The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-11-09
5 GRIP
. REPORTED AS
/ SLIPPING
Passive Submission to Paris
Was Considered Blow to
4 British Prestige.
By F. A. WRAY,
international News Service.

AnteEnntAOHoA @NCW9 SCANHCC'
@LONDON, Nov. 9.-The House OF
Commons meets in a. few days
It is an open question whether the
present government will be able TO
survive the session now opening.
The Baldwin administration has
weakened vlsibly since the recess.
Its prestige bias. sunk lower and
luwer. AT the moment 1t has thou
sands of critics and scarcely
single friend.
Its handling of the Ruhr situa-
ton and general attitude toward
the bullying methods of the French
are the chief causes of its dlsfavor.
On the last day of the previous
session Premier Baldwin made
statement declaring the French oc.
cupatiua OF the Ruhr to be illegal
and threatening separate BRUSH
action. But nothing happened:
Instead, after a six weeks IN
terval Premier Baldwin had TWO
hour talk with Premier Polncare
and issued a statement saying that
"a common agreement or views
had been, reached. Later this was
officially watered down to mean
that although French and British
policies were still allied, yet their
Climbed Down, Report.
Only one meaning could be at
tached to the Paris statement. 1t
was that the British premier had
completely climbed down.
The result was general feeling
OF humiliation throughout Britain.
British prestige sunk to lower ebD
in Europe than it had occupied for
generations.
Although given many opportuni-
ties Baldwin has made no attempt to
eIucidate the mystery attaching to
this Paris meeting. If anything, ne
has only made the mystery darker.
Now, two schools of opinion exist.
One thinks that he went back on
himself and his government and
humbly surrendered to the French.
The other believes he really Is
devoid of policy and is simply wait
ing on events
The other ssnag for the govern
ment is unemployment. For the
last three winters there has been
m average unemployment figure IN
England of one and one-half million.
A fourth winter is now faced
wherein conditions are likely to be
worse, and British trade likely to
recede to it's lowest. And labor is
growing rest4ve.
Offers Temporary PaIIiatives.
Temporary palliatives are being
offered by the government which
may mean the employment of per
haps 100000 men, not essentially
on work to which they have been
accustomed. The others will have
which hardly keeps them from
actual starvation The outlook is
black.
Labor leaders called on the gov.
ernment for an earlier reassembly
OF Parliament in order to consider
and deal with this grave state of
affairs. Their request was denied. |
In consequence tumultuous scenes
may be expected between the gov
ernment and the labor members of
Parllament-particularly those from
Scotland-within the ensuing sit. |
ttngs.
The unemployed themselves are
becoming more and more discon- |
tented. The majority belong to the
best class of men who are continu-
ally looking for work. The London |
police, who sympathize with them,
anticipate ugly episodes around |
Whitehall.
Laborites believe the Baldwin |
policy toward Germany-the pas
sive acceptance of the French occu- |
patton of the Ruhr-has been the |
main cause of retarding economic
recovery OF Europe and preventing |
revival of British trade with sub |
seQuent lessening of unemployment. |
On this question of foreign policy
tney will fight the government tooth |
1nd nan, with many supporters in |
the House of Commons.
Damaged By Conference.
The imperial conference also has
BADLY damaged the government.
The general feeling that the Gov
eminent summoned the dominion
premiers many thousands of miles
without having any constructive
policy to place before them. wheth.
er in Imperial of foreign affairs.
Added to this is an Infatuated be,
lle1 among big manufacturers of
the north Of England that the gov
eminent will surrender to the
colonial suggestions on the cues
ton OF free trade. Manchester
Liverpool, and all the big cities of
the north believe such a reversal
OF trade policy would mean their
speedy ruin.
Seldom has ministry in Britain
faced as outlook SO dark It's own
supporters lukewarm and divided.
Its opponents waging the bitterest
OF fights. weak and almost mar
tteulate in itself, it's chances of
survival seem remote