GRAPPLING WITH DUTIES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 218, 11 June 1929, Page 11

GRAPPLING WITH DUTIES

LABOUR GOVERNMENT PROPERLY CONSTITUTED BROADCAST MESSAGE BY MR. MACDONALD OUTLINE OF HOME AND FOREIGN POLICY The new British Prime Minister, Mr. J. R. MacDonald, on returning to London from Windsor, where he and his colleagues had received from the King the seals of office, broadcast a statement in which he declared that Ministers were not losing any time in grappling with the duties imposed on them. He referred to some of the problems the Government has to deal with, and expressed the hope that the nation would quietly and buoyantly go on with its task of industrial recovery and expansion. He added that he hoped to pay a short visit to Geneva at the opening of the next meeting of the League of Nations.

(British Official Wireless.)

Rugby, June 9. Mr. MacDonald, the new Prime Minister, issued the following statement I from the London station of the British Broadcasting Corporation yesterday > evening:— “My colleagues and I have just returned from Windsor, where we received the seals of office from the King. The Government is now, therefore, properly constituted, and I wish to take this early opportunity of thanking the country for the confidence it has placed in us. “We are losing no time in grappling with the duties imposed on us. We have to work for peace in industry, in home affairs and also for peace abroad. Mr. Thomas has been placed at the head of an organisation which will survey and tackle with energy the most practical means of dealing with unemployment, not only by relief works, but by plans directed by ideas of national reconstruction. Those working with him will be specially concerned with this problem. I have been sceptical of reducing within a year the figures of unemployment to what has been called normality, but everything that can be done will be done, and that as speedily as possible. “I cannot, of course, anticipate the terms of the King’s Speech, which will be presented as soon as the new Parliament meets. While it will not be possible in the short time available before Parliament meets to study all the complexities of laws like pensions, it is our intention to deal promptly with certain simple difficulties like those of the provisions made for widows. A good deal of this kind of work we shall try to do ■whilst the bigger things are developing. “We have come back from the election campaign just a little tired in body, and you will not grudge us a few days’ rest before we meet the House of Commons. The departments will be working with vigour during our absence preparing material for us to labour on. I hope the. nation will quietly and buoyantly go on with its task of industrial recovery and expansion. We shall be inviting representatives of both sides, employers and employed, in the essential industries to confer with us in special work for the good of our people. We shall avoid, extravagance. We shall regard the work of reconstruction as capital for future development and better equipment.” ’ Mr. MacDonald concluded: Mr. Henderson has been placed in charge of the Foreign Office. In view, however, of the overshadowing importance of disarmament and of the need for friendly discussion and agreement between the United States and the other Powers and ourselves, I hope myself to be able to pay a short visit to Geneva at ’the opening' of the next meeting of the League of Nations. I shall also watch the American situation, because I feel it to be of such importance that no misunderstandings should exist between our two countries.” NOTHING TO ALARM IN MESSAGE COLLEAGUES’ REMARKS LESS REASSURING (United "ess Association - By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Australian Press Association. (Rec. June 10, 7 p.m.) London, June 10. The “Morning Post” (Independent) ■ays: “There is nothing to alarm but much to reassure in Mr. MacDonald’s broadcast message. Mr. MacDonald is evidently in a good humour, and his path nas been made unexpectedly straight. Presumably he is not preparing z a big offensive against conditions which make for confidence and stability of industry, not intending to penalise industries which are daring to be prosperous. The declarations of some of his colleagues who are more eager to injure the capitalist than benefit the wage-earner, leave little grodnd for hoping that the Socialist Government will leave well alone, but if Mr. MacDonald’s policy is better than their professions he will do much to deserve the confidence he desires to •am.” PRESS COMMENTS ON NEW CABINET (British Official Wireless,) Rugby, June 9. The constitution of the new Cabinet on the whole follows anticipation, but there are a few surprises, including

the appointment of Mr. Sidney Webb to be Dominions Secretary. Mr. Webb did not seek re-election. at the General Election, and his appointment therefore undoubtedly means that he will be made a peer and sit in the House of Lords.

“The Times,” commenting on the Cabinet, remarks that the general impression left by a study of its personnel is that it is the best that could have been designed to carry out the unprovocative policy which is apparently to mark the beginning of the new Labour regime and which the circumstances of the moment certainly render desirable.

The “Daily Herald” (Labour) describes it as a truly National Government It says: “Not only are there spokesmen of the great trade unions, but there are trained and competent economists, men whose knowledge of finance is incomparable, co-operative leaders, municipal administrators, great lawyers, soldiers, and journalists —men from the university and the professions standing side by side with their colleagues from workshop and factory in a great national endeavour to lift their country to a higher and more prosperous level. Labour, too, has followed its best traditions in appointing the first woman Cabinet Minister.”

The Conservative ■ “Daily Telegraph” says: “We cannot conceive any Socialist Government which would inspire confidence, but at least this one need not inspire particular alarm. It is a Government of moderates and of gradualists.” The Liberal “Daily Chronicle” says that the impression which the team as a whole will make on the country is favourable. It is carefully balanced; it contains not a few happy individual choices, and its general character corresponds to the more moderate and practical side of Labour politics. The anti-Socialist “Dally Mail” says that the Government has received no mandate for Socialism. MR. HENDERSON’S FOREIGN POLICY LABOUR PAPERS COMMENT (United Service.) (Rec. June 10, 8.30 p.m.) London, June 10. The Labour paper the “Daily Herald,” in a leading article dealing with Mr. Henderson’s foreign policy, says: “Labour intends to lay new emphasis on the importance of the League of Nations, the development of arbitration, the resumption of relations with Russia, the evacuation of the Rhineland, the improvement and strengthening of relations with the United States, constituting a programme the fulfilment of which will mark a gigantic step towards peace. It is a good omen, too, that Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Henderson are expecting an opportunity for personal contact and consultation with the American Government.” MOOTED MACDONALD-HOOVER CONFERENCE REPORTS SURPRISE WASHINGTON COMMENT BY BORAH Australian Press Assn.—United Service. (Rec. June 10, 10.10 p.m.) Washington, June 10. Reports from London that the Prime Minister, Mr. J. R. MacDonald, is to seek a personal conference with President Hoover on Anglo-American relations, were received here as something of a surprise, but with approval from Senator Borah, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Although no comment is forthcoming from White House, it is assumed that President Hoover will welcome an opportunity to discuss- international relations with the British and Canadian Prime Ministers. Asserting that the greatest problem in the world is lifting the burden of armaments from .the backs of men, Senator Borah said: “Close co-operation between Mr. MacDonald and President Hoover would give an exceptional assurance that progress would be made.” DIFFICULTIES AHEAD PARTY’S ATTITUDE TO LIBERALS WORK OF LEAGUE COUNCIL ' ALREADY AFFECTED Australian Press Association. London, June &. Signs of difficulties ahead of the MacDonald Government have not taken long to show themselves. The first evidence of internal difference appeared to-day when the National Council of the Independent Labour Party, after a two-day session, passed a resolution dissenting from an article in the “New Leader” by Mr. H. N. Brailsfcui fav- . oaring collaboration with lAfeawUe.

The council emphatically reaffirmed the Independent Labour Party’s Conference’s opposition to collaboration, on the ground that it would be fatal to the Socialists’ purposes, for which the Government had attained power. On top of M. Trotsky’s sudden application for permission to come to Britain, the Moscow “Izvestia,” while viewing the MacDonald Government coldly and sceptically, demands that it take immediate steps to bring AngloSoviet relations out of the deadlock brought about by the Conservatives. The “Morning Post’s” Madrid correspondent says that the advent of Mr. MacDonald is already affecting the work of the League Council. The German delegate, Herr Schubert, strongly opposed the Report on Minorities by the Committee of Three, headed by Sir Austen Chamberlain, and an open rupture with M. Briand was narrowly averted. There is the greatest elation among the Germans, who are indulging in the wildest talk of a complete reversal of British policy, envisaging Mr. MacDonald as supporting the German demand for the revision of the Silesian frontier and the abolition of the Polish corridor, as well as the immediate evacuation of the Rhineland. Mr. Arthur Henderson, Foreign Secretary. interviewed by the “Daily Herald,” said: “We shall do our utmost to seek to strengthen the bonds between Britain and America, and make the Kellogg Pact fully effective. Regarding Russia, we' shall expeditiously open up negotiations to put AngloRussian diplomatic trading relations on a satisfactory basis.” THE WORLD TEN YEARS HENCE THROUGH NEW PRIME MINISTER’S EYES AMERICA AND EUROPE Australian Press Association. London, June 9. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, in an article in the “Sunday Dispatch,” on “What I think the world will be like in ten years’ hence,” says: “Industrially I see the whole world apportioned into vast economic fields controlled by powerful syndicates recognising no boundary lines other than markets, holding in their keeping the lives of millions of human beings. Social materialism is growing vigorously and will become increasingly a problem for those caring about individual liberty. The great cry since 1914 of self-determination for nations will be displaced by the still more important cry of self-determination for individuals. “Speaking politically, I would say that if the smaller Powers make themselves felt at Geneva, there is no reason why, within ten years, we may not have something corresponding to the United States in Europe. On the contrary, if the great Powers continue to dominate Geneva, affairs will be less hopeful and more confused. The complete organisation of Europe is difficult, almost Impossible, while the United States remains aloof from the League. I think there is little chance of the United States joining within ten years. However, that country will be associated more closely with League activities and Britain and the United States before ten years are over will come to an agreement on the old Irritating question of the freedom of the seas, which will lead to a further A rnftylcn-Eurnnaan understanding.’’