MacDonald's Ministry Overthrown

The historic session in which the fate of the English Labour Cabinet was to be decided took place yesterday in the Commons.
It is well known that Conservatives and Liberals strongly reproached Mr. MacDonald's government for having abandoned the proceedings first opened against Mr. Campbell, editor of the Communist newspaper Workers Weekly.
The meeting, which began at 4 p.m., did not end until about 11 a.m.
A motion of censure from the Unionists had been proposed by Sir Robert Horne, former Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Lloyd George Ministry, and Sir John Simon, on behalf of the Liberals, had tabled an amendment to this motion. Mr. MacDonald, the Prime Minister, rejected both the Unionist motion and the Liberal amendment. He stated in particular:
The Opposition motion is a straight motion. As for the Liberal motion, it is marked by a certain meanness. If the House adopts either the motion of censure or the Liberal amendment, we shall withdraw. Mr. Asquith, the leader of the Liberal party, shed a few tears over the fate of the Government.
Mr. Baldwin stated the Conservative point of view, and declared that they were prepared to support the Liberal amendment.
The fate of the Labour Cabinet was now settled. Mr. J. H. Thomas, the Colonial Secretary, however, wished to defend the Government's attitude again. He reproached the Conservatives for having made a volte-face by virtually abandoning their motion of censure, and concentrating more on the fate of the Liberal amendment.
The country, he said, would not be fooled either. The Government, while weighing the consequences of their decision, persisted in rejecting the Liberal amendment. If the Cabinet were put in a minority, they would find it necessary to ask the opinion of the country.

The House decided to proceed to a vote on the Liberal amendment only, and consequently the Conservative motion of censure was automatically abandoned by 359 votes to 198.
A vote was then taken on the Liberal amendment, which was adopted by 364 votes to 198.

The announcement of the result of the vote was greeted with enthusiastic applause on both the Conservative and Liberal benches. When calm had been restored, Mr. Mac Donald, greeted by cheers from the Labour Party, asked the Speaker to proclaim the adjournment of Parliament. The Labour Government was thus defeated, and the dissolution of the British Parliament was probable.
The 12th or 15th November were already being discussed as the date of the next election.