George in Power?

The political situation in Britain was described as one of extreme peril for the Baldwin Ministry. Mr. Baldwin is generally thought to have been a failure by sections of the press, including certain of the Conservative journals, which reflect, to some extent, the attitude of the House. The reasons upon which criticism is based are that the Premier has conspicuously failed in the conduct of foreign policy and in proposing any fundamental palliative to the unemployment problem.

London political circles have it that a general election will take place either during December or early in the New Year. This prognostication is made on the assumption that the Ruhr-Reparations situation, with its adverse reflex on British industry, will remain static or grow worse. In view of M. Poincare's recalcitrant attitude to the reparations tangle, this forecast of events is justified; no Government can endure a prolongation of the present intolerable situation, in view of the fact that unemployment is an intrinsic part of it.

In what may well be considered the forthcoming election, there are two Parties which will be prominent: Labor, which will have capital levy as its main plank; Liberal, united under Lloyd George, or more probably a center party (which would let in Mr. George's Conservative as well as his Liberal supporters), whose main plank will be a Government unemployment insurance scheme. This is expected to be more popular with the masses than Labor's capital levy. Moreover, Mr. George's American tour is adjudged to be of prime political importance to British politics, and it is not unlikely that some far-reaching program, " favorable" to U. S. and British interest and "mutually popular," will be made. Conservative plans are relatively unknown at present. It is regarded as certain in London that Mr. George will come back to power--stronger than ever.