FEAR OF DICTATORSHIP

Chronicle (Levin), 12 August 1947, Page 5

FEAR OF DICTATORSHIP

j Britain's Hopes Collapse Into Forebodings

Received Monday, 7.0 p.m. LONDON, August 11. One of the most interesting recictions to the momentous events of last week in Britain, appears at present to be within the Labour Party itself. It is uneasy over 'several points which will be raised | at a special meeting of the Parliajmentary Labour Party this mornjing when plain speaking is antici'pated. | The party 's trouhlcd mood has j many facets. There is wide dis- ! appointnvelit at several aspects oi Air. Attlee's policy spe'ech. In jaddition to the eriticism that the j reduction in the t'orces shoulcl be jnearer 250,000 hy next March instead of 80,000, there is also uneasiness over the Government \ plans for steel. One section of the party apparently, led by Mr. Anettrin Bevan, insists that it must become a State monopoly Another is against complete ua tionalisation. Complaints have been heard again about Mr. Attlee's lack of leadership. There is a renewed deinand that younger men in the party should be promoted and given responsible administrativc | posts. i Today's meeting of the Labour Party is regarded as most important and the Manchester Guardian remarks that all signs suggest that it will be an unpleasant affair. The uneasy querulousness which is exuded by the party is refleeted by the general atnfosphere in Britain. There has been no let up in the brooding uncertainty which has hung over the country i'or months. A week ago, after a long period of waiting for the Government to produce an economic plan, there was hope that Mr. Attlee would announee a poliey which would be nniversally aeceptable. Perhaps hopes were built too high but at ! any rate by the end of the week j aiiticipation had given way to [anticlimax and has been followed Ity foreboding. The spate of economic details that giished from Westminster diiring the week, seems to have left the people with the general jimpression that all that the Government 's plans add up to is a ■ rnore dreary routine with Britain 's trade defieit being clipped by only one-third. They don'ti find the outlook part'eularly cheerful. The foreboding is caused by the Government 's decision to introduce the Supplies and Rervices Bill which takes power to see "that the whole resources of the coihmunity are available for use and are used in a manner'best calculated to serve the interests of the community. The dictatorial powers which it will give tlie Government are wiflely suspect. Many frankly#see a contradictory policy in the' Government appealing to the country on one hand to produce rnore in an effort to close the trade gap while at the same time, appr-oving in principle the deelared aim of the Trade Union Gongress to seeure the universal 40-hour week. They regard whnt is occurring in the coal mines as significant — miners securing a five-day week with 37k hours, while British industry is depending on them for its lif'e blood. Yet the miners in the hour of the Government V greatest need are trying to make up their minds whether they will work half an honr daity longer or not, Now that Britain's eapital rests almost entirely in her own industries and her own workers and not in overseas investments, manv opine that sooner or later the Labour Government must bring home to the people that not only must there he rnore production but there must also be longer woVking hours. Othenvise BrTain 's trade gap is likely to lead to bankruptey.