Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-01
Mr.. MacDonald's Dilemma.

British politics, which ordinarily runs
In grooves and seldom violates trsdi-
tions, is the worlds present-hour pre-
eminent example of topsy-turvydom
Seldom, If ever, has such a chaotic
situation prevailed as the one now per-
turbing the mother of parliaments.
On October the Lords and Commons
will be adjourned but, in making an
announcement to that effect Mr.. Mac
Donald leaves the burning question OF
n general election suspended in mid
air.
Ever since the prime miaister saw
King George earlier in the week re-
ports have persisted that an election
is imminent and would be held at the
end of this month. In the House of
Commons yesterday, where members
hung with bated breath on the pre-
miers words, expectations on that
score were doomed to remain ungrati-
fed Mr.. Macdonald has asked a hear
ing before MS faithless constituents at
Seaham tomorrow night. He may APP
peaSe the country's anxious curiosity
on that occasion.
Meantime, no responsible statesman
was ever called upon to preside over so
anomalous a government. Mr.. Mac
Donald is a minister without party.
He heads cabinet of many and an
tagonistic views. 1t commands a coali-
ton majority in Parliament, but it
holds Office without a mandate. 1t calls
itself national government of emer-
Rency. fashioned to meet crisis
The dominant partner in the makeshift
regime, the Conservative party, con-
tends that the crisis will not and can
not be surmounted except by the enact
ment Of protective tariff. The junior
partner in Mr.. MacDonald's disunited
household, the Liberal party, will not
countenance q tariff system. The prime
minister and the handful Of old-time
Laborites who remain in the cabinet
with him are half tariff and half free
trade in their inclinations. Mr.. Mac
Donald himself reveals a readiness to
lean toward protection.
The Baldwin Conservatives are press
ing for general election because they
are convinced they can carry the coun-
try on that issue against possible
fusion of Liberal and Labor opposition.
Recent news from London suggests that
the canny Lloyd George, conveniently
detached by illness from the recent polit-
ical upheaval. may regain his physi-
cal vigor at the psychological moment
when Liberalism and Labor are looking
for a new leader to captain their COM
bined forces against the tariff barons
of Conservatism.
King George. whose quiet influence
upon the seething politics of his realm
has been a notably steadying factor is
said to be anxious that, for the time
being, the government should avoid an
appeal to the country in a general cleo
ton. The de-standardized gold pound
sterling is described as requiring a
period OF recuperation, untroubled by
the turmoil of a national campaign for
the House Of Commons. The King is
reported to have asked Mr.. Macdonald
to carry on with his national govern
ment for an unfxed period, possibly
for months to come.
Politics being politics, even in a
country as racked with economic vicis
sltudes as Britain now is, it may prove
impracticable for Mr. Macdonald to
stabilize an abnormal situation indef-
initely Thirsting for power and yearn-
ing for the chance to repair the dam
ages wrought by the late Socialist gov
eminent, the Conservatives are in little
mood to prolong their Punishment from
an earth they believe they are about
TO inherit.
Yesterdays unemployment and dole
reduction riots in London are designed
to hasten the premier's decision on
the subject OF a general election. In
other times and countries an election
has been found a useful method OF
getting peoples excess energies out of
their system, especially when the
energies are of explosive nature.