Evening star., 1931-12-27
Dominion Cooperation
Heartens Great Britain
BY A. G. GARDINER.

LONDON, December 26-In the
"oros OF the war song, London packed
up Its troubles in the old kit big this
week and smiled, smiled, smiled. The
spirit OF Christmas triumphed over the
gloom Of thirgs and. favored bv fine
weather, shopping centers were a spec
tac!e that suggested a country On
tidal wave of prosperity rather t.,gn On
the brink of unknown ca.am t.cs.
The Christmas trade benefited sub
stantially by enforced ecQnomics WI: h
have kept on this side Of the channel
vast public accustomed to spend the
season abroad. The south coast vatcr-
ing places are profting at the expense
OF the Riviera and Switzerland, which
are suffering an unprecedented blow
through the practical cessation of
BTltlEh patronage. Hotels are a.mcSt
tenantless and the tourist train serv-
ices from England are reduced to q
minimum.
The slogan Buy British" has become
sort OF national gospel, with all its
implications in regard to staying at
home and spending money Oh British
soil. Apart from the patriotic duty Of
buying British goods, the heavy fall IN
the external value of the pound has
made the customary British EXODUS
financially impossible.
Nor as regards the general masses CT
people is the Christmas season serl-
ously affected. Whatever the gravity
of the abuses associated with the cole,
undoubtedly the total effect of the un-
employment insurance system has been
TO provide sound bulWark against the
worst effects of industrial cclGm u.
Breadllnes are unknown and burger
marches, which were familiar even IN
prosperous times before the va, have
entirely ceased to be a feature of Wln-
ter distress. Now that gross abuse are
being drastically eliminated, the N
Suranoe system, though still far from
seif-supporting, is being brought within
manageable limits and with any rea-
Sonable return Of trade would become
actuarily solvent.
But the prospect Of that return is
remote and behind the air of cheerful
ness at Christmas the deepest anxiety
prevails as to the immediate future.
In spite of the diminution of unem-
ployment figures. the domestic Situa-
tlon grows alarmingly worse, and the
results of the terrific increase in taxa
tion to be levied January are awaited
with greatest concern. The PARALYSIS
Of international trade deepens and
news from all quarters darkens the
prospect.
| Following the stand taken by Con-
! gress against any reduction or can
collation. of war debts comes the decla-
ration OF Premier Laval Of France that
he means to insist upon the mainte-
nance Of the integrity Of the Young plan,
subject only to acceptance Of tempo
| rary measures to meet Germanys
| financial embarrassment. In an ex-
| change OF notes with Paris, Britain
| points out that short moratorium
| will merely leave the problems unsolved
and render short-term credits TO Ger
many equally insecure and DESTROY the
prospect of recovery of confidence.
! which is essential to the restoration of
international trade.
| The effect of the American and
French attitudes upon the activities of
the Advisory Committee at Basel is
unfortunate. Expert opinion here takes
the gloomiest view of the coming n
| ternational conference on reparations
and war debts and deSpairs of saving
Germany from a financial crash in
volving political convulSion. the ef-
fects Of which are incalculable Indi-
cations go to show that a fatalistic
tendency Is spreading in Germany,
! even outside the Hitler!te movemert
towards reputation of reparations and
default as the only path left opea.
|
! In the face Of all these obstructronS
to the restoration of international
trade, the mind of the country Is turn
ing to the possibilities of closer COM
mercial relations with the dominions.
The idea is stimulated by the crushing
defeat OF the Labor government in
Australia, following a similar result in
the general election In New Zealand.
Like Britain herself both countries
have national governments largely in
spired with the idea that. In view Of
the disintegration of world trade, CO.
operation between Britain and the do
minions offers promise Of alienation.
Proposals turn largely upon adoption
Of the quota system in regard to wheat
and raw materials, but the subject
bristles with dificulties The Imperial
Conference at Ottawa in the new year
is expected to grapple more realistically
with the problem than has heen prac-
ticable hitherto
(oopyrisht. ls,i)