New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-30
English Labor Party
for Breaking Up
Vast Estates
I25 PER CENT LEVY
ON WEALTH URGED
War Measures Hit Poor
and Evoke RevOlu-
tiOnary Proposals
By FRANCIS ". HIRST
rs, c,sl. to Tho rrbunel

London. Dec. 29.-Poltics and
finance here have gone into melting
pot from which neither caucuses nor
creeds nor even the rules of arithme-
tic will emerge unscathed. Even the
mild official labor party is under
stood To be pressing for levy of %
per cent on capital, besides plans for
land settlement which would break
up the large estates.
Ore Of the difficulties Of the new
government is that enforcement of its
privation measures will hit the poor
hardest and promote the spread of
such revolutionary doctrines.
Meanwhile the government has
promised action and there is a de-
mand for action.
Must Prove Superiority
The food and shipping dictators
will have to take strong steps before
Parliament meets to prove the su-
periority Of the new over the old
government. Many newspapers are
pressing for the closing down of
breweries and confectionery trades
until the end of the war. Experts
believe that otherwise both -four and
sugar will run very short, though
rising prices ultimately will check
consumption.
The raising Of the statutory railroad
fare from one penny a mile TO three half
pence next Monday was challenged last
week in the House OF Commons as ultra
wires. but will be justified il questioned
in the law courts as a war measure
under the defence Of the realm act.
Workmen's cheap fares are unaffected
but the measure will reduce travelling
which is the governments aim, as
otherwise, with the removal Of many
trains and locomotives, there would be
serious congestion and overcrowding.
Pressing War Measures
In spite of this economic and social
pressure there is evident expectation IN
official circles of the energetic prosecu-
ton of the war for some time 10 come.
A sentence from Lloyd Georges
speech indicating the need for brief
period Of months or even weeks" of
special sacrifice was quoted by mem
her of Parliament to-day, along with
Bonar Laws statement that "our
finances will hold out long enough TO
secure a successful issue
No one dare speculate in the pres
ent stage. but the indications from
hostile newspapers and from neutral
countries support the belief that the
German-Austrian peace push VIII
co,tinue. Now that the ice has been
broken. public and private discussion
Of peace terms will proceed stimuli
taneously with war measures.
Mu,t Show Change of Heart
Concerning a peace conference, the
journal des Debats" makes the sar-
donic suggestion that Brussels would
ha a good neutral centre, which may
help the German government 10 see
the need for some positive moral ac-
ton by way Of sccelerating peace.
Certainly, the British public wants
an official manifestation from the Ger
man government CO = changed heart.
The mere declaration Of a desire for
peaee MADE an impression. but more is
demanded.
There "a much diversity Of opinion
hove and a refreshing desire for dis
cussion. To-day "The Manchester
Guardian" suggests an ampliiication
of our formula thus: Restitution Of
what? Repsrstion for what? Gusran-
tees against repetition Of what