NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 165, 7 April 1919, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

The outlook in Great Britain is much brightened by the success* of the measures taken to avert a national strike of miners, railwaymen, and transport workers. It would, of course, be premature to assume that the foundations of industrial peace have been securely laid, but for the time at least san* 'ity has prevailed over syndicalism, and the atmosphere created should be favourable to the further reorganisation of industrial and social conditions which is admittedly necessary. The negotiations leading up to the present settlement have served one useful purpose in giving due prominence to the fact that tho most important cleavage, as matters stand, is not between organised Labour as a whole and the rest of tho community, but between two opposed sections of organised Labour—the section which approves the wrcoking policy of the syndicalists and that which sees before it an open road of progress by constitutional methods. This aspect of the matter was plainly emphasised by Mn. J. H. Thomas when he said, at a stage of the negotiations, that the greatest' difference was not between the Government and the railwaymen, hut between the unions concerned. Remarkable as such an admission is from a veteran Labour leader, it contains no clement of exaggeration. Organised Labour in Britain, as in some other countries, is called upon in fact to deal with an internal revolt engineered by those who arc deliberately intent in the first place on destroying all that tho trades unions have accomplished by orderly effort a.nd organisation, in order that they may then pursue their mad project of wrecking the whole industrial system. This insanity will not be eradicated without sustained efforts within the

ranks of organised Labour, and none obviously are more interested in eradicating it Chan the wagcearners who arc perfectly free to promote and forward social betterment in a degree limited only by their own constructive efforts. In its most essential aspect the settlement just reached in Great Britain is a victory by organised Labour over those who are strong to wreck Labour organisation as a preliminary step towards wrecking national organisation. * i- * * Some of the reports alleging acute differences at the Peace Conference may bo exaggerated, but there is suggestive evidence that the position at the moment is really critical. In particular the fact that Mr. Lloyd Geougb has found it necessary to publicly deny that he is opposed to France's demand for guarantees in regard to the left bank of the Rhine implies that this question is seriously exercising the minds of the Allied representatives. It would be unwise, however, to accept at their full face value the sensational reports that are 'current of extreme divergence between the Conference delegates. One thing fairly certain is that those who speak for the two great sections of the English-speaking race will stand solidly' and unitedly for an absolutely just'.and impartial determination of the muchdebated question of the FrancoGerman frontier and of others, such as the conflicting claims of Italy and the Southern Slav Federation on the Adriatic seaboard, which are at least as likely to occasion dissension. It has all along been inevitable that there should be some conflict of opinion between the British and American delegates who are able to regard the problems of European readjustment from a more or less detached standpoint, and the French, Italian, and other representatives who are primarily concerned about national security and national interests. But those who speak for the nations of Continental Europe are bound to recognise that there is a point at which the creation of safeguards for individual nations must give way to the establishment of conditions which will tend to consolidate and safeguard world peace. Refusing any such concession, the representatives of these nations would in effect set their faces against the League of Nations, and make its constitution impossible. It must rest largely with Britain and America to find means of reconciling conditions of national security in Continental Europe with those which make for •world peace. As will be seen from the cablegrams to-day some critics of Mk. Lloyd George blame him for not giving France unreserved support in any demands she may make regarding her Eastern frontier. A calmer view must declare, however, that the British Prime Minister is taking the right course, and the one best calculated to promote a happy settlement, in stopping short at an assurance that Britain would repeat her sacrifices ff the war if necessary for the peace and independence of France, and wants her to enjoy complete security. If Britain supported a' French demand for the annexation of German-populated territory she would not b= helping to 'make France secure, but her action would bo extremely likely to wreck the League of 'Nations project from' which mankind has so much to hope. • ■ ■ * * * *. One of the possibilities to be faced at this stage is that when the Allied nations have drawn up the terms of the peace settlement Germany may refuse to accept and sign them. It is a possibility heightened to-day by a report that Ebbkt, the Gorman President, is toying with a proposition of alliance between the llussian Bolsheviki and the German Spartacists —a proposition which was addressed in the first instance to LiebKNEOUT, and was held up by his death. In the, circumstances ihe Allies arc Avcll-advised in making provision, on the lines set out in one of to-day's messages, to deal with any attempted' defiance by Germany. "The Economic Coinmission," it is stated, "has been instructed to prepare for Germany's refusal to sign the terms, the intention being to restore [in that event] a sharp and' complete blockade." It is added that none expect a renewal of fighting on the West, the Allies being confident that starvation will settle Germany. It_is not in doubt that in their ability to re-establish the blockade the. Allies hold a weapon of tremendous power, the more so since in this way they control not only an essential part of Germany's food supply, but also the supply of raw materials essential to her industries. Granted that the Allies stand firm, and use their powers, Germany must either accent their terms or submit to self-imposed famine and , industrial paralysis. It is a state of affairs calculated to deter her from attempting to s4 'V , Allies at defiance, either openly and without distntise. or by giving free play to Bolshevism.