The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-05-08
SIR PHILIP GIBBS SEES
BRITISH TEST NLABOR WAR

which gradually Is being organized
into a national conviction of increas-
ing strength. In this despatch | can
only briefly summarize 1t, dividing its
trend and thought into home and
foreign affairs.
Their home policy Is founded on
the conviction that there Is no revolu-
tionary spirit in England at present;
that if labor is dealt with fairly and
souarely and put in possession of
equal facts governing the economic
conditions of the nation and of par
ticular trades and then given decent
minimum wage with an interest in
future profits the men will agree TO
temporary reduction of wages during
times of trade depression and thus
avert social conflict that Is other
wise inevitable.
Opposed to Foreign Adventures.
But home prosperity, they think, is
entirely dependent on foreign policy,
and for this reason they protest
against the imperial adventures in
Asia and any acts or policy involving
such military expenditure. Tempera-
mentally as well as intellectually they
look with disfavor upon the French
occupation of the Ruhr because II
not only seems to them to guarantee
another war Of revenge before babes
Just born have reached their man
hood. but certain and immediate pre-
vention of the recovery in British ex-
port trade and in general European
conditions. They are also prepared
to go all the way short of a republic
in Ireland TO secure peace. Ireland
still believes If the United States
would come into the world council on
behalf of humanity and gradual de-
mobilization of the world these and
many other problems could quickly
be settled.
That puts, | think, very fairly, the
cleavage throughout England to-day
1t is not only on party lines, for it -di-
vides them all, as it divides families
and friends, and from both pro-
grammes some people will select their
particular fancies, such as the velvet
glove In Germany for the sake of Eu-
ropean peace and the iron hand in
Ireland for peace by conquest, or a
short, sharp conflict with labor or a
compromise with trade unions.
My own opinion is that England
needs a spiritual awakening. Since
the war we have. like most other ma
tons, fallen into slack ways of
thought and habit. American visi-
tors over here who knew England be-
fore the war tell me they see a great
change, a queer kind of lassitude in
all classes, lack of vitality, no joy
BUSINESS, less polish of manner. /
should hate to think that true except
as the inevitable temporary reaction
after the long strain of suffering. Yet
| see the working classes are appall-
ingly lazy: that there is futile
frivolity of thought in a nation which
must be serious or lose its power.
The poverty which is coming to all
of us while We pay our debts and
get straight again will be a moral
medicine which may cleanse our Wis
ions Certainly all classes in Eng
land are going to be faced by the
dire necessity of reducing expendi-
ture and cutting luxury far more
than at present. 1t will do US no
harm, and I am strong believer in
the spiritual resources of the British
people in spite of some stupidities
and brutalities common in human ma
ture, to face all troubles ahead with
courage, good will, fair play and
common sense.