New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-25
An Ultimatum to the British
Worker.

w OTKeF.
When Mr.. Lloyd George went TO Lam
cashire three weeks ago to impress the
needs of the government on employers,
labor representatives and others concerned
IN one way or another in the production
Of munitions for war, he pointed out that
there was one thing which was not wanted.
That" he explained, as red tape: 1t
takes such long time to unwind and we
cannot spare the time"
He has not granted much time to the
workers to show whether an adequate sup
ply Of labor can be secured without COM
pulsion. There is TO be none of the bar
gaining and dehberation usual in times Of
peace between contractors and the govern
ment; there is to be no diclering with the
trade unions. If in one week the pro-
ducers fail to make good, then there will
be nothing for it but national service.
Apparently the new Minister of Munitions
has not delivered this ultimatum without
consulting the union leaders. They have
told him, he says, that if in seven days
they fail TO supply the men their case will
be considerably weakened" In a sense,
then, he has them on his side.
The outlook is more encouraging than
it was a month ago. There is more
general understanding to-day of the press
ing need for munitions and the Importance
Of securing them without delay. If the
government had dealt more frankly with
the workers in the beginning the present
difficulties might perhaps never have
arisen. But it is doubtful if even the gov
eminent clearly understood what the coun-
try was obliged to face. As Mr.. Lloyd
George himself openly admitted in his
speech on Wednesday, the Germans alone
seem to have had an adequate conception
Of what the war must involve in the way
of preparation and organization.
He spoke of France, and said that If
Britain could do as well the Allies would
soon possess IAN overwhelming superiority
in the first essential of victory" Yet in
France, too, the shortage in munitions
seems to have been felt keenly. Of late
many men have been brought back from
the trenches to supply the needs of the
factories. It was not realized at first
that some discrimination should be used
in dispatching men to the front, the re-
suit being that many establishments
essential in the production Of munitions
have been seriously crippled for want Of
skilled workers. In Germany, on the other
hand, the Importance of keeping the work
shops well manned was understood from
the beginning; thus, according to de
Temps" the hands employed in the Krupp
works have been increased since mobiliza-
ton from $4,000 to 10000.
This is the sort of foresight in which
Great Britain has been lacking. AS Mr..
Lloyd George put it, Fnghshmen seemed
to expect victory "as a tribute from Fate y
Many others have remarked upon the
deadly complacency" that prevails in
many parts Of the country. This is more
10 be feared than the resentment which
certainly exists among some of the work
ing people in respect Of the abuse that
has been heaped on them, while huge
profits have been made by their employers
But Of late the people at large have
come 10 a clearer understanding of the
sacrifices that they must all make if the
war is TO be pushed to a satisfactory con-
clusion, and in face of this the misunder-
standings between masters and men will
doubtless be cleared up.
One rcassuring sign is the compare
lively sympathetic attitude of the whole
House Of Commons. When the Ministry of
Munitions bill was first introduced there
was a great show of distrust and sus-
pcion but as far as can be judged from
the cable dispatches Mr.. Lloyd Georges
speech was received with little or no oppo.
sition on Wednesday. The complaint has
been made that the Minister of Munitions
has the powers of dictator, but perhaps
it is becoming clearer TO all that some
such powers are indispensable in times
like these.