Evening star., 1923-03-11

The British Empire-Three members of the
British government have been defeated in
recent bye-elections and have in consequence
resigned. Indignation over the housing stu
alton is believed to be the prime cause of
these defeats in conservative stonghofds
Whether not the situation of the BDnar
Law government is becoming precarious is a
question much debated.
Neville Chamberlain has been made minister
of health. vice Sir Arthur Boscawene. resigned.
He is a brother of Austen Chamberlain: and is
thought to have very especial qualifications for
his post. most important one. as the ministry
of health handles the housing problems.
X x x X
Occupied GERMANY noted last week that
the smaller manufacturing plants in the occu-
pied territory were closing down in ever
increasing numbers. and now it appears that
the larger plants. owing to lack of raw mate
rails and coal, are greatly reducing operations
Wherefore, n great increase of unemployment.
Only about 500 German railway men are work
ing under the French railway management.
OF the miners not more than half, and proba-
bly, much smaller proportion, are working,
and these mostly repairs "exploration'
My understanding is that hitherto all those
thrown out of work have been receiving pay.
ment Presumably the burden falls increas-
ingly on the government. The government to
resourcefulness, but doubts whether it
can long sustain the burden of ever-increas-
development which immensely aggravates
the situation. The pay has not been increased
the latter, apparently. mostly due to food
rroiteering. The result is. according to the
dispatches: that great many Of the people
rate pinching discomfort, because of lack of
and .frequentng the French
soup kitchens; the patriotic security police.
since that body no longer exists. do not drive
them away of Sore.
That, the Berlin government has, strongly
exerted itself to deal with the food problem
does not appear. There are those who go so
far to believe that the German govern
ment regards this development with certain
uprsings. 1t is difficult to fall in with so
sinister a view, the more as the German
of general acute distress. the ind gna
ton of the people is quite as likely to direct
itself toward that government toward the
occupying authorities. The Ruhr has for
gotten its treatment by the German govern
ment of 1920 Some competent observers are
convinced that the miners and railway men
are much more likely to work for the French
(provided the soldiers kept in the back
ground) to obtain relief from intolerable
conditions, than they likely to join in
bic thai recent dispatches have exaggerated
the gravity of the food situation.
Appareinily the order OF the Berlin govern
nationals in the occupied territory to pay
the French export taxes. is being obeyed
the Netherlands government has protested
the situation to Paris}. as 81 to the sequel ; Of
fortnight or so ago to denounce their con-
tracts with firms in neutral countries and
10 mine and load only enough coal for the
requirements of the occupied territory. On
the latter head. ] noted in the above reports
the effect that the manufacturing plants
the occupied territory are not getting the
coal they need, infer that the French and
get coal. the German railway men must
return to work tunder allied managemenD
possibly in one two nstances) the French
have not requisitioned coal at the pit heads