Evening star., 1923-11-25

Great Britain.-The election campaign is
briskIy on OF first Importance was the rejec-
tion by the liberals of overtures from the
labor party looking to cooperation against
the conservatives on the basis of common
championship of free trade. The liberals de-
test the capital levy plank of labors platform
far more than they do the tariff proposals or
The manifesto of the reunited liberal party
is a illumination against the conserva-
Iives than a statement of constructive aims
1t condemns the policies Of the present orn
ment, both domestic and foreign ana. OF c9urSe' :'
declares that policy of protection Wouiu III
crease rather than diminish unempioymeh. 10 m ha
the only cure for which, il asserts IS 10 De
found in the economic pacification ana Sc settle e
operation with the United states. Lloyd George
accuses the conservatives of having "muddled'
called proffer by the american government
If such co-operatton. The Liberals go WIN
the labor party in advocacy of full normal
relations with Russia and of more power 20
the league of nations. ,
paced permanent policy of protection versus
tree trade, free trade would win hands down
servatives pun a majority. it will be by
the votes OF those who. though Theoretically
in peculiar economic circumstances oI the
time temporary protection on :nportant scaie
indeed. the attitude of the best men among
Balfour and Lord Derby.
The atmosphere of the campaign is peculiar
~ one of obscurity and confusion. The con-
servatves cannot he acquitted Of being dis
ingenious in that they fail to make clear the
Scopr OF their proposed tariff measure. and
for the liberals Lloyd George is displaying
his unique mastery of that most exquisite of
political arts-thc art of buncombe. When. for
example. Lloyd George denounces the Lau-
same treaty 'ShameleSs' he is talking
purcst bunk, as that treaty was the logical
consequence of his own near east policy. There
seems to be general feeling that the cleo
tions viii result in a political impasse.
The Nctherlands-t will be recalled how
the other day bill proposing a considerable
appropriation for ships of war and naval
bases for the defense OF the Dutch East Indies
defeated in the lower house of the icgis
Iature of the Netherlands by vote after n
violent controversy throughout the country
The bill was defeated, not because there
majority opinion against the deSira bility of
the objects contemplated by il. but because OF
the expenditure proposed in face of the pres
eEt precarious state of the countryS finances
An able minister OF finance had resigned in
protest against it because its passage would
defeat his heroic efforts to balance the budget
It's great champion Foreign Minister Van
karnebeek.
It is obvious that IN case of a clash of great
powers in tn" far east, the Dutch island pos
sessions would offer great temptation to
the belligerents chiefly account of oil and
harbnrs suitable for naval bases. The de-
fcnSive strength contemplated by the bill
might not be sufficient to enable the Neither
lends to maintain neutrality in case of such
clash. nut would be bargaini asset of the
first value, permitting her to make the alli-
ance she might prefer on favorable terms II
is plauSibly asserted that the alleged
ness of the British government for passage of
the bill prejudctd its chances AS the strong
socialist repre- Sent1tiOn voted solidly against
II il is evident that the majority of the non
socialists in the lower house We're for it. The