The Liberal manifesto while condemning the Russian Treaty is careful
to declare for the re-establishment of commercial relations with the Russian people. Liberals, though in sympathy with all schemes for disarmament, were unable to prevent the Government from increasing military estimates by 112,000,000 and starting a naval race in the building of new cruisers. As for unemploy- ment, the Labour Party had declared confidently at the last General Election that it alone had a positive remedyi for unemployment ; but though at that time the numberi of unemployed was 1,153,600, the most recent return,j. (September 29th), showed that the number had increased} to 1,198,800. On this vital question- the Government: had shown "drift and indecision." Fewer houses were now being begun than when the Government came into power. The Government had refused to face the true policy of using the reserve of unemployed in the con- struction of houses. The Liberal policy for agriculture contemplated a land tenure which would "combine the advantages of ownership and of tenure without the dis- advantages of either." Finally, Liberals wished to make coal the, great national asset which it ought to be. The State should acquire all mineral rights and provide State assistance for super-power stations.
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