New Britain herald., 1916-12-20
English Labor Leaders
 Skeptical Regarding
 Plan to Mobilize Bone and Sinew of Nation
CHAMBERLAIN HAS
 GREAT TASK AHEAD
Solution of Irish Question May Be Found in Imperial Conference Home Rule, As Favored by Many Dominions. May Be Granted to End Long Standing Dispute-Con- tYOl of Coal Mines.

London, Dec. 20.-The British pub lie had much to reflect on this morn ing. The reply of Premier Lloyd
 George to the German peace pro-
 posals had been anticipated and pas
 sages of his speech dealing with that
 question appeared in the late editions
 of yesterdays newspapers. The do-
 mestic program of the new govern
 ment, however, was not published
 until this morning and it was too
 vast and too briefly indicated for
 the immediate circulation of opinion
 The most important of these points
 foreshadowed by the premier was the general mobilization of labor for war and the vital emergency.
 Lloyd George indicated he meant to begin with voluntary plan and that if this failed he would ask par liament to give the government com- pulsory power to place all the labor of the state at it's services. His pro- posal therefore follows somewhat on the line of the German mass levy. When MT. Lloyd George invited the labor representatives to join his cab inet this scheme was put before them, but they deferred judgment until details were given to them.
 Labor Leaders SkcpticaI While expressing the opinion that 1 after compulsory military service in dustrial conscription is not imprac- l ticable, the labor leaders are dubious 1 as to it's success, feeling that the out l come depends entirely on how the l Workmen take it. If there is hostility l in the rank and file of organized l labor the scheme, they believe, will 1 fail.
 The task allotted to Neville Cham l berlain, who has been appointed di-
 rector general of national service, of scheduling certain industries as in ] dispensible and supplying them. with 1 the necessary labor and material and
 at the same time putting the indis-
 pensible industries on fixed allow
 ances, of labor, raw material and man l power is considered a stupendous
 one. But MT. Chamberlain exper-
 fence in business is expected to carry
 him through. He will have military director under him to conduct re- ] cruiting for the army and a civil di- rector in charge of recruiting for in 1 dustry.
 Dealing with the relations of the
 war cabinet with the general govern
 ment he suggested that the connec 1 ton be maintained by circulation of 1 reports of the proceedings of the cab , inet. As to parliament he hinted that 1 the French committee system might
 be adopted. Shipping and coal mines are to be
 put under the same kind of control as | railways.
 The Irish Question.
 The fact that the premier passed straight from Ireland to the imperial l conference suggests that he hopes to l find a solution of the Irish problem in 1 this conference. It has been promised previously that Ireland would be one of the subjects of discussion at the next imperial conference and as most of the dominions favor some form of home rule it is believed this will l be the best means of settling the long l disputed question.
 l The government probably will re- | quest the whole eight counties of the 1 parliamentary recess to produce the
 meaures foreshadowed, which also l include more drastic dealing with
 excess profits and an increase in food
 production by an extension of culti- 1 vation.