The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-18
Member of Parliament Discusses Conditions
 andPolitics h England
Alexander F. Whyte in Bir- mingham on Tour of the Country, Takes Hopeful View of Situation-Talks on Vital Topics
By GORDON M,KINLEY

Labor unrest in England is a different proposition from agitation among workers in other parts of the world. ex- plains Alexander F. Whyte, M. F., who for ten years was a member of the British House of Commons.
 The English statesman is spending the winter in the United States for the purpose of studying economic and political conditions here and to re- spond to many Invitations extended him by American organizations to de- liver lectures on various topics of the days He was registered at the Tut wiler yesterday and will leave for At lanta, to fill an engagement. Monday evening.
 The difference. he said. between labor sentiment in England, as com pared to Russia. for instance, is that, while the British worker has entered politics with intense interest, it is more as a constructive force than as seekers for any radical change. The labor party is considered as made up of co-workers, new and virile force and one that is now being welcomed.
 "The outlook in Great Britain is
 not nearly so black some think
 Those who prophecy dark things
 about England still have the fog
 of war in their eyes. They
 unable to see the really promising
 factors in the situation. Several
 great changes have taken place
 that will have immense influ-
 ence our future development.
 The first of these relates to the posi- ton of labor. Serious unrest has been caused by the war, but it is remark able fact that iyi spite of all the strikes which have occurred since the signing of the armistice with Germany, the mum Der of working days lost in British indus try during the past six months is slightly less than the average number lost through strikes in any of the three years preceding the war.
 ''The attitude of the public toward labor IS two-lold. First, public opinion resents the attempt by labor to hinder our return % normal conditions by strikes. We want to get back to work as quickly as possible. Second, Great Bri- tair as a whole, welcomes the entry Of
  labor rarty was regarded as an in- trudo in our two-party system, but to- day We have come to regard it as one CT the great political parties of the future, and what is called the characterization of industry finds favor among large sec tious Of the community. The labor party has undoubtedly come to stay and will play an increasing part in British public life
 '.The second of the great changes IS the new position of the Irish question, The most significant change in the Irish question is not as some suppose. the rise of the Sim Fein party but the change of conservative opinion in Great Britain itself
 Hitherto the opposition of British con- servatives to Irish home rule has been the main obstacle in the way of Irish lf-government. The war has converted all the younger conservatives in Great Britain to Irish home rule. Those who emermber the historic part played by the conservative party in resisting homa rule will realize what profound change this means. Briefly speaking, it means that the only obstacles now remaining in the realization of Irish hopes are to be found in Ireland itself The problem now is to devise a system of Irish gov ernment which will unite in it's support 
 and that is no easy task.
 "Without question the British people as a whole, desire to see Ireland gov ern herself and are prepared to give her something like the system of dominion home rule which prevails in Canada. The two extremes in Irish controversy are represented by Sim Fein on the one hand and the Stand-Pat Protestant party in Ulster on the other. Both of these extremes are the children of an evil past The makers of Irish freedom must look to the future.
 ''The great change in the new atti' tude of the British people towards al foreign questions. The days of oul isolation are over and we now realize that we have to cooperate in making a new world after the war. This sen timent is the main force which ha. brought the League of Nations into prominence as an instrument of justice and good relations between the diff ferent powers of the world. Friend! of the League of Nations in Europ, realize that the present covenant i. an imperfect document, but they holc that it contains within it the promis, of it's own improvement They wei come the attempt made by the Ameri can people to get clear idea of wha the League means.
 Any interpretations which the Sen ate writes in the margin of the GOV enant of the League, will be read il Europe as an indication of the obliga- tions which America is prepared tc undertake No one wishes any mem Der of the league to enter it with his eyes shut, but here again. as in the