THE PRICE OF PEACE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 29, 3 August 1925, Page 5

THE PRICE OF PEACE

NEWSPAPER COMMENT

GOVERNMENT HAD NO CHOICE.

(iDSTBAUAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLI ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, Ist'August-

The "Morning Post's" political correspondent says the .Cabinet's reversal of the anti-subsidy policy is resented'by large numbers of Conservative members of the House of Commons, whose comments in the lobby are forcible. The "Morning Post" says editorially: "Peace has been bought at a price not of money only, but of principle,. and this cost in money and prinicple may be more ruinous than the crisis which is avoided. To-day it is the mines; tomorrow it- may. be the railways; then the docks, or the iron, steel, or shipbuilding works."

The ■ "Daily Telegraph" says: "We do not- blame the Government for yielding. The pistol was at tlieir heads, and they virtually had no chance. It is | an uneasy peace which has been purchased, but it is worth 'paying' to I avoid a coal stoppage, which must have developed most rapidly into a national strike." "NEITHER PEACE NOR HONOUR" The "Daily News" says: "The Government has taken the right course, but it has not brought peace, and certainly not.honour. It lias only brought time, the use of which will test the value of tho bargain." The "Daily Chronicle" declares: "Tho settlement is the price of the Government's indolence, and the sequel to months of neglect. It was as clear as daylight that the situation could not ho saved unless the Government intervened on behalf of.the nation to.provide tho necessary conditions for working the mines efficiently, economically, j and productively." I Tho "Times" says: "The solution. is a victory for common-sense, not for any of the parties concerned. The choice of the lesser of two evils was right in the circumstances, but if the problem of restoring the industry in a sound position is not solved, the temporary relief will have done more harm than good." LABOUR CLAIMS A GREAT VICTORY Tim "Daily Herald" aays: "It is the biggest victory the Labour movement

has ever "won. Both Mr. Baldwin and the owners have done .what they declared they never would. The victory was -won by the solidarity of L«bonry» and if it choose Labour can use this giant's strength to gain everything on which it« heart is get. There "is no fear. that such strength will be used tyrant nousljt"

The "Daily Mail" describes the eetw tlement as a victory for violence. It says: "Britain means to be ruled by its own properly elected Parliament, not «by trade union wire-pullers, who are carrying out the orders of Zinovieff and imagine themselves little Trotskys and Lenins."