Great Was the Fall

(British Commonwealth of Nations)

As one day merged into another it became increasingly certain that the Labor Party would be sustained in moving an amendment on the Address from the Throne.* Amid the riot of British parliamentary news four facts stood out clearly. First, Ramsay Macdonald, the Labor leader, in delivering himself of a stinging criticism on the King's speech, declared that his Party lacked confidence in His Majesty's Government, and that it would restore British influence in Europe for humane ends. Second, ex-Premier H. H. Asquith pledged his aid and the aid of the Liberal Party in putting the Labor Party into power. In a scathing 'denunciation of the Baldwin Administration he said: "Less than six months ago they were in possession of a safe, comfortable, docile, manageable, majority of some 70 or 80 members. They are here today with followers who number considerably less than one-half of the House. . . It would be a waste of time to indulge in the thankless task of slaying a suicide. On the issue raised by this amendment [to the King's speech], judgment goes by default."

Third, Winston S. Churchill, defeated Liberal candidate at the past election, but an ex-cabinet minister of multifarious portfolios, calmly threw a high-explosive word-bomb into the midst of the agitated political circle. With the full weight of the Rothermere press behind him, Mr. Churchill, often alluded to as "little Winnie," damned the Liberals and damned the Laborites and became, ipso facto, aligned with the Conservatives. He declared that the Labor Party will be invited to assume office on sufferance in order that "if they are violent they may be 'defeated, and if they are moderate they may become divided. "And this is called 'giving a fair chance to Labor.' It is no fair chance to Labor. It is no fair chance to Britain. It is a fair chance only to faction and manoeuvre." He advocated that the House should be fair to itself and to the electors and send an address to the Crown which, "if it expresses want of confidence in His Majesty's present Ministers, also records it repudiation of Socialism and its distrust of those whose policy of the capital levy and of nationalization of the means of production, distribution and exchange, has been so signally defeated at the polls.

"Such an address would truthfully express the general mind of the House and the decision of the electors, and would reduce and limit to normal constitutional dimensions the burden placed upon the Crown."

Fourth, after prolonged discussions in a crowded House of Commons, the following amendment to the address, which is to be added to the address of the House thanking the King for his speech, was carried by 328 votes to 256:

"But it is our duty respectfully to submit to Your Majesty that Your Majesty's present advisers have not the confidence of this House."

* Speech written by the Premier, approved by the Cabinet and delivered by the King in person.