Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02

ended January L, 1S-''
X X 4
The British Empire.-On December
2s the total of registered unempioyeo
in Great Britain was l'4oo,vVV.
oaa n00 more than in corresponding
date Of 1925. But the coal output now
annroaches normal. The great indus
tries are said to have orders for sew
eral months ahead. The realm Is
hopeful of rapid recovery from enects
of the strike.
The defeat of the British coal miners
was practically absolute. HAD they
not heen so badly led, they might
have won: for the present a falr com
promise, for the future guarantee IN
such drastic reorganization OF the III
dustry as to permit reasonable proIt
| to the owners and a satisfactory stand
ard of living to the workers: Inc
opinion. however, Is wldely helo Ina.
| the government should have looked
above the dust of combat; that the
coaI.nining industry being the center
of the industrial system, and the
owners showing themselves perfectly
selfish and Indifferent to the interests
of the commonwealth, that interest
should have been enforced by legisla-
ton compelling reconstruction pur-
suant in general to the ratiffcations
of the reports of the Royal Comms-
sion. the government extending rea-
sonable financial aid toward such
reconstruction; that it was unfair TO
require the miners to accept lowering
of a. standard of living already SUM-
GENTLY low without opening such
door of hope. There are many signs
indicating that, if the labor party ex-
hibits moderation. it will win TO VIC
torv on that issue; namely, by charg-
ing that the government by showing
excessive tenderness for the coal
owners has desperately prejudiced the
commonwealth.
There is, however, another way OF
regarding the matter. The govern
ment may have thought 1t necessary
utterly to discredit the extremist rad
teal leadership of the miners. 1t is
still possible to enact the indicated"
legislation to compel reconstruction.
Conceivably the government will pro-
pose such legislation.
Rut ii may be asked, why all this
fuss about the reconstruction pro-
nosed by the Coal Commission, when,
after ali. it would be but a piddling
matter compared with the grand re-
construction, amounting to a revolu-
ton. in prospect - RECONSTRUCTION,
namely. based on the new conception
sion of crude coal into fuel oil, motor
spirit. diesel engine oil. etc. The an
swer is that the immediate recon-
struction proposed would be all to the
good. so much accomplished toward
the larger reconstruction, and that the
interim period may be of considerable
length. 1t were well not to undertake
the larger reconstruction until 1t has
been determined which of many proc
esses of coal conversion under expert
ment is the most efficient.
The coming revolution will bestow
unon Britain power independence"
more necessary to her than to any
other great state.
On December 27 Sir Samuel Hoar,
British secretary Of state for air. left
Croyden Airdrome, near London, in
great biplane for a flight to Karachi
India, and back about II 900 miles the
round trip. In addition, he proposed
to inspect Royal Air Force stations in
Irau and on the northwest frontier
of India. He was accompanied by his
wife, Lady Maude, a gallant woman.
There Is already a regular airplane
service between London and Cairo.
On January IL it will be extended
to Basra in Iraq; thereafter soon, 1t Is
thought, to Karachi; ultimately thence
to Bombay. to Calcutta and to
Australia.
Cairo to karachi can be made
handily in 80 flying hours. Sir Sam
uel is particularly interested in the
air contingent in Iraq, which has done
| such superb service; perhaps made
| the chief contribution toward settle
| ment Of the Mosul question, damp