The New York herald., 1921-07-03

the petty personalities of the po-
Etical arena-but although it is true
that personal rivalries, squabbles and
treacheries underlie this situation, yet
i is much larger than that in causes
and consequences. This impending
downfall of the Coalition Government
in England, or at least this regrouping
of parties and people, is due TO a gen
eral change of spirit and to mighty
forces in world affairs. Politicians and
their little careers are like straws
which show the turbulence and tide of
deep waters. There are deep waters
moving strongly in and beyond the
British Empire. The spirit of the peo
pie is astir, demanding security of life
and liberty in their way of governance,
relief from overburdened taxation and
e fair reward for hard work; peace
across their frontiers, honesty and JUS
tice between classes and nations and
new leadership which will give them
those things and safeguard the future
from the menace of new and ghastly
wars. So far they are not satisfied.
They gave their leaders their chance
and the leaders did not take 1t.
Promises UnfulhlIed.
In England, anyhow, there is gen.
eral belief that ever since the ending
of the war there has been all utter
failure to fulfil any of those promises,
most dismal abandonment of the
ideals of peace and justice and a most
cynical disregard of national interests
uriS
nonnic policy has swung violently from
rrodigal waste to savage attacks on
taxes and wages; from wild eXtrava-
sance to a false economy, without any
guiding law of life by which all classes
should cooperate in common sacrihce
and common striving. The result is
shown in the disastrous conf1lct pc
tween capital and labor and the paral-
vsis in trade Our foreign policy has
led us into vast expenditure ana mas
failed to pacify Europe or to recon
struct its financial ruin. Cur poncy
toward Ireland, if looked at from any
roint of view. has been disastrous IN
It's lack of real craftsmanship. Eng
land now demands a new programme.
It's patience is exhausted. It is insist
sults. It is this rising tide of i'm
ratience, this passion OF disgust with
present conditions. which Is making
politicians of all parties and groups
run about like mice in cage when
the door is opened to the cat.
What is happening in England Is
heeinning to happen elsewhere. Many
peoples in many lands are asking tor
reformation of methods and morals
hetveen classes and nations. The I'M
perial Conference in London has not
been without its effect on English
statesmen. Men like Smuts, Massey
and Meighan have been taking
frankly in private as we'll as In pub
lie and they have been saying some
very straight things. They are not IN
terested in the careers of party poll
ticians. They are much more inter-
ested in the welfare of their dominions
and the future of the worlds policy.
From their geographical position they
are able to realize certain problems
with a more intimate sense OF reailty
than are statesmen over here, 10 WhoHl
these problems seem remote and un-
real.
Gen. SHUTS gave a jolt to our
IN, pipation when he said that Europe
no longer mattered very much In re-
lation to world power and that the
Pacific would be the scene of the next
great drama in human history. ! know
nothing of the secret influences and
the pressure at work behind the
Anglo-Japanese alliance, which Will
sbapa toa frst act of that new drama,
but know that all ordinary people
in England are utterly convinced that
great crime will be done If a new
alliance is established in any way with
japan which does not have the full
approval of the American people.
on the other hand. they believe that
this is a test case of the worlds hopes
for an era of peace based on interna-
tional Justice and agreement If Amer
lea. England and Japan can estab-
lish friendly understanding not hurt
ful to one or another of them and
not based on naval rivalries or on COM
mon greed at the expense of other
people, then we hope for gradual dis
armament and some permanent peace
everywhere. otherwise the cockpit OF
Europe will only be changed for other
spheres of strife.
II is that question above all others
which will mark out this week as
memorable in the history OF mankind,
hut as I have limited. these days are
filed with a tide of public opinion
which is running strongly toward new
harbors of hope.