GENERAL SURVEY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1931, Page 9

GENERAL SURVEY

POLITICAL SITUATION

COMMENT BY CABLE

(Received 7th October, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 6th October. AVith the certainty of an impending election, the House of Commons was less than half filled during a lifeless question-time, in which Mr. MaeDonald, yielding to Mr. Alexander's entreaty, told members that the King had granted his request for a dissolution. . The announcement was received witn surprising tameness and without a cheer from the Labour benches. The members instead trooped into the lobbies, arranging to scamper to their constituencies for a short, sharp fight. By contrast there were the wildest scenes when the announcement was made to the Labour Conference at Scarborough. After Mr. Henderson had revealed the date of the polling, Mr. George Lansbury jumped on the platform and began singing the "Bed Flag," in which delegates and onlookers joined. The song was repeated again and again. The chairman, Mr. Stanley Hirst, announced that the conference would not disperse before Mr. Henderson, "the future Prime Minister," enunciated the campaign programme. It was Mr. J. H. Thomas who first revealed that Mr. Mac Donald had decided to fight r the Seaham constituency. Some of his admirers are nervous over this step, and think that he should have chosen a safe seat, but it is pointed out that Mr. Mac Donald was considerably heartened by his reception, on his recent visit. Optimists suggest that his personal popularity, plus the cause' he is espousing, will carry Mr. Mac Donald through, but at the same time it is recognised that he cannot personally devote much time to his constituency, because he is not only determined to keep in close touch with financial circles in London, but intends to go to Mr. Thomas's and also to his son Malcolm's electorates to help them in stiff fights. Mr. Mac Donald sets the ball rolling to-morrow night at 9.20 by wirelessly broadcasting tho National Government's manifesto, on which he was busy at 5 o 'clock this morning. It will be drafted on the broadest lines. The manifesto is not expected to contain a definite tariff pledge, but will appeal to the electorate for an open mandato to solve the country's crisis by the means which day-to-day developments necessitate. Tho fact that there is no accepted formula has led to speculation as to how Conservative and Liberal clashes will be avoided to prevent a repetition of Labour's many minority successes in 1929, but it is understood that local organisations will bo urged to arbitrate for the purpose of ensuring a straight-out fight against Labour.