Conservative caucus calcu-
lates the latter fear would prevail with
the Liberal voters In the country and
Their confidence was strengthened by
the fact that Sir John Simon declared
IN the House Tuesday his conversion
10 tariffs rs the means OF checking
imports In order to help redress the
ADVERSE balance Of trade. But the
Liberal party on Thursday reafirmed
its adhesion to It's free trade position
ana experience In past elections shows
the formidable strength Of popular re-
sisance to taxes on food.
This fear Labor viii exploit to the ut
most, although II 10 notorious that the
important element Ia the party favors
protecfion. II the election comes, Labor
VIII hight with extreme bitterness.
Hatred OF Chancellor OF the ExchequeT
Philip Snowden and Premier, Mac
Donald Is al the more intense because
the debates In Parliament this week
have shown that Arthur Henderson and
other. membeSs Of the Labor cabinet
agreed to nine-tenths Of Snowdens