Wartime Spirit Needed In Britain

Chronicle (Levin), 4 January 1949, Page 5

Wartime Spirit Needed In Britain

Reeeived Monday, 7 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 3. ' 'With the heginning of 1949, one of the most ardnous and dangerous decades in British history draws to its close, " says The Economist. "But," it continnes, "there is no law of natnral halance perceptible in the history of nations and the end of ten momentous years provides no passports to ease, prosperity or security in the succeeding years. "The British people have, in fact, set iheniselves a very arduons proorannne — to tune + lieir ei-oiioniv to concert ]>it.eh so that they can regain their economie independence and at the same time achieve their social anibitions, upon a standard of living which wil) lise onlv impereept ibly nver Ihe next f-iur years. The evtra etl'-irt demanded of the British people wil! not bring an iinniediate return in pmsperity and coinfort but only long term beuelits and the staving off of disaster. "This is perhaps the greatest challenge with which (•ircunistances could confront. a nation — the eschewing of comfort in favour of eventnal return to strengtli and independence." Asking whether the British people really understand the nature of the task Ihey set theniselves, The Economist remarks that the exigences of peacotinu' eannot excite the same response as dangers of war. Tbs threat of a "short fall in the baknee of payrnents" cannot creare the same stiinulus that was provided bv the shadow oi Napoleon or Ilitler. If it is diflieult to preseut. in an inspiring form, tlie dangers that would result froip Britain 's failure to live at the top of its powers, ■ it. is even more diflieult to make r#wards that would follow from such an eifort sonnd worth the winning. The pri/es that will inspire prolonged national effort are for oidinary people shadowv and unreal. The journal comments that the preseut redistribution of wealth is not the rebirth of a nation and remarks there is growing cynicisni about the future. bred partly by fear of another war. The British Government 's task is therefore of peeuliar difliculty. They have got to maintain the reeovery of industrial and eomniereial activity dui'ing the next four vears and probalily beyond, with fcw material induc.e ments for such an eifort. "This* calls for qualities of democratic leadersbip, ' ' says The Economist, "which the present Government have not hitherto displayed. The leaders of the Lahour Government strangely lack the power to touch the hearts of the ordinary people thcmgh this does not amount to a plea for the return of Mr. Churchill. ' ' The Economist feels that some now spirit is neeessary in Britain and the anmsing behind enjnomic polic.ies, of Ihe patriotie dediration of wartime. "If this British war of independence is to be won, it requires a new creed of economic patriotism. The man in the street should he encouraged to realise that with all its faults, the national household is still infmitely worth preserving. He should he asked to consider the Simple truth that if his country is worth dying for, it i& also worth working and stinting for."