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THE WELSH OUTLOOK The Editor does not necessarily identify himself with the opinions of contributors to The Welsh Outlook." Editorial responsibility is limited to the views expressed in the Notes of the Month," and in the unsigned article immediately following. NOTES OF THE MONTH The European Crisis. We are again in the midst of another European crisis, and although the final decisions have been postponed until the end of April, it looks very much as if we and the other Allies are to be dragged into another mad adventure in the political an4 financial interest of French groups not of the French people. It is natural enough to understand why French politicians at the moment are anxious to occupy the Ruhr Valley, French finances are in a very awkward state, and the French public is naturally furious that her devastated territories remain unrepaired. A great demonstration- whatever its ultimate result, may, however, save the politicians a little while longer-but the demonstration must in no way prejudice the position of the French contractors who look forward to the work of repairing. There are also French militarists who are anxious to return to the policy of Louis XIV. and of Napoleon, and desire, above all things, to break up any semblance of German unity or cohesion. All this may be easy to understand, but the fundamental objection to it is that it will only result in European chaos and disorder. It will effectively prevent the economic rehabilitation of Central Europe, make it not only bankrupt, but a dependent and dangerous pauper. It will bring the Entente into dangerous hostility to Labour throughout the world, for if the Ruhr is to be a profitable asset it must be worked as a slave colony, and Labour in Europe will not be long before realising the effects of that. We have always said that France is entitled to full and ample reparation; we have advocated the immediate and absolute cancellation of her debts to us, -but the time has come when it should be made clear that not only in our own interests, but in hers also, we do not mean to be driven into all manner of foolish adventures by her. There is some hope in the cautious re-appearance of America on the scene, and we trust the Prime Minister will gain new confidence now in dealing with the situation, and turn a deaf ear to the yapping of certain sections of the English Press. MAY, 1921. The Coal Strike. If ever there was a tragedy of errors it is to be found in the distressing, and, in some respects, squalid, story of the coal strike. The evil genius of blunder seems to have had complete control of the situation from the very beginning. Except for the miners themselves as a body (we do not mean the Miners' Executive), the group of ordinary members of the House of Commons, who, when for- bidden to debate the situation in open assembly, de- cided, at any rate, to obtain information, although in an unconventional way, and Mr. Frank Hodges (with perhaps a slight qualification), everybody seems to have been under its complete domination. The Government has been so consistent in its blundering that we are not .surprised that it is charged with evil intention. From the days of the Sankey Commission it has staggered into error on every conceivable occasion. The ante- dating of decontrol at short notice by five months; the omission, on the Prime Minister s own admission, to give consideration to the mine-owners' proposals before the crisis came; the creation, at least, of an impression that they were out to support the mine-owners; the assumption, both in theory and in practice, by the administration that the moment of Civil War, long predicted and feared-had arrived; the refusal to explore the import of the national pool idea; were all colossal blunders, and every serious citizen thanks his stars that they did not land him with all his fellows in a catastrophe of the first order. But the Government were not alone! in their blunder- ing. Even their friends admit the errors and the stupidity of the mine-owners. They became obsessed with the idea that the big cut must come, and, like crusaders, they entered upon it inspired with their cause, but, as was clearly demonstrated at the famous House of Commons meeting, not knowing what they did. The Miners' Executive stumbled-first of all, per- haps, in a too rigid insistence on the lock out atti- tude by refusing to work the pumps, but certainly in