The British Labour Party is returning to 1931 strength and probably also to a repetition of the 1931 catastrophe. Its gains in the recent by-elections have been impressive; it has won 180 seats, lost 7, as against the Conservative's showing of 9 won, 112 lost, and the Liberals's gain of 5 and loss of 33. But if one can believe the opinion of John Strachey, once a confidant of the higher-ups in the Labour Party, this success at the polls will bring surprise not unmingled with consternation to the Party leaders. And this apparent paradox is easily explained: for years it has been the face-saving excuse of Labour officials that though they had power, they had no majority, and therefore no chance of effecting the socialist legislation to which they were pledged. To the average coal-miner this seemed reasonable enough. But what will happen if the Party obtains a straight majority at the next General Election?

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What will happen is that the Labour leaders will be forced either to challenge the capitalist system, or to be shown up for what they are: radishes, red on the outside and white within. England cannot stand the burden of more social legislation, but the party if it has a majority, cannot hesitate to demand it. As with Labour governments of the near past, all the pressure from the Treasury will be exerted on them to slash what relief provisions are now outstanding; but the party will not dare to follow their commands again. "Gradualism in reverse gear"--that is what Strachey so aptly called it; and will the rank-and-file stand for that next time? Will it consent to have labour representatives doing the dirty work of the gang it was elected to replace?

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Of the alternatives, disintegration of the party seems the more likely; when face to face with the responsibility of smashing capitalism in Great Britain, they will choose rather to abdicate than to fight. Brought up on the patient parliamentarism of the Webbs, the Wallases, and Shaws, they are gradualists to the core; they deplore the fate of Social Democracy in Germany and in Italy and consider the Fascists really quite unsportsmanlike. With the 1931 debacle just behind them they issue a declaration of faith in Democracy rather than Dictatorship, and look askance at G. D. H. Cole and his companions of the left wing who plumped for a frontal attack and a use of force if thwarted in legislative demands. If Sir Stafford Cripps can be considered typical of present, Labour party opinion, the only slogan to which it will have any right will be "On to Bigger and Better Defeats." Only a political miracle can save the party from collapse if it breaks down before the issue once more; only a series of unexpectedly crude tactics by the Conservatives will shock the Labourites into a realization of the immensity and the necessity of their real task. And by that time it may be too late. CASTOR.