THE BRITISH GENERAL ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 46, 19 November 1918, Page 4

THE BRITISH GENERAL ELECTION

• The outcome of the coming general election in Britain will be awaited with keen interest in all parts of the British Empire. The cessation of hostilities will not cause a dissolution of partnership between the section of Liberals who follow Mr. Lloyd George and the Unionists who acknowledge the leadership of Me. Boxak Law. They will make a joint appeal to the country for a declaration of confidence in the Coalition' Government so that it may bo able to go to the Peaco Conference with the full assurance that it has the of the people of the United Kingdom. Though .the actual fighting is over the fruits of victory have not yet been gathered. Some very big peace problems have to be solved, and the reasons which led to the establishment of ;coalition government demand _ its continuation until the transition has been made from' a state of war a state of peace and'normal conditions have been completely restored. It would be extremely foolish to open the floodgates of party passion , and prejudice at the present time. The Deed for unity is still urgent. It is quite impossible for any unprejudiced man or woman of average intelligence to withhold assent to Mr. Lloyd George's contention that the co-operation of the Liberals and Unionists should be maintained .■ and that the electors should he asked to give the Coalition Government authority to negotiate peace and undertake the great work, of reconstruction. The successful accomplishment of these tremendously important tasks '• will afford ample scope for the exercise of the highest political wisdom the country possesses. The problems of peace and reconstruction must be solved On national lines. It would be madness to fling them into the arena' of party strife. Indeed it is to be hoped that the lessons on the value of unity which the war has taught will never bo forgotten, and that the politics of the British Empire will never again sink back into the %>nd old ruts. Governments should be prepared to strike out courageously along new lines and to take full advantage of the widespread expectation of farreaching reforms which ex'ists in the minds of all classes. This is a great day of opportunity. What are we going to do with it? The official Labour Party in Britain has decided to withdraw from the political truce. This does not, of course, mean that the actual workers are desirous of weakening tho nation's unity at this momentous juncture. There is no, guarantee whatever that the decisions of the Labour Conference reflect the sentiments of the rank and file of trades unionists. The method of voting cannot- possibly ensure- a fair expression of the views of the workers themselves. It is a significant and hopeful fact ' that the Labour Ministers/have decided to throw- in their lot with:the Coalition Government, and they will undoubtedly have the support and confidence of a very large section of the industrial population—probably a much larger section than the' controllers of the political machinery of the Labour Party imagine. Official Labour's policy of aloofness must be detrimental both to the interests of the nation and to the welfare of the vcry_ people whom official Labour claims to. represent. Mr. Barnes is plainly right when he declares tllat he can serve Labour best by staying in the Government until the country has reached industrial peace. Mr. Lloyd George states that he intends to tackle some big problems in a big wav. "Wages, housing, working conditions, and the health of the people arc questions Which will be dealt with, and hi dealing with such matters tho Government is entitled to the wholehearted assistance of the best minds in'the ranks of Labour. Pessimistic people tell us that the industrial problem is insoluble, and that when peace has been restored the old fight, between Capital and Labour must inevitably be renewed as bitterly as ever. But we have learned many lessons during the last four years; we have, thrown aside many traditional prejudices; wo have found new points of view; we havo actually done things which, before the war, would have been regarded as impossible. This should give an optimistic tint to our Outlook. It is quite certain that if we devote tho same amount of brains, energy, good will, and determination to the solution of the problems of peace and reconstruction as wo have devoted • to , tho problems of war the past glories of the British -Empire will be far surpassed by the glories that lie before it. '