Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-24
Political Calm in Britain
Probably Precedes Storm
BY A. G. GARDINER.

LONDON, May 23.-The last few
weeks have been weeks of great calm
and tranquility so far as internal poll
tics in this country are concerned. The
budget has now passed into the pedes-
TRAN quietude Of the committee stage
Liberal discussions for the time being
have been hushed up. Lord Beaver
brook and Stanley Baldwin have had
no further clashes. Political wiseacres
have now begun to talk as if the pres
ent government is good for another two
years.
This may very well prove to be true.
But all such prophecies should be in
terpreted with great caution. There are
a number of issues bound to come up
during the next few months, any one
of which might provoke political crisis
OF the first order Of magnitude.
X 4
There Is the problem of the coal min
ers, due for discussion in July. There
Is the problem of India, by no means a
settled question. There are innumer-
able problems bound to arise during the
period of increasing unemployment.
Among these problems none Is more
likely to produce a more heated or Bit
ter controversy than the problem of un-
employment insurance. AS result OF
the persistence of the trade depression,
the unemployment insurance fund is
now running into debt at a rate of over
a million pounds sterling week. IN
less something is done, this process is
bound to have serious repercussions in
the finances of the country.
But the problem Is, what Is 10 be
done? A royal commission was ap-
pointed to investigate these matters last
Winter. After hearing very sensational
evidence from government departments
and other public bodies, 1t has now re-
tired to prepare an interim report,
which is expected within the next week
or two.
Last Monday the London Daily Her
aid. usually well informed on matters
of this sort, published forecast OF the
report and suggested drastic modifica-
tions to be recommended. They are:
That benefits should be cut down, con-
tributions should be raised, the period
of standard benefit should be curtailed,
and the loopholes for various glazing
abuses now prevalent should be closed.
All this Is very reasonable. Abuses
are universally admitted. 1t is univer-
sally admitted, too, that If the scheme
is to be self-supporting, contributions
must be raised. Even a reduction IN
benefits is not repugnant to common
sense. The benefits were first fixed
in 1920, when prices were much higher.
since then all notifications have been
in an upward direction. At the same
time the cost of living has fallen
steadily. The net result IS that the
dole is much more valuable in COM
modify terms than before.
X X X
Surely It is not unreasonable, when
in the past 10 months the cost OF living
has fallen at least 10 points, to modlfy
be reasonable, but whether it Is accept
able to the present government Is an
other matter.
Side by side with the forecast of the
report, the Daily Herald, which Is more
or less the official organ OF the Labor
party, launched a violent attack on
the royal commission. 1t declared the
utter impossibility of giving effect to
the recommendations. The proposals
were said to be ruthless in their dis
regard of the welfare of the voorhees,
and their dependents.
X X X 4
Explosions Of this sort are to be ex-
pected from extreme quarters. But
that one should come from the official
organ of the Labor party Is a sign
which bodies Ill for the immediate fu-
ture. If 1t is really fact that in the
face of grave emergency the govern
ment Is not prepared to take steps rec
by men Of unquestionable
public spirit to put its finances in
order, then it might as well be said that
insurance has become a
liability rather than an asset. 1t Is
feared that this is the case.
In recent years the insurance scheme,
started with such high hopes, has de-
INTO the distribution of bread
and excuses by rival political parties.
American citizens, confronted with the
tragedy of depression, may perhaps
lament the absonce of q system of or
zanixad relief but thRR Wnuld Ia well