Evening star., 1937-09-12
BRITISH Majority
! STRENGTH IS HUGE
opposition Could Not Form
Cabinet if Chamberlain
~. Should Resign.
q. BY A. G.. GARDINER.
xy Gable to The Star.

~ cable to The Star.
LONDON, September lit has
always been taken for granted that
the British party system demands q
strong and definite opposition. All
the older political leaders treated this
as automatic. Disraeli, the great Tory
leader whom Stanley Baldwin was
always quoting, said that no parlia-
mentafy government could be secure
without an effective opposing force.
But the war brought a change of great
moment. The country became accus-
toned to fusion cabinets, and since
1881 England has been under gov
ernment, which. although national in
name, is backed by an enormous con-
servative majority in the Commons
Americans would naturally compare
this majority with the Democratic
host in Congress. But there is this
essential difference: The party behind
Mr. Chamberlain Is united and al
together reliable in his support.
Alternative Regime Impossible.
The British system is based upon
the theory, until lately the solid fact,
that, when the government of the day
Is defeated an alternative administra-
tion could be instantly formed. We
no longer have this prospect. The
central facts of the present situation
are these: That the national govern
ment is in no position to defy all its
opponents, and that, If, through some
unpredictable turn of affairs, Mr..
Chamberlain we're compelled to resign,
an alternative government could not
be built out of the present opposition
Of liberal and labor groups
This is an unexampled situation, and
one of immense Importance to the
British nation. And it will bulk large
at two important conventions which
come in the Fall-the annual con-
ferences of the Trade Union Congress
and Political Labor party.
The question of union has aroused
an immense amount of interest on the
political left during the present year,
for reasons that are obvious to every
body. England, like the United States,
has, of course, known in the past long
spells of domination by a majority
party. But never before in our parlia-
nlentary history have We seen a party
and government that seemed likely,
because of its numerical strength in
the Commons, after two national elec-
uons, to retain control for an indefi-
mite period. Naturally enough, the
opposition parties have been inter-
ested and stimulated by the record
OF the united front governments in
France, and, needless to say, they are
profoundly disturbed by the course of
events in Europe and the Far East.
Eloquent and persistent voices in Eng
land, therefore, are urging the neces-
sity of a united front here. At the
labor conferences, great deal will be
heard of the demand. What is there
in 1t?
No answer that could be given to
this question can bring any encour-
Agement for those who are aiming at
united opposition to the national
government. Let us look at the mat
ter with the aid of an advocate who
Is recognized, on both sides of the
Atlantic. as one Of exceptional gifts
q. d. II. Cole, the Oxford economist
and Labor party intellectual. Since
the election Of 1885 he has stood out
AS the most accomplished and re-
sourceful champion of this cause. His
latest book, THE Peoples Front" is
being widely read and discussed.
Fears Over Fascism.
Mr.. Cole is deeply concerned with
the advance of fascism. He is con-
vlnced that the democratic forces of
Britain must organize and unite
against it. He is convinced also that
their first objective must be the over
throw of the national government. If
democratic freedom is not to perish
IN Europe and if England is to be
saved from becoming an ally of the
Fascist powers. He demands. then,
oemocrauc popular front, made Up
OF all the elements of the left and
left center, based upon a limited pro-
gram Of action, which, he is per-
suadeo, would gain the allegiance of
a composite party, whose right would
be the liberal progessives and whose
left would include the small Com
munist party.
MIR. Cole has shown that this way Of
escape from one-party rule and the
Fascist peril can be argued vigorously
and persuasively; but actually there
is no foundation for his scheme.
Nothing could we'll be more remote
from the plain realities of Britain at
this time. No such combination CT
left parties can be possible. The
Communists are few in number and
the main body of labor looks upon
them as, of necessity, Lshmaelites. At
the opposite end of the scale, the firm
remnant of the old Liberal party does
not Cooperate even with the moderate
sections of labor And-most i'm
portant Of all in this connection-the
labor leaders and the executive group
of the party are implacably opposed
to what is called the unity movement
in the labor ranks.
In other words. Mr. Coles method
of creating strong opposition to the
national government would involve,
first of all, the overthrow Of the con-
trolling element in the Labor party
itself, together with the dominating
force OF the labor unions which, by
tradition and policy alike are hostile
to all left-wing activities in the po-
litical labor movement
Nor is this all The state Of the
world in general and the grave anxiety
of the people through the appalling
events in Southern Europe and the Far
East can have one result alone in Eng
land: The continued and enhanced
unity Of the nation behind the ma
tional government.