Evening star., 1934-10-05

course policy, and he left the impli-
cation that the New Deal has fol-
lowed British lines of legislation and
reform.
From what time or act do you
date British recovery?" I asked Sir
Willmott
1T began with the balancing of our
budget in 1882" he replied
WAS there a radical or labor gov
ernment in power when you did this?'
No
G. o. p. Like Conservatives.
"What would your Nationalist gov
ernment' correspond to in our poll
tics?"
We'll there can hardly be an exact
comparison because your parties are
different, but the analogy might be
Government or Congress consisting of
a coalition of Republicans, Democrats
and La Toilette Republicans.
Would you say the Republican par
ty Of the East corresponds to your
Conservative group?"
Yes"
"And what percentage Of the gov
ernment or Parliament today is con-
servative?"
About 80 per cent"
And the recovery has been accom-
plished Under a government DOM
mated by conservatives?
Yes"
SIS there a parallel between our
leaving the gold standard and yours?'
Sees No Gold Parallel
"No. We left the gold standard
because We had no gold reserves.
You went off gold when you had
plenty of gold reserves"
From your observation Of Amer
lean affairs. would you say that the
American bankers have not coop
Grated with their Government as
much as your bankers have with ynur
government?"
Il should say it was Just the re-
verse" answered Sir Willmott. For
in England our banks never held
more than 10 per cent of govern
ment securities. while your banks
have bought upward of 80 per cent of
your Government securities. I think
that's splendid cooperation"
Have you anything in your law
which specifically corresponds to col
lective bargaining, as We use the
term?"
Labor Experience Cited.
"Not exactly, but We have lad a
much longer experience with the
problem of labor because we started
many years ago with the principle Of
freedom of contract, and We have
little by little evolved certain limita-
tions on that freedom, even to the
extent of barring illegal strikes.
"On the whole, England has more
social legislation than you have. We
began as far back as 1909, because
with our crowded population we had
to develop method of caring for un-
employed, whereas in America you
have always had Western lands to abb
sorb your growing population. The
pressure for social legislation in Eng
land, even before the World War. gave
us unemployment insurance, which
Ildo LCo W NlldI OdAlCO lllC NO4C DAG
you have nothing corresponding to un-
employment nsurance-something to
which the government, the employers
and the employees contribute in Eng
land. 1t was to support this plan
when it broke down that government
funds were extended"
Sir Willmott declared England's
tightening of the belt and reducing
government expenditures gave her the
present feeling of optimism and pro-
duced the recovery she now enjoys.
Tariff Wall Built Up.
But" added the British CORE
spondent, lit should be noted that We
also built up our tariff walls and we
also encouraged a buy-at-home pro-
gram. and We have discovered now
that our recovery is not going to be
permanent unless We get more foreign
trade. especially since tariff barriers
have been erected in other nations,
too"
There is a certain humor about the
effect of the Presidents speech upon
British politics. The Labor Party
which is in the minority just now and
is sponsoring many radical proposals.
is arguing that what England needs is
new DEAL" and that Mr.. Roosevelt
has the right idea. Hence the delight
of the Conservatives in hearing Mr.
Roosevelt applauding the policies of
Conservative rule in England knows
no bounds
The whole thing would seem to in
dicate American politicians ought to
read the British newspapers and Brit
lsh politicians ought to read the
American newspapers and then maybe
they would get all these comparisons
;~l,t