Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-24
Fall Of the Labor Party.

minister Of Great Britain. but the La
Dor Party is no longer enthroned at No.
10 Downing street. Unable to present .
united front in favor Of unavoidable re-
duction OF government expenditure, the
Labor ministry resigned today. Imme-
diately afterward King George request
Cd Mr.. Macdonald to form o national
non-party government for the purpose
Of balancing the budget. The new cab
inet, with the Labor premier at its
head, is In process Of formation, Con-
servatives and Liberals having consent
der Mr.. Macdonald. Former Premier
STANLEY Baldwin will take once as the
principal representative of his group,
and some outstanding Liberals will en-
ter the national cabinet in the name of
Lloyd Georges faction. Only the illness
Of ''the little welshman" prevents his
own Inclusion.
:. Thus another chapter in British po-
htical history is written, and written to
the glory Of the mother of Parliaments.
A government falls and successor steps
into its place without semhlance of
popular upheaval. Modern Britain
never faced . more desperate emer-
gency than the one which 50 sum-
MARTY ended Labors second lease of
power after two and quarter tortuous
years. It was the chaos into which the
budget had fallen that directly led to
today's events. Heavily augmented ex-
penditure, mainly the unemployment
insurance dole, raided the excheQuef
until It faced q deficit Of $500, 900 900.
Mr.. Macdonald and twelve out Of
twenty Of hn cabinet colleagues favored
Q drastic slash in the dole as the short
est cut TO . balanced budget, plus new
taxation. The Trade Union Congress.
controlling $50 Of Mr.. MacDonald's
aeo-odd seats In the House Of Com
mons. revolted against curtailment Of
unemployment benefits and wage re-
auctions in the lower brackets Of the
civil service. There was nothing left for
the premier to do but govern with the
aid Of Conservatives and Liberals against
large numbers OF his own supporters.
The national non-party ministry he
now heads will proceed TO do that very
4hing. It's budget revision program will
be rAmmed through Parliament with
LAhog, Conservative and Liberal votes.
II 10, Of course. too early TO gauge the
effect OF the Labor governments fall
upon the masses, especially those which
have been living on the dole and have
resented any tampering with 1t. The
Kings selection Of Mr.. Macdonald to
form = coalition government is trans
parently wise. apart from the fact that
As tns head OF the largest single party
IN the House OF Commons Macdonald
Was entitled 10 do 30. The continued
presence Of IAbor's long-trusted and
high-minded leader In the prime min
ister's once Is an assurance to Britain's
humber classes that their interests will
not be permitted TO suffer, even though
the men they elevated 70 ONCE IN May,
1919. are no longer in supreme au-
thority.
How grave the London crisis had be-
come Is indicated by the notice served
on the British government during sun
days crucial cabinet meeting II was
told that the s25e 900, 900 gold credit
recently extended TO the Bank OF Eng
land would not be renewed by the Bank
Of France and the New York Federal
Reserve Bank unless the government
gave prompt evidence that it was going
20 balance the budget by adequate re-
trenchment in expenditure. 1t was
thus . grim condition, and not an idle
theory. that confronted Mr.. Macdonald
and his distracted ministerial colleagues.
Since time immemorial John Bull has
been justly proud of Britain's credit.
He has shrunk from no recourse TO
maintain it. He rejoices in his ability
to "muddle through" even the most
soul-tryins viciSsitudes. The British
past justifeS the belief that the island
kingdom once again will surmount its
trials and peris.