Evening star., 1921-10-23
BRITISH Think ONLY
. OF UNEMPLOYMENT
Irish Question 0vershadoW-
ed-Hope Seen in Lloyd
George Coming Here.
BY GEORGE N. BARNES,
British Parliament Leader.
By Radio to The Star.

By Radio to The Star.
LONDON, October 22.-The problem
of the unemployed has taken prece-
dence here this week. 1t indeed
transcends all else in Importance. Ire
land for the moment is comparatively
unimportant. Irishmen are like the
rest of us, and can live only by eat
ing. So 20 the unemployed Belfast
man self-determination of Ulster is
of little account compared to getting
and keeping a job.
The cabinet plans submitted to par
lament during the week are pitifully
inadequate. They were found to con-
sist of increased financial assistance
stitute relief work, apd a more gen.
erous sharing of risks with those en-
gagged in export business. In addition
there were subsidiary proposals for
supplementing insurance benefits and
the granting of loans to poor law
guardians.
These measures may relieve the pow
erty of the workless by fitting some
of their burdens to shoulders best able
to. bear them. That is good as far as
it goes. but otherwise. excepting where
they may help to a resumption of nor
NAL trade. the proposals will do little
permanently to increase employment.
The relief plans were asSailed by
labor with vehemence. and alternative
proposals were submitted. AS between
the two sets, however. there is but a
choice of palliatives.
Blamed on the War.
The abnormal unemployment Is a
result Of the war. Having slain Co
Hath, we are now faced with the havoc
wrought before he fell. To clear away
the debris We must get more cordial
relations between the employer and
the employed, as we'll as lessened taxa
tion on industry and more mutual aid
among the nations in the international
sphere. l have put these in the order
of easiness of application. though 1 be-
lieve the first to be the best as we'll as
the easiest. 1t may be applied every
where without waiting on governments
anywhere.
The Irish conferences have passed
through 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
But the real tug-of-war, to use a
perhaps misapplied martial metaphor.
will come when the claim is made to
deal with Ulster as part of Ireland.
In that connection the latest utter
ance of Sir James Craig, the Ulster
prime minister, is of interest. Speak
ing in Belfast, he has just assured his
followers that if called upon to take
part in the parley he will yield
nothing. The point here, however,
is in the implication of willingness
to take part.
Hope Seen In Decision.
The fact that Prime Minister Lloyd
George after all may go to Washing
ton is hailed here with satisfaction
and may be taken as a sign that in
his view the Irish situation and his
other preoccupations are getting less
serious.
In the Silesia settlement 1 must say
scarcely risen to the occasion. The
Industrial triangle is to be divided.
It is an erea crowded with mines and
factories, some of which will be sep
arated from their power plants. Two
towns which voted 80 per cent Ger
cision will create friction and inse-
curity generally and thereby lessen
the output. In view of the essential
economic unity of the territory, how
ever. the Germans and Poles are in
vited to cooperate in it's admins
tration for fifteen years. after which
they will be required to keep on their
own side of the line.
The allied powers are. of course,
pledged to the acceptance of the de-
cision. Owing perhaps to regard for
our French friends there is indeed
but little criticism to be heard here.
My own view is that effect can be
given to it for the specified time only
IL the Germans and Poles are agree
able. That is. it may evade facts for
fifteen years at the cost of efficiency.
After that, the deluge.
DOWNRIGHT l9olD