U.K. STANDING IN DANGER’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31109, 12 July 1966, Page 17

U.K. STANDING IN DANGER’

(N.Z.PA. Reuter—Copyright)

NEW YORK, July 11.

Britain’s Labour Government is in danger of “massive damage to its standing at home and abroad,” the “New York Times” said today.

A signed article by Graham Hovey, a member of the editorial board of the “New York Times,” said: “Time bombs tick ominously for Britain’s Labour Government. A

hundred days after its election triumph it is in danger not of early defeat but of massive damage to its standing at home and abroad. . . . “Not even the nimble Mr Wilson can straddle much longer on decisive questions involving Rhodesia and the Commonwealth, Vietnam and the United States, N.A.T.O. and the Common Market, Britain’s sluggish economy, the balance of payments crisis, and the weakness of the pound.

i “To continue his tightrope ■ act will risk the greater dis- , aster in some areas and being ’ ignored in others. .. .” , Referring to Britain’s ecoi nomic crisis, Hovey con- : eluded: “Harold Wilson may I be the best economist in his ; party. He knows' as well as anyone what must be done to ■ transform the situation and i what the penalty to Britain’s f world position will be for ■ failure. I “A recent poll for the “Sun- . day Times” of London showed - a massive majority of Britons ■ ready to accept a wage freeze , and other sacrifices to put the i country on its feet. “Is Mr Wilson also ready?”