Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-09-25
IRISH PROBLEM
FORCES GEORGE
To CANCEL TRIP
England Is Sorry That
America Won't See
Its biggest Man..
Unemployment Contin-
ues Outstanding Prob
lem in British Affairs.
By GEORGE N. BARNES
British Parllamen'tar Leader.
Special Cable to The Tribune.

Copyright, 1921, by The Tribune.
London, Sept. 24-It is a matter of
sincere regret to most Englishmen that
David Lloyd George, the British prime
minister, will not attend the Washing
ton conference on limitation of arma-
ments. The protracted negotiations
regarding Ireland and the uncertain is
sue of these negotiations severally dis
pose of any chance of this extremely
interesting figure in the world of poll
tics taking part in the Washington par
|ley.
| This is a source of general disap
pointment. There has been objection
to the prime minister serving at Wash
ington. notably the Northcliffe press
attacks, but Lloyd George is the big
man of Great Britain today, and it is
too bad that the American people
should not see and know him closer.
However, the Irish situation is such
that he cannot neglect it. If the ne
| gotiations are to continue on an amic-
able basis, Lloyd George is needed here
to conduct them. If, to Great Britain's
misfortune, they are broken off def
nitely and civil war is resumed in Ire
land, Lloyd George is needed in Down
ing street more than ever, for the cri-
siS viii NC a SCIiOuS uuC. 1Itlduu has
been an acute problem for several hun
dred years. Alongside of it, the limi-
tation of modern naval armament is
quite an infant industry
Shackleton Sets Sail.
Sir Ernest Shackleton, the noted ex-
plorer, and his faithful band of %,
boarded their little craft the other day
and left US for the Antarctic Their
departure evoked quite burst Of good
will and brought a welcome ray Of ro-
troubled life. The lure Of the unchart-
ed seas ever has appealed to our race
and in spirit we shall follow the ad-
venturers to the far off polar regions.
But political and industrial condi-
lions leave little respite for romance.
After apparent agreement 10 days ago,
the parties to the Irish parley again
became engaged in further friction. De
Valera has his last word but as Lloyd
George has asked for the withdrawal
OF the claim of sovereignty which is
again asserted, the omens at the mo-
Il ent are not good.
Meantime. the rioting in Belfast, in
which two girls We're killed, is strik- |
ing commentary on De Valera's plea |
for an independent and united govern |
ment. If nothing else comes of the !
recent happenings in and regarding Ire
land, the world in general and Amer
ca in particular, will at least have got
ten clearer insight into Irish psy-
,hology and will understand better
than before the real difficulties to the
Irish situation.
Unemployment Big Problem.
Our other outstanding problem is
that Of unemployment. The unem-
oioyed get more insistent and recent
figures tend TO sterilization Of their
There was diminution last
week Of only $4,000. There still re-
main 1,502.0OO entirely voorhees, and
'ome 100000 only partly employed.
A cabinet committee has drawn I'D
:cheme of financial help by local au-
horities which is held by many not only
% be inadequate but fundamentally
wrong 1t is based upon the tradi-
fonal policy Of governments which
ave invisaged the problem as one pri-
narily for local authorities, whereas
lew view demands the recognition of
he problem as one for central organ
ling and financing. The government
3 willing to lend aid to the extent of
aging the interest on any loans the .
zeal authorities may contract in aiding :
he unemployed, but is not willing to ,
Undertake central organization or con !.
rOl. And there the matter rests for !
ne moment, except that several labor !;
arty mayors have succeeded in inter- q
jewing the prime minister and the Ia
or party has Joined with the trades I
MON congress in demanding u special
leeting of parliament. Y
Cooperation the Real Need. n
It is now being more and more rec c
Enized, however, that any schemes for /
slief OF workers, whether local or ma {
onal, are but poor palliatives for an
III which can effectively be dealt with )
My through cooperation between the e
nployer and the employed, whether s
le employer be an individual, a COM
any or the public authorities. Opin-
MS are tending toward each industry Q
'gularizing its employment as far az a
,ssible and providing for unemploy- 8
ent when inevitable by a charge on =
'sts, supplemented, according to =
owed needs, from national insurance Il,
nds. Provisions are made for this :, -
the insurance act and the applica- ~
On of the principle only awaits the or =
and cooperation on the mart =
those directly concerned. ~ -
Meantime, we are faced with the =
esent surplus Of million and q half a,
ould-be workers for whom some pro- =,
sion must be made which will not un-
i; them for return to normal work nor 1.
tard ths demand for their services ~
len such work 10 available. ii