Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
British Parties in a
State of Dissolution
BY A. G. GARDINER.

LONDON, February 2s.-Defeat of
the Labor government Thursday on .
crucial amendment to the trades dis
putes bill, though unlikely to involve
the immediate fall Of the cabinet,
raised q most momentous issue In Brit
ish politics. It Is the issue Of the
legality Of the general strike.
The Macdonald government seeks by
this bill to restore legitimacy TO the
sympathetic strike and to the position
of the trade unions which eliminated
In the general strike of 1925.
The Conservative government I'm 1927
passed an act cutting the claws Of the
trade unions and aiming to make any
thing in the nature Of q political strike
illegal. The Liberals then generally
supported Labor in opposing changes
in the law, but they are now equally
hostile to the proposals of the Mac
nal status Of the unions.
H NK
On Thursday the Liberals practically
adopted the famous Coolidge formula"
and moved an amendment declaring
the nlegality Of any strike or lockout,
the effect of which Is to expose the
community or any substantial position
of the community to danger by inter-
fering with supplies or the distribute
tdOn VI cSScutiaA 1OOo ana u8ut OF
other necessities of life. The govern
ment refused to accept this amend
ment on the ground that 1t was O de-
NAL Of the right of the workers to
strike in self-defense. It agreed In
the principle Of making q political
strike illegal, but not to the point of
illegalizing q strike which is merely
sympathetic and free from political
motives.
With the experience Of 1926 in mind.
it Is clear that strikes, whether SYM
equally q menace to q community and
that before the courts decide whether
q strike is one or the other the Nation
may become paralyzed by the action
of the unions. The purpose of the
Liberals was to protect the community
against such possibility by illegalizing
any strike action, regardless of its
motives.
This attitude, practically amounting
to denial to the trade unions of the
right to fight, marks q definite reversal
Of the Liberal view, and some LIB
erals, represented by the Manchester
Guardian, bitterly attacked the policy
Of the party, insisting that the function
Of protecting the community against
peril rests not with the judges, but with
the government, which should be armed
with adequate emergency powers for
dealing with the general strike menace.
The incident reflects the hardening of
public opinion against the claims and
spirit OF modern trade unionism, which
are held largely responsible for the pres
ent industrial and economic disorders.
It is the more remarkable because on
general grounds the Liberals are anxious
to keep Labor in power rather than
result In the return of the Conservatives
to power. 1t Is expected that the Mac
Donald government will drop the bill.
but not resign. But its defeat has mada
relations between the Liberals and
Labor, always delicate, now definitely
hostile, and though the government will
probably survive over the budget, its
position Is crumbling beneath its feet.
y
The disintegration of the Labor uartv
itself proceeds rapidly. Philip Snow
den, chancellor of the exchequer Is
the object Of furious criticism from all
sections Of the party on account Of his
courageous speech pointing to the grave
financial position of the country and
the urgent need of economy, which was
taken to mean an attack on the stand
ard of living and the administration OF
the dole to the unemployed. Extremists
and trade unionistS alike for once are
united In demanding his downfall.
Meanwhile, Sir Oswald Mosley and
six followers, including Oliver Baldwin.
son Of Stanley Baldwin, the Conservative
leader, have announced their Intention
Of resigning from the Labor party ana
forming q group based on Moslev,s,
manifesto against the Macdonald roy-
ment. Some think he win coalesce with
winston Churchill, who is in revolt
against RaldWin's leaderefiy,s ~ a.
Conservatives, or with Lloyd George.
who is uncomfortable with the liberals
or with both. Anything seems possible'
for all the parties are in q state border
ing on dissolution.
Downright, 1ssi.)