The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-23
JOBLESS PROBLEM NOW PARAMOUNT
 IN GREAT BRITAIN
ECIipSeS Irish Question, Says Barnes, Who CritiCizes the Proposed Relief Plans
 as Inadequate
Fly GEORGE N. BARNES British Parliamentary Leader Special Wireless Dispatch to The Az,
 .l

Copyright, 1921. by The Age Heraid)
 London, October 22.-The problem of the unemployed has taken prece- dence here this week. It indeed transcends all else in importance Ireland for the moment is compara- lively unimportant. Irishmen are like the rest of us and can live only by eating. So to the unemployed Belfast man self-deter- imitation of Ulster is of little &C., count compared to getting and keeping job.
 The cabinet plans submitted to Parliament during the week are pitt fully inadequate. They were found to consist of increased financial as- distance to the local authorities who may institute relief work, and A more generous sparing of risks with ehose engaged ip export business. In addition. there erersubsidiary pro -p0sals for supptementing insurance benefits and the granting of loans @ poor law guardians
 No Permanent Good
 These measures may relieve the poverty of the workless by tllting some of their burdens to shoulders less unable to bear them. That $ good as far as that goes but oth er- wise, excepting where they may help to a resumption of normal trade, the proposals will do little permanently to increase employment.
 E The relief plans were assailed oy labor with vehemence and alternative proposals were submitted. As be- tween the two sets, however there is but a choice of palliatives.
 The abnormal unemployment is a resulte of the war. HavinE slain ioliath, we are now faced with the havoc wrought before he fell To clear away the debris we must get more cordial relations between the employers and the employed, as welt as lessened taxation on industry and more mutual aid among the nations 1n the international sphere. I have put these in the order of easiSe ess of application, though l believe the first to be the best as well as the easiest It may be applied everywhere with ont waiting on governments any where.
 The Irish conferences have passed through a critical time, for the dele- gates have got through the initial meetings and may be presumed to have abandoned preconceptions which were misconceptions, and to have created a peaceful atmosphere by friendly contact.
 Real Tug of War
 But the real tug of war, to use a perhaps misapplied martial meta phor, wills come when the claim Is made to deal with Ulster as a part of England. In that connection the last utterance of Sir James Craig the Ulster prime minister, Is of interest Speaking in Belfast, he has just as- sured his followers that if called upon to take part in the barley he will yield nothing. The point here, how ever, is in the implication of wifi lingnoss to take part.
 T he fact that Primo Minister Lloyd George may, after all go to Wash iIsgton is hailed here with satisfac- tion and may be taken as sign that in his view the Irish situation and his other preoccupations are get ting less serious.
 In the Silesian settlement I must say that the League of Nations coun- c1 has scarcely risen to the occa- sion. The industrial triangle isl to be divided It Is an area crowded with mines and factories, some of which will bes separated from their power plants. Two towns which voted so per cent German are given to Poland. The decision will create friction and insecurity generally, and Hereby lessen the output. In view of the essential economic unity of the territory, however, the Germans and Poles are invited to cooperate in it's administration for 15 years, after which they will be required to keep on their own side of the line
 The Allied powers are, of course, pledged to acceptance of the deci- sion. Owing, perhaps, to regard for our French friends, there Is indeed but little criticism to be heard here. My own view that effect can be giveG to it for a specified time only if the Germans and Poles are agreeable That is, 1t may evade the facts for 15 years at the cost of efficiency.
 After that, the deluge.