IN SUSPENSE.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15115, 28 December 1921, Page 4

IN SUSPENSE.

It is a habit among local bodies, whenever a very knotty problem obtrudes itself before Christmas—or an election —-to hpid it over. Possibly a majority of local bodies in the Dominion have postponed consideration of some matter until the first meeting in the new year. On this occasion the practice has been adopted by much larger bodies, and 'the matters “held over” this year are of very great consequence to the world in general and to the Empire and the Dominion, in particular. The Christmas season found the great conference at Washington still endeavouring to find the solution of many difficult problems. French insistence in naval affairs —especially with regard to the submarine allocation —has held up the international understanding that was heralded with such world-wide demonstrations of approval. It is obvious that the basis adopted by the three chief naval Powers cannot stand unless such nations as France and Italy agree to accept a naval strength, based proportionately. The naval agreement, as a whole, is among the things that has had to sthnd over for a few days. *ln the arena of world politics the problems of the Far and the Near East have not reached solution. China and Japan are still struggling over the Shantung question and the 21 conditions imposed' by the island empire upon the Peking Government five years ago. But, there is ground for hoping, that the delegates now in Washington will find a way out -of those difficulties, and that'the new year wiil witness a complete, understanding upon each and all of them. Within , the Empire the great issqs held over is the ratification of the Irish Treaty. Both the Dail Eireann and the House of Commons have adjourned until early in January, when the momentous decision must be made. It is the earnest hope of this far-flung Empire that a speedy and a f avourable answer may be. given by the Irish people through this body, in Dublin, for nothing ceuld start the year more auspiciously than the announcement of a settlement of their long-standing troubles. These days, when the members of the Dail. Eireann are consulting the people of Southern Ireland, are days of great importance, ,and it is to be hoped that, from the people, tired of strife and outrage, they will obtain a mandate to accept the treaty and set out on the course of building up, within the Empire, a great Irish State. In the Dominion, many matters have been held over until the new year. j The meat-pool proposals, retrenchment, and other thorny subjects. For a few days they have been set aside while the nation celebrates Christmas and the dawn of a new year, but they await attention. The things held over promise to make 1922 a year of great importance.