Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18
British Conservatives
Summoned to Conflict
BY A. G. GARDINER.

LONDON, January 17.-Parliament
reassembles on Tuesday, after the
Christmas vacation, in circumstances OF
extreme anxiety. The urgency of STAN
ley Baldwins summons to his party to
rigorous attendance is taken to indicate
determined intention on the part OF
the Conservatives to overthrow the La
Dor government at the earliest -oppor-
tunity.
A crisis is expected to arise immedi-
ately with the introduction of the trades
disputes bill, the purpose Of which is to
undo legislation enacted by a Conserva-
tive government after the general strike
of 1926. The object OF that Legislation
was to restrict the compulsory character
of the political levy by the Labor party
on the members of trade unions and to
make illegal any sympathetic strike
action in the interests OF a general
strike.
premier Macdonald will introduce a
bill reversing this law, in fulfillment OF
his party program, but he is aware that
the issue is en- unfaVorable one Tor
general election. for the mind OF the
country is still under the dominion OF
bitter memories Of the 1926 general
strike.
The issue depends on the attitude of
the Liberals, who are on the horns OF
dilemma. On the one hand, a large sec
ton of the party is hostile to the main
provisions of the bill, whose most for
midable legal opponent probably will be
Sir John simon On the other hand,
many Liberals do not desire to force
an election, the results of which would
be the installation in office of the Con-
servatives, with protection policy.
Lloyd George himself, whose final
breach with Lord Asquith occurred
through his yelled support of Labor in
the general strike, is understood to favor
a second reading of the bill and its
amendment in committee. But Baldwin
calculates on such a division in the
Liberal ranks that 1t will enable the
Conservatives to defeat the government
and go to the country on most favor
able issue.
Meanwhile the question of the Ameri-
can debt, which is always Simmering,
has boiled over into an open contro-
versy between Lloyd George and the
supporters of Baldwin. In a recent
London newspaper interview Lloyd
George attacked Baldwin for neglect
ing to protect the interests of the coun-
try in arranging the terms of repay
ment declaring that "the headlong ac-
ton of Mr.. Baldwin in 1928, in spite of
the desperate protests of his own chief,
Bonar Law, is largely responsible for
the financial difficulties with which the
nation Is confronted at the present mo-
ment." Thereupon the London Times
published extracts from an article
signed by Lloyd George and written
for an American newspaper syndicate
in February, 1928, enthusiastically in
dorsing the Baldwin settlement with
America as identical with the attitude
of the late government, of which he
Lloyd George-was the head, and de-
claring that no party had risen or was
likely to arise which would disagree
with Baldwin's action.
X X x X
Lloyd George replied on Friday, ad-
uniting he wrote the article, but stating
it was written at sea, with only the
bare wireless announcement of the fact !
to guide him. He said that immedi- |
ately on reaching England and seeing |
the details of the settlement he wrote |
another article for the same syndicate, |
saying: "a cold shiver ran down the |
back Of England when it was an
oficially that the British gov
eminent had definitely agreed to pay |
over G30,00O,00O sterling for so years to |
the United States with respect to debts |
incurred in behalf of the allies, without |
seeking a contribution from Britain's |
debtors to protect the taxpayers of this
country" The article, he said, insisted
that Great Britain, while paying her
own legitimate debts, ought not to be
Saddled with the debts of less highly
taxed continental countries.
II X
The public has been a good deal
by this example of Lloyd
Georges infallible system of reinsurance
against contingencies on every subject.
The incident is significant Of the cease
less undercurrent of feeling in regard
20 the war debt question and the pres
mt tendency for discussion of the sub
lect is to play Q part in creating an
election atmosphere. nAt should Bald
wins hopes of forcing an election be
realized the main issues are mot likely
20 be financial, but India, on which i
he country is with the government,