Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-11
Tariff Issue Splits
British Electorate
BY A. G. GARDINER.

LONDON, October 1o-The fears Of
those who opposed an appeal to the
country in the midst of the financial
crisis have been aggravated by the
event itself. The election campaign
has come in the worst possible shape
and the public Is bewildered by the
confusion Of motives.
All of Premier Ramsay MacDonald's
attempts ia preserve the solidarity Of
the national governments appeal to the
nation for a doctors mandate to deal
with the emergency have broken down
on the Conservative party's insistence
to force the tariff issue to the front.
Instead of a united manifesto, defining
the issue of the election. from Mac
Donald, Sir Herbert Samuel and
Stanley Baldwin, the leaders Of the
three parties represented in the govern
ment, each has issued a separate mani
festo giving his own Interpretation OF
government policy in regard to tariffs.
Baldwin stands for a general tariff,
not excluding food taxes. Samuel I'M
willingly is prepared to consider certain
tariff eXpedientS, excluding food taxes.
Macdonald tends to gloss over the
whole tariff question and concentrates
on the vital necessity of a national
government to preserve the stability Of
the pound.
X
The rupture over the tariff question
has shifted the battle-ground of the
election from the financial peril of the
country to the subject Of protection
and has shattered the Liberals whose
100000 votes hold the balance of the
scales between the Conservatives and
Labor. One section under Lord Grey
Endorses the attitude of the Liberals in
the government, another under Sir
John Simon definitely favors tariffs,
and third under David Lloyd George
repudiateS the national government and
declares for unauthorized free trade.
This ranges Lloyd George practically on
the side of Labor and strengthens the
impression that the last phase of his
adventurous career may find him in
that camp.
Lloyd George has cut of the supplies
from his famous fund to the Liberals,
except to his own candidates, which,
as the London Times remarks. practi-
cally confines the fund to the members
of his own family. In spite of this, two
of the most powerful Liberal newspapers.
the London News Chronicle and the
Manchester Guardian, range themselves
with Lloyd George in opposition to the
government on the ground OF the in
volatility of free trade.
+
The situation is further perplexed bv
the determination of the Conservative
caucus to put ProtectioniSt candidates
in the field against even Liberal mem
bers OF the government, including Sir
Herbert Samuel himself. If this is per-
sisted In, the last pretense of solidarity
In the national government disappears
and the country will have the spectacle
OF Liberal and Conservative candidates,
nomlnally supporting the government.
ngntlng each other and giving the seat
to Labor.
Raising Of the tariff issue in agrees
slve form has improved the prospects
OF Labor. which is practically solid in
ableSt colleagues of Macdonald In the
Labor party are in the government with
him, but the organization is bitterly
hostile and 1t is questionable whether
he will have a dozen Labor men re.
turned to support him. Without a sub
stantial party following, his position as
head OF the government in a Parlia-
ment Overwhelmingly Conservative will
be difficult and probably untenable for
the national government will be re-
turned to power. This is the most prob.
able result. and, but for the prominence
OF the tariff issue, certain.
X
The sober minds Of the country are
profoundly alarmed at the attitude of
Labor and the growing pretensions of
the Trade Union Council to dominate
Parliament 1t is notorious that one
cause Of the final crash was the feel
ing OF Macdonald and Philip Snowden
that the tyranny Of the council, COM
posed OF irresponsible trade union secre-
taries, had become an intolerable bur-
den and menace to constitutional gov
eminent in the country. This issue
turks IN the background Of the present
struggle and threatens to be the battle
ground of the future. A proposal act
ually was made by the council this
week that future Labor government be
nominated by itself.
Apart from this, every responsible
mind realizes that to return Labor In
the present crisis would be fatal blow
to British credit in the world But while
they anticipate the return of the ma
tional government, they do not share
the optimism of the Stock Exchange,
where the odds are on majority of lao.
(Copyright. iaSiO