The Dominion. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1920. A MOMENTOUS SESSION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 119, 13 February 1920, Page 6

The Dominion. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1920. A MOMENTOUS SESSION

• The British Parliament lias opened a new session in days as anxious and care-laden as any that have been experienced since the Armistice was signed. The Government and Parliament are confronted not only by urgent and baffling internal problems, but bv tho apparent necessity of assisting to remedy the conditions of chaotic disorganisation that exist in Europe. The work that waits is indicated, though by no means exhaustively, in tho cablegrams. Apart altogether from a programme of legislation that would have been regarded as absurdly overloaded in the easy and almost forgotten days before the war, the British Government has a big part to play in assisting to settle the differences that aro still setting various countries by the cars in and beyond Europe, and also in conferring the elements of economic stability on struggling European nationalities, more particularly on those to whom the war brought liberation. The one point upon which absolute agreement is possible, and ought to be universal, is that a full concentration of the national energies is demanded as it never was prior to 1914. The problems now facing Britain are almost overwhelming in their magnitude and complexity, but the task of solving them makes a worthy call upon the courage and energies of a great nation. Tho first thing necessary to a hopeful attack on these problems is that the nation should be led and guided by a Government in which it is able to repose eonfidercjc. If the Daily Mail is right in its assertion that the country does not trust the Coalition Government a change cannot too soon be effected. But it may yet appear that this .assertion is not a balanced verdict, but rather an example of the partisanship which persists its a lingering survival from the ■ political dark ages. The Coalition Government is certainly not discredited by the fact that many failures and partial failures, as well as many achievements, are entered on its record. In any judgmonlNpf political leadership in Britain or elsewhere at this time it ought to be recognised that nations are called upon to struggle through unfavourable and trying conditions which admit of no early or completo remedy.

Notwithstanding detail failures, the -Coalition Government will dcEerve continued support if it succeeds in marshalling the energies of the nation, on the wholo with increasing success, in constructive effort. The critics of 'the Coalition have done much to emphasise its failures, hut little to show how these failures might have been avoided. Such indications of an impending attack on the Coalition as have been afforded of lato convey little enough promise of the establishment of a better Government. The pretensions of the Labour Party arc discounted by its harrow outlook and the inability of its abler and more responsible leaders to control their turbulent followers and competitors. Mn, Asquith and his supporters are relying quite frankly on the revival of party traditions and catchcries which were always one-sided and arc now manifestly out of date. It is fairly obvious that if it followed the lead of partisans of this type the country would be casting off the only political organisation that will serve its present need. The continuation of the Coalition seems to veprcsent the only hope of stable government, and according to recent reports Mn. Lloyd George is planning to make the present temporary fusion-party permanent. Sonic of the Coalition Liberals are admittedly intent on breaking away and reuniting with the Asquithians, but this need not hinder the establishment of a permanent Coalition which would approach national problems, and appeal to the electors, from a broader standpoint than that of any single party. Whatever its' immediate prospects may be, it is fairly plain that the perpetuation of the Coalition offers the readiest and most hopeful means of solving the tremendous problems touched upon in the King's Speech and in the opening proceedings of the new session.