New-York tribune., 1920-02-09
Heavy Clouds
Gather Behind
British Ministry
Increasing Power of Labor
Party Expected to Manifest
Itself When Parliament
Reassembles on Tuesday
Home Rule Bill Redrafted
Money Situation, National.
station Question and Irish
Problem Vital Subjects

AW0ASM ANtA OAOJCCtS
LONDON. Feb. S.--The British Par
lament will reassemble Tuesday with
several Of the weightiest problems Of
reconstruction still hanging over Its
head. The fnencial situation, the
question of naturalization Of mines
and railroads, and the Irish problem
are three of the most important sub
jects with which the session is ex-
pected to grapple without delay.
Forecasts of King Georges speech
predict it will be an unusually long
and important pronouncement. The
Kings speech, read by His Majesty,
but framed by the Cabinet, customarily
points out the principal topics Of ma
tional interest and frequently fore
shadows the course Of legislation. The
full dress debate which follows the
Kings speech gives an opportunity for
members Of Parliament to engage in
free discussion over wide range of
subjects.
Premier Lloyd George is expected to
begin the session with review Of the
general state of Europe and of the
British policy toward various develop
ment., such as relations with Russia
and the Polish and Italian situations.
The Laborites promise to move an
amendment providing for nationaIiza-
ton OF mites, while the small delega-
tion OF the Irish Nationalist party still
left in the House Of Commons is ex-
pected to attack the governments
policy of repression, which they blame
for Irish disorders.
Among ann ouncements expected at
the opening session is q statement Of
whether the government fgvors the
proposed international conference for
discussing the worlds financial aii-
ments. Confirm alton also is expected
Of the governments previous state
ments that Great Britain has cot con-
sidered asking further loans from the
United States.
Home Rule Bill OverhauIed
The Home Rule bill probably will be
brought forward at an early day, the
Cabinet having overhauled it during
the past week at conferences with Wis
count French, Lord Lieutenant and
Governor General Of Ireland, and James
Ian Mcpherson, Chief Secretary for
Ireland. The bill may prove consid-
erably different from that which had
been expected. One proposal which is
finding support in England is that it
should be made an enabling bill rather
than one which would impose a new
system upon Ireland, leaving it to the
Irish people to decide BY some form of
referendum whether they will accept
it and try to put it into effect.
Heavy clouds appear to be gathering
behind the coalition government, owing
to the steadily increasing power of the
Labor party. Some Of the best informed
POLITICIANS profess to see the "hand-
VIZ 1Sg on the wall" that the formation
of "a sAew Ministry by the Laborites is
only a question of time and that the
hour may strike within the next few
months.
George Nicou Barnes and George H.
Roberts, the last two Labor Ministers
in Premier Lloyd Georges Cabinet,
have resigned, leaving the coalition
government without any representa-
tion of the party which recent by
elections have indicated is now numeri-
in Great Britain. Meanwhile, men of
widely differenVtypes, such as Viscount
Haldane and Admiral Sir John Arbuth-
not Fisher. have come out for Labor.
Viseount Haldane, who was one of
the most conservative members of the
Old Liberal government which brought
Great Britain into the war and close
and Viscount Grey, threw bomb into
that group when he gave an interview
declaring that "the Labor party alone
has a vision which will enable it to
possess and serve the future
Henderson Possible Premier
Speculation as to the personnel of
the next Cabinet advances Arthur
Henderson, the Laborite leader, as a.
possible Premier, Viscount Haldane as
Lord Chancellor, and Professor John
Laynard Keynes, British delegate on
peace conference, and whose detection
from the peace conference and book
dissecting the Treaty of Versailles
have made him one of the most promi-
nent personages of the day, as Chan
cellor of the Exchequer.
NATURALIZATION of industry and
opposition to armaments are two of the
Premier Lloyd George contemplates a
Dill giving the miners large share
In the management of mines, but this
week refused suggestion made by
representatives of the miners that he
embody. in the bill the recommends
tlons OF the Sankey commission for a
large measure of naturalization, Talk
OF direct action, which means a gen.
eral strike to bring about Nationalist
tion, has been revived.
The Paisley by-election, where
former Premier Asquith is making a
strong campaign sor election to the
House of Commons on q Liberal plat
form, is the focus of political interest.
The result may not be the verdict of
the parties relative strength, how
ever, as numerous conservative four.
nails, even including "The Spectator" /"
are urging the Conservatives to vote
principles, but on the ground that the
abilities Of such a great parliamen-