Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-26
MACDONALD FACES
TEST OF STRENGTH
Ministry May Fall Unless
Liberals Can Be Won on
Employment Issue.
NJ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
LONDON March 26.-The British
Labor government is to be tried for
its life in the British House of Com
mons next week.
The prosecuting attorney will be
Stanley Baldwin, Conservative leader,
who will press motion, of censure on
unemployment while the governments
case may rest principally in the hands
Of Young Johnston, new lord privy seal
and unoficial minister of unemploy-
ment.
Liberals to Be Jury.
The Judge and jury will be the MEM
bers of the Liberal party who last night
decided to withhold a definite decision
on which way they will cast their bal
ance Of power until the Labor program,
particularly on unemployment, Is ex-
panded during debate on the motion OF
censure.
An adverse verdict by the Liberals,
or even any considerable section OF
their SO votes, would mean instant exc
cution for the government-resignation
of Prime Minister Macdonald and
complexion of the next ministry.
Government Nervous.
It is believed that II Johnston's speech
in the cenSure debate commits the gov
eminent to an unemployment declaration
similar to that David Lloyd George, Lib
eral leader, reads today to Liberal par
liamentary candidates, the bulk of the
Liberals will vote against the Conserv-
alive motion and the government will
be saved.
There was undisguised nervousness in
the government ranks today and some
Laborites openly expressed the wish
that the Conservatives had been willing
to postpone their censure vote until
after the Easter vacation, so that John
ston might better have familiarized
himself with the details of the COM
plete unemployment situation.
Lloyd George in Fight.
Lloyd George, silvery haired and I'M
maculate, and with his verbal rapiers
sharpened to dangerous points, faced q
packed auditorium of Liberal parlia-
mentary candidates at old CASTOR Hall
today in a renewal of his fight for con-
tinued control Of the party.
The crowd gave the wartime premier
an enthusiastic reception as he mounted
dQInOLlSn LnSIn 10 SUI
port his policies in the Commons.
The ovation crowned q week in which
he already has written two successes,
the flrst in retaining control of his
shadow cabinet, and the second in hold
ing the parliamentary Liberal party in
line on matters Of policy. 1t was this
statement of policy, which the Labor
government must accept practically as
its own If it Is to live, which he out
lined today.
Fears Labor Defeat.
After reviewing the parliamentary
situation, Lloyd George declared that 3
defeat Of the government today on q
major issue, with trade in the position
1t Is. with unemployment. and with the
country IN state Of panic, would mean
q protectionist ma jority in Parliament. /"
All that we are asking from Labor"
ne added, is that 1t should do and not
shirk the job" s
Then, in single sentences. he stated
the entire Liberal policy as ''irdepend-
ence OF the party, no surrender of that
independence, but cooperation and I'M
derstanding with the government for
carrying out measures which are COM
mon to both parties on progressive
lines. That is our policy. We have no
other-and that is the one for which
we are seeking support"
Knows the Risks.
II would be only too glad" Lloyd
George continued, ito be relieved Of the
most bewildering and thankless task
ever intrusted to any political leader.
but until I am relieved of it propose
to place such power and gifts and ex-
perience and strength as are left TO me
70 do my best to advance progressive
legislation in the Commons"
There were rousing cheers when he
declared that there were risks involved
in the policy he advocates. I'VE know
the risks we are running" he said. But
you get nothing in life without running
risks. The party as a whole Is willing
10 run them II there Is any chance that
by doing so the great aims will be ac-
complished-peace, disarmament, har-
mony in India, freedom. establishment
of free trade and defeat Of the pro-
tectionist regime. and the recondition-
ing and re-equipment Of this country to