Grand Forks herald., 1919-12-29
pressing effect on American trade but
exchange with France, Italy and
smaller markets is favorable to Great

Against these reasons for business
confidence stand two handicaps In the
form Of financial and labor conditions.
The national debt appears appalling
to the British public but optimists
argue that it is smaller than was the
debt after the Napoleonic wars, meas
ured by the country's wealth and po-
tential producing power.
The question of clearing tho decks
by some form of a capital levy is still
at the front and may be one of the
burning political questions Of the year.
Railroad Problems.
The nationaliation of mines and
railways is another British problem
and with it are linked questions Of
hours and wages which confront all
industries alike and which England
| shares with America. II has been said
that Great Britain's recovery after
the Napoleonic wars was possible
through underpaid labor but British
employers do not expect this to be
among the assets of tho future. On
the contrary, many industrial leaders
say British industry is facing a. ques-
ton whether the steady increase in
wages may not become dangerous
handicap i'll competition with other
countries.
Labor has other prospective bene-
fits in the promise of Premier Lloyd
Georges great scheme for building
comfortable workmen's homes thru
out the country, which is just begin
ming to matcrialize, and in plans for
: insurance against unemployment
which have not yet developed. The
. principle Of the latter plan is that all
men out Of work through no fault of
/ their own shall be assured of a re-
spectacle living as a right, without
any tain of pauperism.
! Ireland still is regarded as one of
the governments most difficult and
threatening domestic problems. Early
forecasts Of the new home rule bill
met nothing but opposition from all
Irish factions The Sim Fein. with a
majority of the Irish votes. threaten
ed to boycott the scheme as it boy
colts the British parliament.
India and Egypt are being weighed
in the balance with hopes and fears
as intense as those centered upon Ire
land. India will see in the new year
the beginning of the program of Ed
win Samuel Montagu for new meas
ures of self-governmeAt Establish
ment of protectorate over Egypt is
now being resisted with much the
same bitterness and same methods as
the Irish resisted the present admin
istration in Ireland.
To Reduce Army.
The new year is expected to be vital
for the fortunes of the army and navy.
Tho present plan is to reduce the
army next year to virtually its pre-
war basis. The navy is at a critical
stage. Experts upon whom the coun-
try relied in the past notably Baron
Fisher, formerly first sea lord, and
! Rear Admiral Sir Percy Scott are for
scrapping the old establishment They
declare that big battleships are obso-
lete, that submarines and aircraft
have revolulonized warfare and that
suDmersibles, and big submersbles,
are the only craft of the future.
Naval experts whose opinions COM
rnand equal respect are skeptical and
say "go slow" 1t is urged that a
country whose life depends upon its
navy should not drop its old machin-
cry before the new has been proved
beyond reasonable doubt.
The new dispositions Of Turkey and
other lands Of the near east are al
most as important for Great Britain
as the fortunes Of her own territories
Setting up Of new mandatory colonies
and islands involves many decisions
Seldom has the nation faced great
er or more various and difficult tasks
than the new year holds for Grea1
Britain. Yet the average man ts alb
sorbed In one subject moro than all
Of the others together. That Is the
cost OF living which has increased
more in the past year than during the
four years OF war, and he sees nc
turning point in sight. This means
that a large part of the population
has to readjust it's scale of living and
that large section Of the old mid,
die class Is becoming the new poor
S-