Evening star., 1956-12-02
EDEN'S sTAND-IN
Butler Assumes
Big Repair Job

which have been raised by the
actions Of Sir Anthony.
Mr.. Butler would be the choice
Of the moderate and ''leftish" Con-
servatives. who represent two thirds
of the 1arty. Reaction of Britons
in Washington to Mr.. Buffers APP
pointment which this reporter has
heard have all been favorable "A
good egg" and "a jolly good type"
were comments heard from both
Conservative and Labor party fol-
lowers.
Most Britains recall that Mr..
Butler was responsible for the Ed
ucational Reform Act of 1914,
which brought secondary education
to all. They also remember him as
a successful Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer. At the Exchequer. Mr..
Butler so closely followed the ideas
of his predecessor, Hugh Gaitskell
that wits coined the phrase But
skellism" to describe their Joint
viewpoint.
There is little doubt that Mr..
Butler and Mr.. Eisenhower would
see eye-to-eye on many matters.
1t Is known that he pressed for the
use Of U. N. machinery rather than
resort to force in the Suez crisis.
Both Mr.. Eisenhower and Mr.. But
Ter. as moderate conservatives.
would be engaged in steering mid
die course while beset by their own /,
extreme right-wing supporters.
Cooperation Probable
There is already some evidence
that the Labor Party would CO.
operate with Mr.. Butler. Earlier in
the Suez crisis. Mr.. Gaitskell prom
ised support to any Conservative
leader, other than Sir Anthony
Eden, in corrective action on the
Middle East problem. London po-
litical observers have also been
struck by the moderate tone taken
by Aneurin Bevan, Labor's "left-
wing" leader, in recent weeks. Mr..
Butler could count on cooperation
as long as he was pursuing policies
calculated to restore reliance on the
U. N. rather than on war.
Although British party lines are
more clear-cut than in America,
there are many basic areas Of
agreement between the two major
British parties. In times of war and
deep economic crisis, coalition gov
ernments are formed and work
well. The formation of a coalition
government now is an outside pos
Sihility. 1t is more likely that Mr..
Butler will form government with
Labor Party cooperation on an
agreed foreign policy.
A Conservative government,
headed by Mr.. Butler--the only
Conservative leader in view who
can unite the nation-would con-
tinue to fight the Labor party on
domestic questions. The strategy on
foreign policy would probably be
to avoid votes Of confidence but not
to avoid debates. Thus the Labor
party would have their opportunity
to put alternative policies up for
debate. After debate---with the
"Suez rebels" all set to upset the
government-Mr. Gaitskell would
withdraw the demand for q conf
dence vote. Mr.. Butler would
blandly agree to the withdrawal.
In the meantime, Mr.. Butler II
only the acting head Of the govern
ment. If that government were
to be defeated in q vote Of conf
dence next week. Mr.. Butler would
have to await the return Of Sir AM
thony from Jamaica. If Sir An-
thongs health should prevent his
early return, constitutional crisis
would ensue. A period Of delay
would be real danger to Britain.
Standing in the breach. r. A.
Butler is his usual imperturbabSe
self Too learned a man to have
illusions about politics. and too
dedicated public servant TO be
disturbed by personal ambitions.
he will continue to give the best
Of his effort to the service OF his
Queen and country. It may well
be that when the history Of these
days is written 1t will be seen that
Mr.. Butler saved his country by his
energies and his party by his ex-
ample.