Evening Post. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1931. WHAT WILL BE THE ISSUE ?

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 86, 8 October 1931, Page 12

Evening Post. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1931. WHAT WILL BE THE ISSUE ?

. Our cable news to-day regarding an event on which the Empire may prove to have had as much at stake as on anything that has happened since the War presents the singular phenomenon of comments on the event reaching us ahead of any report of the event itself. At the time of writing, the terms of the Prime Minister's election manifesto on which the victory or defeat of the National Government may depend are not known, but they have been preceded by the reassuring comments of the "Times."

Despite appearances, Mr. Mac Donald's programme is not really nebulous, says the "Times." He himself ia a symbol that the Nationalist forces will not be dissipated in internecine quarrels. The decision to hold an election means that all parties supporting the Government havo realised the overwhelming importance of crushingly defeating the Socialists. Nothing less can reassure tho world that Britain means to face her difficulties. It is for the constituencies to complete the work ■ that Cabinet has begun and choose candidates who are not fiscal fanatics on either side.

We have called th^se comments "reassuring," and so they are, but it is to be noted that it is only the first sentence that is expressly limited to the terms of the manifesto. Tha description of the programme as not really nebulous" means that the writer had the manifesto before him, but the rest could have been as well written without it, being based entirely upon the broader aspects of the position. And the part that we have not quoted refers merely to the heartening* effect of the election decision itself.

The contrasting opinion of the ["Manchester Guardian," which is quoted in the same message, is expressly limited to the description of the election decision as merely "a device to enable the Tories to introduce, a permanent system of high tariffs." The writer of the "Guardian's" article, therefore, may not haye had the manifesto before him, but.the comments of the "Times" do not suggest that it need have made any difference if he had. The reference to "the Tories" may be taken to indicate party bias, and certainly 'does indicate that party differences have, not been obliterated in the common support of the National Govj eminent. But among party papers probably none is fairer or broaderminded than the "Manchester Guardian," and none has hitherto given the National Government a weightier or more consistent support. Nor has any paper more gravely rebuked the' factious opposition offered by the Labour Party. On the 27th August tho "Manchester Guardian" commented as follows on that party's decision that the Government should be "vigorously opposed in Parliament and throughout the country."1 The Labour decision implies that the party condemns tho idea of a coalition for a specific end which the existing Government found itself, unable' from'its internal weakness to accomplish. On a minor matter of politic! lor on a highly controversial one there imight be' room for argument. But [when tho issue at stake is the financial stability ,of tho country one despairs that a great party can show itself BO blind and reckless. . . *' A Labour Opposition- could be so guided as to shed no scrap of its attachment' to Labour principlo and'yot to recognise that tho Government it is attacking; is performing, from a sonso of duty, a highly' distasteful task. . . The worst thing that could happen to British politics would be that the next few months Should be turned of set design into an electioneering campaign leading up to the miserable climax of anjappoal to the country on the crudest and most inflammatory grounds. Prom that only the Labour Party can save us.

The Labour Party has not averted J that "miserable climax of an appeal to the country on the crudest and most inflammatory grounds." On the contrary, it published on the very; day on which the "Manchester Guardian's" article appeared its own .appeal to the country on "the crudest and. most inflammatory grounds" in a manifesto which combined wild nonsense about a bankers' tyranny with the vicious provocation of class-passions. The loyalty of thp "Manchester Guardian" to ' the National Government which was formed to make unpopular economies and balance the Budget, and has done so in the teeth of opposition of this kind, has never been in doubt. But the determination of the Government to face a General Election as such, and to do so on a vague platform which will enable it to revolutionise the traditional fiscal policy of Britain, has put those of its supporters whose faith is still pinned to that policy in a very difficult position. The thoroughness and the rapidity of the change which has overtaken the intentions of the Government are revealed in the contrast between the decision at which it arrived on Monday and its position as stated by the Prime Minister himself six weeks previously.

It is not a Coalition Government, he said in his broadcast address on the 24th August. I would take no part in. tbat. It is not a Government, ivhieh compels any party to it tf> change its

principles or to subordinate its distinctive individuality. I should takeno part in that cither. It is a Government, as has been described, of individuals. It has been formed to do this work. If the work takes a little time the life of tho Government will be short. When that life is finished the work of tho House of Commons and the general political situation will return to where- they wore- last week, and those who havo takca risks will receive either our punishment or our reward. Tho election which will follow will not be fought by tlie Government. There will, be no ■coupons, and, I hope, no illegitimate prejudices, but in the meantime I appeal with all the force I have to every one of you, rich and poor alike, employed and unemployed, I appeal to you to face, as the people of this country always havo done, difficulties' with heaTts determined to overcome them, and a conscience ready to respond to whatever the call and the necessity may be. The change which has thus been forced upon the Government provides a good illustration of Emerson's saying that Things are in the saddle, And ride mankind. And the habit of things when they take charge in this way to ride mankind a good deal faster than is convenient is also illustrated by the experience of the Government. What the "Observer" called a "National Government—Limited" has become a National Government, Unlimited, or very nearly so. What its chief said was not a Coalition Government in August has become a Coalition Government in October. And the pace has been so fast as to allow it little time to consider what the change implies. The essence of Coalition is compromise, but on the tariff which is the dominant issue in the Government's policy there has been no compromise, but only a vague understanding which has apparently been reflected in the vagueness of the Prime Minister's reference to it. It is true that "The Times" says the programme is "not really nebulous," but the same authority appeals to the constituencies t to complete the work that Cabinet has begun, and choose candidates who arc not fiscal fanatics on either side. A sufficient comment, on this advice is the fact that on the; one side Lord Beaverbrook calls on all Empire Crusaders to question candidates and make sure that they support Empire Tree Trade, i while on the other side the "Manj chester Guardian" rinds in the action of the Government a devieo to enable the Tories to intrpduco a permanent system, of high ! tariffs. To an article which had been carried to this point before Mr. Maci Donald's "Appeal to the Nation" came to hand, we can only add now a brief reference to its treatment of the question we have .discussed. As it is impossible to'foresee in the changing conditions to-day what may arise, he says, no one can set, out a programme of detail on which specific pledges can be given. Tho Government must therefore be free to consider every proposal likely to,help, euch as tariffs, expansion of exports, and contraction of imports; commercial treaties and mutual economic arrangements with Dominions. Though "The Times", may be correct in-saying the programme as a whole is "not nebulous," the' reference to the tariff is unfortunately just as vague as we had. been led to expect,