The Washington herald., 1920-03-19
Conditions in Great Britain
Problem of Governmental Control Is Press.
ing-Politcal Situation Not Clear.

change the burden OF the bread
subsidy has become intolerable, and
the government is casting about for
means whereby IL may be reduced.
II the subsidy were abolished the
price OF the standard loaf would
rise from nine to fourteen pence,
which would provoke a dangerous
social revolt. One method suggest
ed Is to maintain the subsidy on
bread but to withdraw it from flour
purchased for household consump-
tion. This would have the unde sir
able effect of arraigning household
consumption in competition with
bakers consumption.
The Problem OF De-ControL
To control or to de-control. and
how to de-control in the face of
rising prices OF food, is the most
pressing question of the moment.
Tonnage remains scarce, due
largely to the breakdown in port
facilities the world over. Since
tonnage has been de-controlled the
different lines strive to return to
their normal routes despite the fact
that the momentary need of tom
mage 10 not always along the lines
Of normal routes. The delay in the
allocating of enemy tonnage is ef-
fecting grave injury. q glaring H.
lustration being the eleven large
tankers anchored in Scapa Flow.
While friction between the nations
of the entente over the division Of
enemy tonnage continues without
Interruption. the failure of the rat
location of the peace treaty by the
United States constitutes the real
explanation of the delay.
Political situatioa Not Clear.
The political situation is clear in
the whole but very unclear in the
detail. 1t is almost universally
agreed that Lloyd George ought to
go; but since there is no agreement
as to who ought to succeed him, he
remains. Whenever his situation
appears particularly unstable the
Prime Minister is able to effect a
hank movement. Thus, within the
last week, his acquiescence in the
retention of the Turk In Constanti-
nople has brought to his support
against the attack of Lord Robert
Ceril the numerous and powerful
business interests concerned in
Egypt, the Near East and India.
1t is not expected that Asquith
Will accomplish more than an i'm
provement in the opposition to the
Prime Minister on the floor OF the
House. Already Lord Robert Cecil,
who enjoys the confidence Of the
most Intelligent section of the
people, Is regarded as too radical
by traditional conservatives. Cecil
has stated his views on the
mutually of labor and capital IN
Industry and on the right of the
worker to participation in the inti-
mate sense in the affairs OF the in
dustry in which he is employed. In
deed his position on the subject OF
the relations of labor and capital
would have classed him as radical
rather than liberal had he been a
member of the trst industrial con-
ference held in Washington a few
months ago. But the Labor Party
has passed generalities and stands
upon specific proposals for nation
alization of specified Industries, and
to these Cecil is no more committed
than Is the Prime Minister. The
adroitness of Lloyd George, that
was at once glorified and satirized
by Keynes, 10 nowhere more to be
wondered at than in the daily
surge Of British politics.
High Standard OF Living Not Main
tained.
There is evidence that the high
standard of living established dur
Ing the war Is not being maintain
ed. This is accounted for not mere
ly as q result of rising prices but
also as a consequences of impair
ment Of distribution. Thus, the pro-
duction of coal has risen in a sat-
tsfactory manner; but distribution
has dsteriorated. so that the house
holder. experiences as much or more
difficuity than when the actual
scarcity was more pronounced. Al
q time when the stocks of wool
a positive embarrass-
ment, the manufacture and sale OF
woolen commodities is In a less
satisfactory state than two years
ago when wool was very scarce.
Each nation learns that the
transfer Of industry and trade from
Individual to eolIectiytstic manage
ment carries with II a transitory
period Of confusion. Apparently
the period Of de-control carries
with II confusion and deterioration.