Problems Facing British Government

Chronicle (Levin), 20 January 1948, Page 5

Problems Facing British Government

Received Mondav, 7 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 19. After whai inav be teritua! their hair lcnii holiday, Menibers of Parliament reuirn to M'estminster tojlay (Tuesday). The Lahour Government has now eom pleted 2 years in oflice and if all goes well there reinains a similar period ahead oi' it before going to the country. lt is not so very long ago sinee coniiderit [iredii-tions were. being inade thal Lahour would not last its tui] term. This note in political forecasts is ai present oniy a dull undertone. lt niav, however, swoll uguin for the Government face.s a diftivult 12 njonths. Oue oi' the chief diffieulties will be the question oi' the balanee of payntents and- the continuing drain on Britain's gold and dollar reservos, Other troubles inelufle the Lonls Veto Bill and the question of whether the meel and iron industry shall or shaJl not he nationalised. Chief interest this week will centre in ihe I'oreign ailairs debate on Thursday and Priday wuon Mr. Bevin is oxperted to review British foreiga poliey and detine tlie British attitude follovv ing the breakdown of the Foreign Mm isters' conferem-e. and tlie GoverninentL views on Oermany, (Ireece and] the .Middle Last. In Ihe Lords tne I Goverinuent will be qimstioned on eivil a\ iat ion. Oue of the intoresting aspects ot British politics during the coming vear will be whether the Conservatives can iiie rease their influeneo. Ever sinee tlie Gravesend bv-election when the Govorninent inaintained their rec'ord of tio def'eat sim-e the general election, the Conservatives appettred rather uncertttin of themselves. They inav perk up ngaio, however, if they can defeat Labiiiir at the Cantlaehie and Paisley by eleet ions, both of which are pendnig. Mean wliile their iadecision was ro- j eentlv voiced by Lord Mancroft. Addressing a rallv of yonng Conservatives he deeiared: "The tide won 't reallv ! be>>in to turn to the Right until the j uorking man can be eonvinced that j (-■onservatisni ofi'ers liim niore solid and1 lastino- prospects than does the specious J bribery of Soeialism. He is not vet 1 eonvinced. The Conservative Partv j won't win the next eleetion until they can eonvinee him. " ;