Mr. Chifley Speaks of Long, Hard Road

Chronicle (Levin), 19 July 1948, Page 5

Mr. Chifley Speaks of Long, Hard Road

Received Sundav, 11 p.ru. SYDXEY, .luly 18, Mr, Ohifley returned to Australia today from London. Speaking to reporters in Svdnev ke said that although the dollar question doininated Landou diseussions, it should be cle-arly understood that he did not go to London to beg for dollars but was anxious to aseertain how the. policies of both Governments could" be executed and also to see whether Australa could be assured of the availabilitv* of United Kingdom bilateral agreements with other countries. Mr. Chifley said the European recovery programme made no provision for Dotiiimon dollar deficits. It _wns even (loubtfui whether it provided for United Kingdom dollar delicits. Un fortunately it waS not possible to deteiniine with any exactitude Unite.l Kingdom or Australian doilar earnlng capacity. . It was certa-in, however tlmt there was a long, hard- road ahead. Xeither Australia nor the United Kingdom could solve the dollar problem on a short-term basis. , . _ , .Mr. ( '.hjfley. intiuiiit'ed that although dollar spending this year '.was already reduced, it would be reduced a ' great deal more next year. Mr. Chifley said increased production was a problem Australia must solve not only to get increased goods for hersel f but also to enable increased assistance to'the United Kingdom. It seerned incvitable that overtime must be worked in Australia to achieve that result.