Evening star., 1925-11-15
''D|E-HARDS" TEST
BALDWIN CONTROL
Parliament Opens Tomorrow
With Labor Policy and
Protection as Issues.
BY A. G. GARDINER.

Sy Gable to The Star.
LONDON, November IA. - Parlia-
ment reopens Monday for the Au-
tumn session, and chief interest cen
ters on Prime Minister Baldwin s
conflict with his own die hards." He
will have little opposition on the sub
ject OF Locarno. which is too widely
approved TO encourage the die
hards" TO resist.
But the situation in regard to
Mosul is full of anxiety on account
of the bulldog tenacity of l.. 6. Amery.
colonial minister. No critical move
is imminent until the meeting of the
Council of the League Of Nations.
next month. TO admit Germany to the
leauGe. when The Hague opinion on
the subject OF Mosul will he consid-
cred.
The impression in informed quar-
ters here Is that Amery's presenta-
ton of the British case is unsounL.
and that the Interpretation of the
treaty favors the Turkish view. All
reasonable opinion is opposed TO al
lowing the situation to develop to
extremities especially in view of the
grave turn of events in Syria, and the
council of the league viii certainly
be emphatic on the unwisdom OF
lighting another bonfire in the heart
Of Islam.
Delicate Labor Situation.
Another test of Mr.. Baldwin's ca
pacity to restrain his die hards'
arises in connection with the labor
situation, which grows increasingly
delicate. Extremists in the Tory
Il. o-T
policy of using a strong hand
against labor, and in spite of his own
moderate policy many incidents are
arising to exacerbate his temper.
Whatever is the result of the prose-
cution of the Communists. the effect
undoubtedly will be to restore rela-
tions between parliamentary labor and
the Communists, which had become
very strained.
Labor is angry also at the treat
ment OF the Fascists. who seized the
van OF the Daily Herald. the labor
newspaper. and escaped with a warn
ing The legal view was that the in
cident did not warrant a charge Of
larceny but labor is raising the cry
that one law exists for the Com
munists and another for the Fascists
Meanwhile the book trade. on the
eve of the Christmas season. is para
lyZed by strike Of the packers. Every
publishing house is picketed. and no
books are being issued to the trade.
Certain firms have surrendered. but
the impression prevails that the union
will be beaten The strike has had
a devastating effect on the book trade,
however. and has involved a severe
loss to authors, who are missing the
Christmas market.
Tariff Issue Troublesome.
A third difficulty that faces Mr..
AT the election a year ago he gave an
undertaking not to interfere with free
trade, but his protectionist support
ers are using the safeguarding in
dustries act to make breach in the
free trade system through which the
party can march at the next election.
Proposals are coming forward to
place half a dozen Industries under
the protection Of an import duty, and
the opposition insists that If Mr..
Baldwin accepts them he will be
breaking in spirit the undertaking he
gave to the electorate last year.
So far lace. motors and artificial
silk are the only important commodi-
ties which have been protected.
Superphosphates and steel have been
turned down, but worsted manufac.
turers claim they have the support
of the committee, and other less i'm
portant industries make the same
claim.
One weighty argument advanced by
the free traders Is the destructive ef-
feet of tariffs imposed so far on the
re-eXport trade. 1t is alleged that
England already has lost pre-en1inence
as a world market for silk and lace
goods.