Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-12-29
Growing Unemployment
Renders Issue Acute
In England
BANKRUPTCY IS SEEN
Spread Of Communist Doctrine Alarm
r. ing Feature of Situation Big Busi-
ness Gloomy

London, Dec. 29.-The British gov
ernmcnt would support any su%ges-
ton emanatine from the Unitea
States looking toward a world con-
ference on limitation of armaments
No official intimation has been re.
ccived in Downing street of Secrc-
krv Daniels declaration in favor of
such gathering ard as the Wilson
Administration is nearly at an end ii
is probable that the Lloyd George
government will make no official move
until Harding goes into the White
House.
The newspapers, without exception
are continuing their clamor for a
naval holiday by Japan Great Brit
ain and the United States. As the
agitation grows, it becomes clearer
that the British care less about their
treaty of alliance with Japan thar
they DO about the maintenance OF
good relations with America. The
newspapers of all shades Of opinion
contain expressions of good will to-
ward America and some of them
even say frankly that they would
side with the United States II the
latter clashed with Japan.
The reasons for this sudden burst
Of excitement over the question OF
disarmament is not hard to find. The
widespread unemployment here and
the consequent hardships entailed are
enough OF burden TO the country
,x;thout.thc at;.cd possibility 6 har-
ing to launch a new naval building
program. Premier Lloyd George
stavcd in London over the Christmas
holidays, holding several conferences
with labor leaders on the unemp!or-
mcnt problem. On Christmas day,
he met Il delegate from the employ
crs and another from the workers.
Tomorrow more than a thousand la
bor leaders will confer here to con-
slider the Governments insistcnt
proposal that former service men be
allowed to accept employment in the
building trades. The unions have
been steadily opposing this method
Of Twin" employment to idle men.
The whole question of unemployment
remains unsettled and it grows more
difficult Of solution every day.
The Evening Standard says:
1T might be within the power Of
America to bankrupt the rest OF the
world by setting the pace in an arma-
ments competition. but il could not
conccivably he in her Interests. The
Secretary of the Treasury has point
ed out the vital necessity Of national
economy. The unemployment prob
lem IN the United States is great and
the restoration Of credit and Of the
Durcasing power CT the worlds civil
lizcd populations is as essential to
America as It is to ourselves.
"A rev ornaments race might
give the final push to send the struc,
turc CT international credit down in
ruins. and with.:t all the slow recon
struction cf international trade that
has so far been achieved since the
war"
Big business interests are taking 4
gloomy view Of prospects for the new
wear. There has been 4 slump n
trade all over tho country. ard what
ever measures the Government takes
to reduce unemployment. the rev
Year will begin with largely in.
creased army Of idle The slump ha:
lit the steel engineering and shin,
building interests particularly. and tc
almost as great an extent the wool
en-. cotton. lace and cutlery factorie:
The Labor party is continuing its
aeitation in favor of resumption
cf trade with Russia and is now re
cciving encouragement from tnt
Government. ).
The unemployment situation ha.
given extremists opportunity t.
tContiruad on Pare Two)-