MR. ATTLEE SEEMED TO LACK ENTHUSIASM

Chronicle (Levin), 9 August 1947, Page 5

MR. ATTLEE SEEMED TO LACK ENTHUSIASM

Received Fnday, 7.0 p.m. LONDON, August V. So far Mr. Attloe has not had a par ticularlv good 1'ress for liis "intc. battle speech" in tlie Connnons. 'ino nianner of its delivery is critieised as well as its matter. The Dailv Telegraph's writer "Peterborough," says that when the Prim*. Minister rose in the Ilouse of Connnons " he looked and sounded desperately nervous tlirougliout the oiitu ng sen tenees of his speech. Throughout he seeined oppressed rather than inspired by the expet-tant atmosphere." The Manchester Guardian reniarkea that Mr. Attlee " laboured pluekilv ai his long speecii. YTou felt it was a good deal of an ordeai for liiiu. Wlwn ne sat down there was loyal and vigorou:clieering from his nwn people, liut there was no other demonst ration. " While newsi>apers 'like the Dailv' Telegrapl) have not tinallv made u| their minds auout ihe Government s plan, others already are very definite. For instanre, the Dailv Telegraph says: "There are too manv uncertain factors to permit any final and definite verdict, l)ut the first imju-ession is that the Government has awakened at last from its rosy dreams and is eoncent rating more of its attention upon planuing for the world as it is, instead of for some imaginary planet. ' ' The Manchester Guardian snvs: "There is a refreshing realism about the plan. It touches, lunvever, tentatively, the geuulne causes of our trouble." It adds that the plan w:Il be adequate onlv if the Governnient can win the support and active cooperation of labour in carrying the decisions into effect. "If not, growing

danger will soon deniand a further set of measures to cope with the nation 's economic problem." The Financial Times, however, remarks tliat there is still a crisis, and says Mr. Attlee 's speech was a disappointing performance. "There was tcjo mucli of an air of la.-t-mim'te thoughts about this cauldron of expedients. ' ' The Yorlcshire Post calls it "a rushed and sketchy plan." "There were too manv pious expresslons of hope in it. and tj() few prnctical measures. Lt was not nearly strong enough or clear-cm enough for the purpose it has to serve. ' ' The Glasgow ITerald describes it as a timid approach, and» says: " Fhe country was prepared for something more Bpartan and eonstructive than this. It seems that the plan and the poliev of the Cabinet whieh Mr. Attlee has given to the country are the wotk of timid men who, l'of all their claiim to represent the people, appear not to trust them." The Scotsman says: "The weakness of Mr. Attlee 's programme lies in the faet that on its positivo side it relies mainlv upon exliortation and appeals. " Tlie News Clironicle says: " Unfnr tuna'elv, the I'rime Minister missed the opportunity and failed to rise to the oceasion. He inumbled his tale of woc without animation and without con vietion. " The most immediate and virulent oppositon to Mr. Attlee comes from thiCoiumunistic Dailv Worker, vvhich heads its review of his ])lan witli the caption "Road to Ruin," and report s that, his speech is resulting in rapidlv spreading revolt in tlie Parliamentarv Labour Party, due to lack of Bocialisi character in the proposals. "The debate on the economic crism ended in disappointment and dnubt." said the Times in a leader. "The na " tion still does not know whether the Government's plans can prevent an earlv and serious decline in the stannard of lifo. There is no real assurance that the country will be able to pav for the necessities of its livelihood from abro/id in the coming months, exeepi by drawing periodically upon its last reserves of gold and dollars. and no proof is given that export goods can be increased sufiiciently in the close future

to rule out reductions in imports much more grievous than those already au ' nounced. "Government export forecasts Ior ' 1948 rely on its measures to coneentrate workers and inaterials on exports tak ing full and quick effect. lt is tlu. practieal effect of these measures timi has still to be shown." The Times adds: "The Governmem is to be praiseil and not cen«ured fo. looking to larger saies abroad rather than erippling curtailment of essentiai purchases to balance accounts. Doupi arises whether the saies abroad will, in faet, be raised to the amounts forecasi for the next year." The Times concludes that Mr. Dalton astonishingly ignoL-ed the danger ai ready existent, that inflation will be the ruin of best laid plans, and adds tluu the Government programme couhl not have begun under worse conditions.