Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
Non-Party Government
Is Possible in Britain
BIZ A. @. GARDiNER.

LONDON, August e.-Parliament "a
profoRued and the London season Is
winding up now with gayeties &C Cowes.
But even light-hearted Cowes cannot
escape the prevailing gloom, in spite
OF the flrst temperance Of King
George in his favorite role Of yachts
man since his illness.
Indeed, the proximity of Cowes to
Southampton with its evidence OF the
Catastrophe slump IN ocean travel and
great ships lying idle in the harbOr. is
sufacient to cast gloom over the dinAin-
ished giories OF the famous regatta.
~ SO
Nor does the fact that Parliament
has adjourned lessen the anxiety in the
political world. This week records the
highest figures that unemployment has
yet reached and the coznnlotion caused
BY the grave revelation of the Economy
Committees report IL undated. The
prospect of . budget deficit of $780,
600. 600, coupled with the fact of stili
declining trade and the approach Of
another black Winter. intensifies the
controversy in regard to the commit
tees drastic proposals for reduction in
public expenditures especially in con-
nection with the insurance system,
which now is increasing the debt OF
the country at the rate Of $500 900. 900
annually.
The fact that the discharge Of the
committee bombsilell wasadelayed until
the day Parliament adjourned is much
censured as evidence of the govern
nent's indispositton to face the encr-
nous issues raised by this most ominous
document ever issued to the British
public.
One result Of the publication Is wide
spread discussion of the urgency Of
reconstruction Of the government on
non-party lines. The present minority
ministry was elected by little more
than o third of the voters at election
and today It Is VIGOROUSLY unrepre-
sentative of the country. However
much Prime Minister Macdonald and
Chancellor of the Exchequer gnowden
realize the seriousness of the financial
situation and the need for the adop-
ton of heroic remedies. they are tn-
capable of carrying the Labor party
with them.
Parliament, being in recess, cannot
force an election, apart from which
responsible opinion is hostile 10 piung-
ing the country into party election
at q moment of national emergency.
Such a course would add chaos TO the
crisis. Nor Is the financial issue the
opportune. Resumption of the Indian
round-table conference is imminent
and the fate Of the vaStest external
problem of Great Britain Is at stake.
Neither this great question nor that
of disarmament should be the subject
Of party controversy or made the sport
of violent electoral campaign.
-
On the other hand, the prospect Of
= fs.- 4ss-
ing I'm undisputed control Of the State
in the face Of the present crisis afouses
growing anxiety. This correspondent
has reason to believe that this anxiety
is shared by Premier Macdonald, who
long has chafed under the irritations
Of his extremists and is fully sensible
TO the pertls of his present policy Of
drifting heiplessly ON the tide of events.
For some weeks feelers have been
thrown out to explore the possibilities
of forming national government IN
which, presumably. Macdonald, David
Lloyd George and Stanley Baldwin
would have ofiices. The operation per-
formed on Lloyd George, which threat
ems 70 exclude him from active par
ticipation In affairs for some time, has
interrupted the negotiations, but the
idea has taken strong hold on the
public mind. It is gaining increasing
of all parties and was discussed Friday
in weighty article in the London
Times.
k& -
The difacuities Of the task are mary
and serious. Personal difficulties are
not the least of them, especially in
view Of the past relations Of Lloyd
George with Baldwin and Macdonald,
the latter Of whom was mainly re-
sponsihle for the destruction Of Lloyd
Georges coalition government Party
strategy would have 10 be scrapped
and surrenders Of policy made on al
sides. Baldwin would Be called upon
to postpone his prutectionist schemes
and Labor 70 accept severe cuts in
social expenditures. which on all sides
have become wildly extrayaRant.
My own impression Is that the course
OF events depends mainly on whether
Macdonald Is prepared 10 face the hos
tility Of large body of the Labor
party This VIII be indicated at the
eRmtng Socialist conference The ques-
- Is whether he will stand for 3
n ional government or lead Ms Roy-
erfGaent to shipwreek in October.