NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 179, 23 April 1924, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

Reports of the annual conference of the British Independent Labour Party have made it fairly clear that the MacDonald Government will soon be confronted by very serious problems. Over two-thirds of the Government’s supporters belong to the Independent Labour Party, and the conference apparently is wholly inclined to demand that the Government should boldly use its power “for Socialistic measures and administration.” Strongly impelled in this direction, the Government at the same time has already had a plain warning that it will not easily retain the Liberal support without which it could not hold office. A recent meeting at which Liberal members of the House of Commons were urged by Mr. Lloyd George to reconsider their position in relation to the Government, and by Mr. Asquith to develop a fighting spirit, has an obviously significant bearing on the political outlook. Since the Liberals are definitely pledged to oppose Socialism the adoption by the MacDonald Government of a Socialistic policy presumably would supply them with all the reasons they require for turning it out of office. The position of the Government would be even weaker and more insecure than it is but tor the tact that there seems to be no immediate prospect of escape from threeparty politics in Great Britain.

As it bears on American relations with Europe, a speech by President Coolidge which is reported to-day is of great interest and importance. It will all the more attract attention on account of the cautious reserve with which President Coolidge has hitherto approached all questions of foreign policy. Three things stand out in his latest speech. He warmly approves the Dawes report, and considers that it offers a basis for a practical solution of the reparations problem. In reference to the proposed external loan to Germany, he contends that America has sound business reasons for participating in the financing of works of peace in Europe. At the same time he intimates that with the German reparations question definitely settled he would favour calling another conference to consider the further limitation of armaments. He made no reference to inter-Allied war debts, but such developments as ho suggests of American co-operation in the work of European reconstruction would lead up almost inevitably to the practical consideration of war debts as well as of reparations. As it stands, the President’s speech should give an impetus to agreement between the Allies at the meeting now being held, or about to be held in London. It embodies a plainly-worded offer of American co-operation in Europe which the Allies evidently would be most unwise to neglect.

At a meeting of railway strikers at Auckland addressed by Mr. Bartram, M.P., and Mr. Hickey, strike organiser for the Auckland district the opinion was expressed that the present railway strike would not last two days. It is not stated who was responsible for this opinion nor is there any indication that reasons were advanced to justify ’it As a matter of fact, there does not appear to be the slightest justification for thinking that there will bo any such speedy end to the strike, unless indeed the strike leaders propose to call the strike off and submit the claims of the A.S.R.S. to arbitration. It is regrettable that the railwaymen should be misled by such expressions of opinion, for they are only likely to lead to disappointment and provoke ill-feeling. The plain fact is that the strike was rushed in the expectation or at least the hope that the Government would not face a railway stoppage during the visit of the British squadron. This was' a blunder. No Government in the circumstances could shirk its responsibilities to the public by yielding to such an attempt at intimidation. Probably the more thoughtful of the railway union officials realised this, but were overruled. Be that as it may, the rosy hopes held out at the Auckland meeting of an early ending of the strike are unhappily to all appearances without the least foundation, unless, as stated, the railwaymen themselves contemplate a return to reason. Speculat?’on as to how long the strike is likely to last is natural enough, for it is a matter of concern in one way or another to everyone. But the railwaymen may find, as others have found before them, that it is sometimes an easy thing to drift into a strike and a much more difficult matter to foresee the end of it.