BRITAIN’S PERIL

Evening Star, Issue 19198, 15 March 1926, Page 3

BRITAIN’S PERIL

LORD ROTHERMERE’S ADVICE. LONDON', February 28. “ Does Britain need a Mussolini?” asks Lord Kotlicnnere, in an article in the ‘Sunday Pictorial.’ .Ho says that Mussolini’s genius made Italy economically the most progressive country in Europe, and he tears that Britain, despite the assurances of politicians and bankers, is not paying her way. Me predicts that Franco will displace Yorkshire as the chief wool manufacturing centre within two years, while Japan will challenge Lancashire's supremacy in the cotton trade, and Germany will threaten other industries.

Lord Rothermcre says that he believes Britain does not possess a statesman of Mussolini’s calibre, but neverless the parliamentary system dooms the nation’s prosperity. lie urges the appointment of a dictatorial committee comprising Sir 'Eric Geddes, formerly chairman of a committee appointed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to advise on all questions of national expenditure: Sir‘William Blender, the i-roin-inbnt financier and honorary financial adviser to the Board of Trade; and Mr Reginald M'Kenna, chairman, of the London Joint City and Midland Rank. This committee, he urges, should be empowered to veto spending legislation and reduce taxation, thus enabling the practice of the economy essential to a trade recovery. Britain, declares the writer, is entering a. most momentous five-year poiiod, in"wbich it will be decided vhether she will survive as, a great economic Power.