New-York tribune., 1919-02-25
Unrest Reaches from Russia
to Ireland, Growing Worse
Since End of Hostilities
Victory Fails to Satisfy
No Period i'll History Com
pares With General Dissat-
isfaction Over Conditions
By Arthur S. Draper
NeU York Tribune
European BureGI

European BureGI
tcop7risht 1919. New York Tribune Inc)
LONDON, Feb. 24.-The European
governments face tasks more compli-
catel if possible, than those they han
died during the most strenuous days of
hostilities. Instead of improving, the
general situation in Europe has grown
steadily worse since the armistice was
signed and the restrictions which held
the masses N check for four years
were removed.
The attack on Clemenceau by an
anarchist and the murder of Eisner by
an aristocrat are indicative Of unrest
reaching from Russia to Ireland. 1t is
no eXaggeration to say that odern his
tory records no period to compare with
the present so far as general dissatis-
faction with conditions is concerned.
Revolution is not too strong a word to
use even this moment, although it is
apparent that the crisis has not yet
been reached.
Even the joys of victory over a cruel
and powerful enemy have failed to sat-
lsty the personal grievances of the
masses, while in the vanquished coun-
tries the sting of defeat has whipped
the people into furious protest against
their leaders. One war has been fol-
lowed by another, in which even now
it is impossible to distingus sh friend
from foe, to forecast the final lineup
or to see what the ultimate settle
ment Will be.
Bitter Complaint in Britain
In England, Ireland, Scotland and
Wales there are great sections in which
the people are complaining bitterly
Isles suffered infinitely less in the
great war than did France or Italy.
In Britain food is more plentiful and
cheaper, wages are higher and unem-
ployment is less than in France or
Italy.
The germ of Bolshevism, like that of
influenza, spreads rapidly, defying all
efforts at isolation. Lloyd George has
not had to combat the Russian or
Spartacan type Of Bolshevism in Brit
ain. He is trying now in his negotia-
tions with the miners to eliminate the
possibility of a struggle of that kind.
AS labor doctor the Premier has had
a long and successful career, but his
greatest work lies ahead.
Most labor leaders are much more
moderate than the men, and there lies
the difficulty confronting Lloyd George.
He might reach settlement between
the capitalists and the labor leaders
and the settlement might prove value
less because it did not eradicate un-
rest His plan for settlement has been
we'll received in the press. 1t is con-
sldered eminentlv fair, but time alone
can tell whether a solution has been
reached.
Ominous Reports From Ireland
Merely to record conditions in Eu-
rope as they appear to the ordinary
observer makes one feel like croaking
and confirmed pessimist, but unfortu-
nately many others read the signs the
same way. "The Daily Express" says:
Either the citizen of the world,
reading his colored film history two
hundred years hence, will say we were
all mad, or on the other hand, man will
be gripping flint hammer, peering
out on an approaching eremy from his
cave, without any knowledge that the
great war took place. Civilization can
now go forward, or else it can perish.
1t is one of those times in which all
good men rally to the cause of sanity
and order"
Early Settlement Needed
After describing the killing of Eisner
anu tHe ShOOtlng OF minister OF Justice
Iimm and Home Minister Oesel as
crimes detrimental both to the Allies
and to Germany, THE Westminster
Gazette" says:
With all these lawless elements at
large, it is clearly of great Importance
that, as far as craftsmanship can Sc
cure it, some foundation for settled
government should be laid as quickly
as possible. The enemy governments
need TO know the worst and thus be
enabled to set to work to make the
best Of it. The suspension Of the peace
conference through the inevitable de-
parture of President Wilson will, there
lore, we hope, not mean there is any
cessation Of the spade work still neces-
sary to end the transition period. While
this period lasts the Allies remain the
trustees Of European order, and they
cannot postpone the decisions which
affect the daily lives of all the peoples
OF Europe They have their shoulders
10 the task of distributing the food
supplies which are within their control,
so that no part Of Europe shall fall
INTO famine or anarchy, if by any pos
sibility this catastrophe can be avert
ed"