Omaha daily bee., 1920-12-31
British Outlook
For Coming Year
Rather Gloomy
Politicians and Labor Leaders
Picture Prospects in Somber
Colors-Big Problems Fac
ing Government.
By Tho Associated Press,

London, December 3O.-Britain'
outlook for 1921 is pictured in rather
somber colors by the politicians
economists. financiers and labor lead.
~ers. At home two outstanding prob.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT and Ireland
have baffled the government, while
it also is .besieged by many results
OF the war. including a vigorous
newspaper campaign against social.
ed government extravaganza.
In the foreign field, looking east.
ward, there is the perplexing prob
lem of settling the Palestine bound
aries, promising some pointed ex.
changes of opinion with France
Mesopotamia, with its huge expense
and its oil, the>ever-present Persian
difficulties which the last agreement
has not allayed;l India, which is ir
greater state of unrest than for
years, requiring an exceptionally
large garrison; Russia, with its trade
proposals which have caused a split
in the British cabinet, and the un-
certain Greek situation.
Officials here believe that within
the next twelve months important
dealings. between Great Britain and
the United States will necessitate
most careful handling.
Negotiations Dormant
Negotiations between the. two
countries have been almost dormant
since the political conventions in
the United States. There is a desire
to clear up the oil question, which
has been the subject OF long series
OF communications on the question
as to the extent to which the United
States shall participate in. the world
petroleum supply, much of which is
under British mandate.
settlement of cable control also
offers many perplexities, particularly
IN that the United, States is contin-
ually reaching farther for world
trade. Shipping officials are OF the
opinion that the new mercantile N,a-
rine OF the United States is likely
to bring up question of adroit
diplomacy and point to Secretary
Daniels announcement of big naval
program as the forerunner for ship.
ping differences.
While the government is. being Sc
riously pressed on one side to cease
enormous expenditure, it is besieged
on the other with demands for un-
employment funds, cash for housing
schemes and other postwar expendi-
lures, with a result that there is little
likelihood of reduction in the bur
densome taxation.
Lower Prices Promised.
Some relief is promised in reduced
cost of living except in the price of
food, which rose steadily during 1920
With industry hard hit and 81 900 900
lobless men, merchants who had
been holding commodities for high
prices are expected to continue to
dump their goods at a loss. This
has caused slight reductions during
the latter weeks of the old year.
AS the year opens, the Lloyd
George government appai entity is
maintaining a firm hold and there is
little evidence that any of the small
factions In parliament, either sep
arately or in concerted actions, is
able to defeat the cabinet and for
general elections. The cabinet minis
tiers. as they pass between their
Offices and parliment, see evidence OF
unrest. Strong, policed barricades
still obstruct the approaches to gov
ernment buildings and the huge iron
gates at the entrances to some Off
cial buildings are kept closed. This
is done, the government announced,
because it fears a Sim Fein out
break, but it is known also that il
considered the i'll effect bolshevik
agitators might have on the restive
minds of the unemployed.