The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-11
Ramsay Macdonald and Britain

Few foreign luminaries arouse more enthusiasm
in American public consciousness than the coorful
British premier, Ramsay Macdonald. Hence Amer
lean readers should be interested greatly in the keen
and authoritative judgment of MacDonald's present
position and policies by Professor Harold J. Lasd in
Harpers magazine
ut is difficult for any one who shared in the high
hope of MacDonalds future when he became prime
minister in 1924 not to be moved by the tragedy
of his present position.
'He could have used the Labor party to remake
the foundation of England he has become the help
less tool of its essential antagonists Most Of the
policy he now espouses is direct contradiction OF
the essential ends to which he has devoted the major
part of his life
"The man who explained with passion the right
of India to freedom imprisons by thousands those
who took him at his word The man who denounced
the war of 1914 stands unprotestng in the face Of
an imperialism as menacing any in modern his
tory The internatonalist accepts without difficulty
one more and vast economic barrier in the way Of
world unity.
1.-THE appointed leader Of the working class move
mentS leads their hereditary foe to the battle. Not
since STAFFORD has there been change of front so
decisive or so tragic. What is the cause Of 1t all?
It believe the essential cause is the relation Of
MacDonald's peculiar temperament to the special
environment of British politics.
"Timd indecsive, vain of applause, he shrank
from the price of unpopuarity among society he
had come growingly to esteem. Its own self-conh-
dence nourished his lack of it.
Its own faith in its standards gave him standards
he otherwise could not attain. Its habit of accept
ing the facts of life without seeking to alter them
saved him from the need to reflect upon principles
which sought to change those facts in terms OF a
different social ideal.
"He had grown away from the people who made
him eminent. He had lost the willingness to make
their dreams the measure of his own. He had come
perhaps only half conscously to find in the habits
of the British governing class the security and the
safeguards against that unknown tomorrow to which
leadership of the Labor party innpelled him.
His immediate value was seen. He was culti-
waited with skill by those who had Stunned him,
which lessened the earlier distance he once had de-
plored. When the moment of crisis came, he found
that the bridge he had thought bslTier of separa
ton was, in fact, the high road TO the safety for
which he yearned.
"Henceforth, he could live at ease in Zion; for in
It's habatons one does not listen anxiously for the
birth cry of new world. He has avoided denuncia-
ton; he has escaped the danger Of a second exile
for his faith. The ribbon is in his coat and he will
not live to read the verdict Of history"
Many have believed that MacDonald's shift has
been indicated by the great improvement of Britain
under the coalition government. 1t would appear
that this 'betterment" is largely matter of party
and press talk. The New Republic just has printed
a letter by distinguished British economist, who
says:
Il know no reason to suppose that there is an
improvement in economic situation. take this
view because I'd the shipping statistics show con-
tinuous decline: CD the same is true Of railroad
trafc: CD there is Improvement in textiles iron
and steel. or coal. except In the home made Of the