Mr. Baldwin went on to deal with unemployment. In words
so sincere that they almost disarm opposition he spoke of his anxiety and his solicitude at the present situation of industry. "My thoughts day and night for long past have been filled with this problem, not only as Prime Minister, but as a man who for years was an employer of labour and who has lived amongst the working people. I know what unemployment means, and no man who knows that can think of much else in these days." He then spoke of the weapons he might use in fighting unemployment. He dismissed with scorn any project of inflation. He provokes no disagree- ment from us. On the other hand, he went on : "We are not in the present circumstances, any more than we have been for many months, pursuing a policy of active deflation." If Mr. Baldwin would repeat these words in the form of an undertaking that the Government will commit no deflationary act during the next six months, it would do very much to restore the confidence of industry. It would not, indeed, fulfil the whole of Mr. McKenna's policy, but it would be a very helpful first step.
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