LONDON TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 19143, 9 January 1926, Page 18

LONDON TOPICS

LABOR PARTY CRISIS SURVIVES DEFYING THE TAX COLLEGTO2 [From Oub Coekestondxot.] November 26. A good deal of political interest has been “aroused by Air Ramsay MacDonald’s remarkable invocation to Liberals at Northampton. The Labor Leader addressed to the Liberals something between an appeal and an invitation that they should join with the Labor Party in resisting “ the reactionaries.” There ,is a little doubt in some quarters how far this should he interpreted as a suggestion for a' Labor Liberal alliance at Westminster and in the constituencies, and how lar as a bid for actual absorption of the advanced Radical wing of Mr ■ Lloyd George’s party. Information that reaches me regarding last week's Locarno debate confirms my impression that Air MacDonald has in mind the absorption of the Radicals. Though the secret has been unusually well kept, there was an acute crisis in the Labor Party over last week’s Locarno debate. So far did this go that 1 am informed that Mr Ramsay MacDonald's resignation as leader was actually tendered last Wednesday, if not formally, at all events directly, ibis was in' consequence of strong conflict of opinion within the party, and violent opposition to the Peace Pact by the so-called “Reds.” The latter arc more than ever disposed, under Mr Wheatley' tutelage, to adopt a plan of fighting everything. Mr MacDonald’s personal hold over the Labor Party, loss because of any great popularity than because he is irreplaceable, eventually won the day, and Mr George Lansbury played the role of mediator. But it now looks as though Air MacDonald means to drop the Reds ” and make a bid for the “ Rads.” NEW FRENCH TERROR,

The collapse of AL Painlcvc’s ministry after a troubled three weeks’ existence, the fourth French Government to fall within eighteen months, faces France with a crisis hardly less anxious than when, on two memorable occasions during the Groat War, German legions seemed to bo dosing on Pans. How long will the French nation, who showed themselves of such a Roman valor in the war, continue to shirk the peace? Their situation is a disastrous paradox. Ificonomically, the Republic is probably the most prosperous State in Iturope. h ina_ncially it is almost bankrupt. And all because the French people to rise above the shifts of political intrigue and shoulder an adequate post-war burden of taxation.

PrtODERN iSHMAELS. It sounds almost too good to bo true that, in post-war Britain in this overtaxed epoch of the twentieth century, there are actually free men who successfully defy the income tax collector without actually breaking the law of this realm. One increasingly popular method of achieving this apparent impossibility is to live on a boat. Not only is the number of permanently residential moored yachts increasing up the Thames, especially in the lower tidal roaches between Richmond and London bridge, but the sumo phenomenon occurs elsewhere up all sorts of waterways. Those boat-dwellers often avoid all registration, and pay neither rates nor taxes. Steps arc now being taken by the Treasury, with_ a former First Lord of the Admiralty at its head, to board and raid all these Jshmacls. A still more difficult shirker to round up, however, is the individual who lives in hotels, and keeps changing about from one to another without any permanent address. SERVICE QUARRELS. I am told that, ns the, outcome, of the autumn Army manreuvres. a rather grim contest is proceeding between the ,Anny and Air Force experts. One thing brought clearly out by the mimic warfare was the increasing extent of aerial activity and the intensive ma-chine-gunning and bombing of troops, on the roadster in position by growing squadrons of aeroplanes. The present controversy turns upon the practical feasibility of the tactics adopted exteusivclv" at manoeuvres by the airmen. The military people say the latter flow much lower than would have been possible in real war, or than evcr_ attempted generally in France. This the gallant ILA.F. men warmly contest. But, at any rate, I hoar, there is now a clear demand for anti-aircraft guns and equipment for all Army units. This is a big and expensive order, but it has ham logic behind it. LLOYD’S AND THE BUDGET. Rates are already being quoted at Lloyds for insurance against changes in taxation in the 19116 Budget, and it is clear that underwriters take a somewhat pessimistic view of the chances. An increase in the income tax is one of the risks most talked about, and me premiums asked show that underwriters regard a rise of 6d as aiii odds-on chance. Insurance against taxation of luxury articles are also being quoted at high rates. OTTO FOR HUNGARY? Not only in Hungary, whore a proclamation in favor of Otto, sou of the late Emperor Carl, is said to bo imminent, but in Austrlia, too, a spirit of loyalty to the Hapsbarg dynasty may yet' leaven the lump of discontent. ' Here arc the words of an English employer of labor, fust back from Vienna, who is not concerned cither way, but merely kept bis cyc.s and cars open for post-war impressions; “ The old palace lias now become a place where exhibitions are held, and for Bid one can be shown .all round the former state rooms. Schonncnbrun, the palace outside Vienna, has also bad a similar fate, and the rooms in which Emperor Franz Josef lived and died are open to inspection by the public for the same small payment.” “ Outwardly the Austrian accepts this with some satisfaction,” says my informant; “but inwardly he is feeling that what ho has gained is loss than he has lost. For ho loved the old Emperor ami what the Emperor represented. Ho accepts his Republic with resignation, but ho is not a Republioan°at heart, and oven a world war only touches the surface.” Ho adds: “ Though the city can newer lose that fooling of beauty and clogance_ which is given by the charm of its buildings, both old and new, still the impression gains that it has in some way fallen from its high estate as a leader of fashion and taste.”