Evening star., 1921-06-05
BY GEORGE \. RARNEs.

BY GEORGE y. BARNES,
Former Member British War Cabinet.
By wireless to The Star.
LONDON, June 4.-"Barkis is will
ing"
In other words. England 10 ready to
agree to a Limitation of naval
strength II Japan and the United
States will do the same.
But Japan is the difficulty.
Perhaps 1t may be necessarily dip
lomatfcally to remind that country of
her dependence upon outside sources
for a supply of steel and other requi-
sites for naval armaments and sug-
gest to her that she may be rationed.
There has been much comment here
regarding the attitude OF President
Harding toward disarmament and the
unanimous adoption by the United
amendment to the naval bill request
ing the President to invite Great Brit
ain and Japan to consider with the
United States the mutual limitation
of naval ornaments.
Mr.. Lloyd George. the prime min
lister. has been asked to submit an
indorsinE motion to the house OF
commons. and while his answers have
been non-committal. they have not
been unfavorable.
But there is no doubt as to the at
titude of this country in regard to
naval reduction. The country
The subject has had poignant ap-
plication, for one of the notable
events OF the week has been the sale
for breaking up of ia obsolete bat
tleships. including the original and
once all-powerful Dreadnought; They
nave been sold for 100000. Their orig
inal cost was probably in excess of
$10G 900. figures that should emphasize
the wastes Of war preparation.
Elections In Ireland
We still are confronted by the
Irish situation and the coal strike.
The full results of the Ulster cleo
tions. now at hand. are more favor
able to the uhionists than / predicted
party has succeeded in placing prac-
tically all of its nominees. SO that the
new northern parliament in Ireland
will start with forty members ia
vOrable to a British union. with but
twelve in opposition. Only six of the
latter are Sim Feiners.
The elections have passed off with
out serious trouble and they demon
strate in a striking manner the
strength Of the unioAist sentiment in
the north and east of Ireland. Ire
land now has a chance to redeem
herself by the cooperation of the
elements in Ulster and elsewhere.
The retirement Of Sir Edward Car
son fittingly synchronizes with the
establishment of the new Irish par
!iaments. He has been a picturesque
figure in the house OF commons.
which 1 must say will be the poorer
for his loss. In the future he will
be hidden in the house Of lords as
a member Of the court of appeals
Meantime. there is little sign Of
peace between the Sinn Fein and the
Pritish government. The latter is
about 60 largely increase the num-
be- of her military forces in the un-
happy island.
Deadlock In Mine Disputes.
The position in regard to the mining
disputes is much the same as 1t was
a month ago. Conferences have been
held. but they have proven abortiv0.
, except for the fact that the mine
! owners and the miners are putting
: the new proposals Of the prime min
.ster up to their respective district
committees.
, In effect the proposals amount to
arbitration. Pending permanent
settlement. il is proposed that work
should he resumed on temporary
basis. with subsidy of 50.O0O. 900
; from the government to be used in
easing down the wages Of the miners
; instead of subm mitting them to an
abrupt cut. 1t appears that the lead
ers Of the miners finally are drop
ping the idea of a national pool to
eGualize wages as inapplica bile to the
. private ownership of mines They
doubtless have become copvinced that
the country is not disposed for an
experiment in naturalization.
Puhlfc Unter>.ts
But this coal dispute has brought
ether cons!dcra atoms into view. Surely
II has brought us nearer to recogni-
ticn of the interest of the community V
at large in industrial disputes Mod
ern organizations of capital and labor