The Washington times., 1915-04-24
AFTER THE WAR

Just suggestion of the nature of
that tremendous social reorganiza-
ton which inevitably will take place
in Europe after the war, was con-
veyed recently to a few fortunate
Washingtonians. A British gentle
man, who had been commissioned by
David Lloyd George for the purpose,
came to this country to gather data
for the guidance of his chief in the
preparation Of plans for handling
the millions of soldiers who will be
returned to the body of Britain's
population after the close of hostili-
ties. 1t is assuredly interesting to
know that the British cabinet is al
ready giving close consideration to
the problems that will be presented
when that time shall come.
At the end of our civil war two
great armies were disbanded and
sent back to their homes to fit them
selves, as best they could, into the
disrupted economic life of the ma
ton. No incident of that struggle
was more impressive, none more
convincing testimony to the capacity
of the American people to take care
of themselves, than the redistribu-
ton of these armies without shock
or disturbance to the industrial sit
uation. Places were found for ev-
erybody who wanted to GO at busi-
ness or at work, and the country, in
stead of finding itself with hordes
Of unemployed, got busy and entered
on an era of magnificent develop
ment and prosperity.
But Europe has no such prospect.
The United States of 1865 was a
new country. There was huge area
of the best land on earth yet to be
taken and settled; the soldier could
stake out his land and 60 to work on
it; and he did. Europe has no such
wealth of opportunity. 1t must re.
adjust its whole economic structure.
There will, of course, be desperate
efforts in all the countries to pre-.
vent extensive emigration; and in
order to prevent it, the released sol.
diers must be provided means Of
supporting themselves, re-establish
ing their relations to the community
making themselves industrially use
full. All this must be directed ir
large part by the governments; anc
it must be accomplished in time
when capital stocks will be at low
ebb because of the wastes of the
war. Only the most effective CO.
operation of state with individual
can handle the situation.
Mr.. Lloyd-George, foreseeing this
question, has sent his agent to the
United States to study means of re
claiming lands in Britain. He wants
to know all about American methods
of forestation, irrigation, drainage
and the like. 1t is in his mind, o.
course, as it has been for Ions
time, to press his taxation measures
which look to breaking up the grea
land holdings of the United King
dom, giving the people a chance tt
make farms out of baronial area
that are now parks and shooting pre-
serves and grouse moors. In yer,
considerable parts of England !
will be necessary, before these land
can be utilized, to drain and restor
them.
This task of drainage, road build
, ing, and the like, will employ in it
J self great force of workers; and a
: fast as the lands are reclaimed the
t can be carved into home sites an
) thus provide still more employment
: 1t is said to be a part of the chan
= cellor's plan to make Britain produc
: a very much enlarged food suppl
, in future. He believes that prope
E utilization of British lands will i
t great part do away with that cour
= try's dangerous dependence on tn
4 outside world for food and othe
products of agriculture.
S OF course, this is only one phas
7 of the great organization of socis