New-York tribune., 1921-10-03
Concrete Suggestions of
Harding Conference a
Contrast to Many Plans
Advanced in England
Campaign Opens to
Cancel War Debts
Schemes for Government
to Aid i'm Revival of
Industry Considered
By Arthur S. Draper
From The Tribume's European Bureau

from me riouhe'S European Buredu
copyright, 1921, New York Tribune Inc
LONDON, Oct. 2-The concrcte
steps taken by President Harding's
unemployment conference last week
to meet the menace of idleness in the
United States have thrown into re-
lief the acuteness of the situation in
Great Britain and the fact that
measures to cope with it are still
wanting. Great Britain's unemploy-
ment problem is graver than that
faced by any other nation, and con-
slderatlon of it is beginning to take
rank in the Briton's mind equally
with matters affecting Ireland or the
Washington parley on armament
limitation.
Numerically, as we'll as propor-
tionally Great Britain has more I'M
employed than any country in Eu-
rope except Russia. In numbers the
jobless throngs in the United States
exceed those of Great Britain, but
are far smaller fraction of the pop
ulation than the British total, and
the situation does not begin to COM
pare with that here.
Manufactured Goods Needed
More than TWO million British work
ers are now idle, in spite of the fact
that large part Of Europe is crying
for manufactured goods. Hundreds of
thousands are working only part time,
though Rumania is greatly in need of
rolling stock, Russia is seeking every
kind of article and Poland is sinking
into poverty.
Various factors are responsible for
this widespread unemployment. Where
as so per cent OF the French popuIa-
ton are agriculturists. only small
proportion Of the 42,00O,O00 Britons
work on farms, the great majority being
employed ordinarily in mines, factories
and on ships.
Great Britain had a paraIyzing coal
strike last spring, and its effects have
not yet worn off. At least 25 per cent
OF the shipping is idle, the cotton mills
having been affected by Gandhi's CAM
paign against foreign goods in India.
Another reason more powerful than any
OF these IS that the countries which
most need British goods are least able
to buy them
The question of unemployment is
filled with contradictions, but in the
opinion OF most economists real relief
cannot come until there is general
cancellation of war debts. Winston
Spencer Churchill Colonial Secretary.
who is always succeeding in starting
violent controversies but who neverthe-
less is admittedly more farsighted than
most Cabinet minister's has advocated
general cancellation Of international
debts and the campaign is gaining
daily. One curious phase of
the situation is that some Of the news
papers which have been the most bitter
critics Of Germany are now loudest in
the cry Tor a complete revision O. the
debt position.
Cabinet Working on Problem
To illustrate the gravity of the stu
alton it is only necessary to say that
the government regards the unemploy-
,nent question as equally pressing as
Ireland or the Washington conference.
A special Cabinet committee. devoting
all its time to this subject. has been
appointed to assist Premier Lloyd
George, while another commission o.
and inanciers is CO.
operating with the government.
A series Of labor demonstrations in
defiance OF the law, as a protest against
governmental refusal to accept financial
for the unemployed has
produced a profound disouietude These
parades. street meetings and riots are
-aking place all over the kingdom, i7s
Scotland, Wales and England. There
5 as much or more unrest at Dundee,
Sheffield or Cardiff as there is in the
East End of London. and not day
,asses without the newspapers report
ng half dozen or more collisions be-
.ween jobless men and the local au-
horities.
There are two reasons why there has
lot been more violence. The first OF
veil organized. with leaders who be-
ieve tAey can accomplish more by
Il federation than by Violence, and the
'taer IS tnat the police have been in
tructed 70 treat the demonstrators
Win great lenicncy. AS q consequence.
here have been few repetitions Of the
unpleasant scenes a year ago, when
he situation became so critcal tha.
,arricades were erected in Downing
street and the visitors gallery in the
iouse Of Commons was closed. But
distress and poverty are increasing.
md when colder weather comes there
5 likely - he less tolerance, unless
ne government has found some scheme
. reduce unemployment.
Two Relief Plans Suggested
Two plans. not SO dissimilar as one
night suppose have been suggested,
ne by the Trade Union Congress and
he other by or attributed to, the gov
The Labor party would have the gov
rnment act as manufacturer. or at
east as merchant Ii suggests that
ne government place orders with firms
md take charge of the goods, selling
hem at home or abroad, o. storing
hem if necessary. The government
would prefer 10 avoid that financial re-
but it seeks the same end
y increasing the credit of manufac-
urers and merchants The govern
nent, under this latter plan, would az
ange through the banks to guarantee
redlt for the production OF goods.
1t is clear that both these schemes
nm az stimulation OF industry rather
han relief of distress. The system
II dolinr out aid to tac idle is now
'egarded as poor palliative, even by
ha r,.>t,, ,v,tn l -