MR RAMSAY MACDONALD

Evening Star, Issue 21093, 4 May 1932, Page 9

MR RAMSAY MACDONALD

THE EYE TROUBLE ANOTHER OPERATION HEGESSART Pratt Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, May 3. Specialists have decided to operate on Mr MacDonald’s right ey.e on Thursday. He will remain in a nursing home for a fortnight, and then go to Lossiemouth, returning to London about June 13. The condition of his left eye, on which an operation was performed earlier, is satisfactory. DECISION NOT A SURPRISE NO OCCASION FOR ALARM. (British Official Wireless.) ~RUGBY, May 3. (Received May 4, at 11.30 a.m.) The unfortunate necessity for an operation to the Prime Minister’s right eye, announced to-day, did not come as a surprise. Glaucoma, which necessitated the operation to the left eye, generally attacks both eyes. The decision to operate without delay was not due to any emergency, but was taken because the Prime Minister is anxious to be fit again in time to attend the Lausanne Reparations Conference in the middle of June. Postponement of the operation until after Lausanne would have been medically inadvisable. Unfortunately some of the Prime Minister’s plans had to be chnaged, and he particularly regrets that he will be unable to fulfil his intentions to return to Geneva to resume the conversations there which were originally interrupted by M. Tardieu’s illness. Mr MacDonald will to-morrow morning preside over the weekly meeting of Cabinet. In the afternoon he will have an audience with the King, which was arranged before the doctor’s decision was known, and in the evening he will enter a nursing home in preparation for the operation on Thursday morning. He w iU remain in the nursing home about a fortnight, then go to Lossiemouth (Scotland) to recuperate, returning to Downing street on June 13 prior to proceeding to Lausanne. During his absence Mr Baldwin will deputise as Prime Minister. It is emphasised that there is no occasion for undue alarm about the Prime Minister’s eyesight. With proper treatment, followed by ordinary care, it will be perfectly good for many years. PRESS TRIBUTES TO COURAGE > - LONDON, May 3. (Received May 4, at 1.10 p.m.) Newspaper tributes to Mr MacDonald’s courage emphasise the importance of his retention of the Premiership. ‘ The Times,’ in a leader, says that Mr MacDonald is almost indispensable to Britain, which under his guidance has become the admiration of the .world. The ‘ News-Chronicle ’ says it would be most unfortunate if ill-health prevented his attendance at Lausanne, which is likely to be a decisive moment in the long, dreary drama of the European crisis.