The sun., 1919-02-09
HUGE TASK FACES
BRITISH PREMIER
Lloyd George Must Meet Sc
riOus Attacks at Opening
of Parliament.
SOCIALISM GETS GRIP
Strikes and Industrial Disor-
dcrs. However, Seem to
Have Lessened.
Special cable Despatch 10 Tar Sun.
Copv,ioAt. 1912: al rights reserved.

Copvrigkt 1919: all rights roserted.
LONDON. Feb. S.--Premier Lloyd
George returned from Paris to-day to
face forty eight hours of tho heaviest
labors in statecraft ever heaped upon
a Prime Minister
The third session OF Parliament under
King George opens at noon on Tues
day with the usual address from the
throne and in the intervening two days
the Premier must grapple with the In
dustrial situation. outline and defend
the nations policy in the peace nego-
tiations and face his political opponents,
who now are primed for series OF
attacks upon him.
How critical the Prime Minister SIT
uation may become Is indicated by re-
ports from every part of the country
of the activity of certain radical ele-
nlents which aim to overthrow the
lresent form OF Government and estab-
lish a Socis.stic republic. There is no
doubt that England to-day is threatened
with an attack OF Bolshevism. although
as the week closes there seems TO be
general clearing up OF the industrial
storm.
Strikes Seem TO BE Broken.
Shipworkers are returning to their
ships by thousands after the Govern
ment took drastic measures both in Scot
land and Ireland, concentrating troops
near the centres OF unrest at Glasgow
and Belfast The railway men, molli-
fed by promises OF shorter hours, are
operating trains again. while the cleo
trical workers strike seems 10 be
complete failure.
n o Mace
most affected but the labor situation here
is no indication of conditions through
out the country. The London tube workers
still arc out, forcing thousands TO use
every manner of vehicle 10 travel to
their work and creating conditions that
are certain to react against the strikers.
who already have lost the sympathy and
moral support OF the public
Premier Lloyd George must plunge
into this whirlpool OF conflicting inter-
ests and force them into concord. partly
for the reason that defeated Germany
looks to economic disorders among the
victorious Allies to obtain for her easier
peace terms than would have been pos
sib.e six months ago.
British Army Conditions Good.
Conditions in the British army gen.
u
tiently for, rehabilitation. Up to noon
Friday England had demobiliZed 1000
ono men. with the minimum amount OF
trouble To make room In all the Nari-
Gus branches OF industry the repatria-
ton OF Belgian refugees is proceeding
rapidly: every eastward bound boat on
the Dover-Calais line is filled with these
refugees. relieving in that degree the
labor congestion and inspiring hope that
a further dislocation OF labor will be
avoided
Politically the Prime Minister will
find his hands full during the forthcom-
ing session OF Parliament. At best his
Cabinet is loosely constructed of diverg-
ent elements ami may collapse under the
STRAIN OF reaching decision Oh any
one OF the numerous reconstruction
measures. His advisers look forward
| will i'll concealed dismay 20 the pros
pective legislation OF the next thirty
DAYS or so, hut they rely upon the Pre-
miers ability to straighten out such
measures as the housing bill TO relieve
| the congested areas, the bill to estab-
lish new department of ways and COM
munications. which Sir Eric Geddes is
to head. and the long promised measure
establishing a Ministry Of Health.
The Prime Minister il to take par
IN the debate on the address from the
throne on Tuesday afternoon. during
which he will deliver momentous speech
dealing at length with the Industrial
unrest and the Governments general
policies The Premiers proposal 10 al
low Lord Miner to succeed him at the
Paris conference meets with much criti-
cism because Lord Miner Is not re-
garded as sound on the subject OF Ger
many, since he is opposed to the collec-
ton of an indemnity. Considerable fear
is expressed also lest without LLOYD
Georges powerful presence British in
terests may give way too frequently 10
the American proposals.
Thus, facing more than one man usu-
ally shoulders in a lifetime. the redoubt-
able Welshman hurries from the settle
ment Of the world war to cast himself
| into the midst Of domestic battles