Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-27
British Statesmen Are
Divided as to Election
By A. @. GARDINER.


LONDON, September 2s.-Prime
Minister Ramsay Macdonald, confronted
with the most fateful decision OF his
career, has spent the week In the
strictest seclusion. He will return to
Downing street Monday and the ccun-
try awaits his decision in regard to an
immediate election.
Opinion Is bitterly divided. The
commercial and financial world wants
the maintenance Of the present govern
ment. It takes the view that In the
violent election campaign would nave
disastrous consequences to the pound.
Il y y
The sudden decision to abandon the
gold standard strengthens this view.
The effects Of the abandonment are not
vet realized and the eventual status
Of the pound is indefinite. The country
and the world have sustained the shock
better than expected and the markets
have shown remarkable confidence in
the capacity of the country to weather
the storm. There has been more busi-
ness on the. stock exchange, especially
in industrial stocks, than IN many
months and even the Lancashire cotton
trade reports activity and the reopen
ing Of many mills long closed. The coal
trade also shows signs Of Improvement
in the export division, owing to the
prices OF food and necessities are un-
affected, In spite Of the upwaRd move
ment Of the prices Of inpGBaed COM
modities. This Is due TO abuAaant food
stocks In the country, foreign amporta-
lions having been largely increased in
anticipation of the possible imposition
Of tariffs. Reactions on the continent
have not been unfavorable.
X II %M
In view of the uncertainty Of the
situation It Is asked: Why have another
surgical operation before the full effects
OF the last are aScertained? Why plunge
into what the New Statesman calls a
"lunatic election" when the one need
Of the country Is solidarity, especially
until the pound has been stabilized on
q frm basis? What that basis Is re-
mains uncertain and 1t - argued that
return Of Labor to power committed %
q policy Of imitation would have .
catastrophe effect On the pound
on the other hand, the Conservatives
are pressing Macdonald to dissolve on
two grounds, firstly, because to delay
the election would diminish their pros
poets Of q smashing victory over Labor,
which at present Is disorganized and
discredited, and, secondly in order to
seize the most favorable moment to get
a decisive verdict from the country for
a full protectionist policy.
Chancellor Philip Snowden and the
Liberal supporters Of the government
are indignant at this strategy, which
aims at using the national emergency
to carry o policy which both dtscouu-
tenance. The Liberals want the ma
tional government maintained and are
prepared to concede moderate revenue
tarfff as the price Of maintenance. Sir
John Simon has indeed declared posi-
lively for tariffs and Is supported by q
considerable body of Liberals who are
prepared to Leave action on the matter
to the discretion of the government.
But the Conservatives are dissatis-
fed with half a loaf and want to force
Macdonald, who has an open mind on
tariffs, to go to the country. confident
that they can secure a triumphant YER
dict on protection and make the Con-
servatiyes masters Of the situation for
i've wears, with Labor in Q hopeless
minority and the free-trade Liberals ex-
tinguished.
Il X \
VIII Macdonald surrender He does
not want an election, which VIII make
him Q captive Of the Conservatives. Ills
career with Labor Is over, but M, while
willing to remain at the head OF the
national government, is not anxious TO
head q government which is practically
Conservative.
It Is suggested he might take the ONCE
~ xTyla
eminentiy suited and which Is divorced
from party politics. If he refuses dis
solution, the Conservatives hardly dare
throw him over and force q frankly
partisan election on food taxes.
Much depends on the attitude OF
Lloyd George, who Is now recovering
from an operation. Rumors are cur
rent that he contemplates throwing in
MS lot with Labor. This II unlikely.
ann am 1 - Impossible. Ine wriser nss &c.
MS sick room ncAit1et an election ana