NEWS FROM BRITAIN Cannot Save Dollars By Buying British

Chronicle (Levin), 14 December 1949, Page 5

NEWS FROM BRITAIN Cannot Save Dollars By Buying British

Received Tuesday, 7 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 13. Examinmg Sir Stafford Cripps' recent statement that the reduction in dollar imports decided upon by Britain and Commonwealth countries in July, was "being carried out according to plan," the financial editor of the Manchester Guardian points out that few of these reductions have had time to take effect. Britain's own dollar cuts will begin to operate only ' next year. Australia has already announced that it can do nothing until the mid- : dle of next year and the extent to which New Zealand has reduced its dollar spending is not yet clear. Southern Rhodesia has already reduced its dollar ' buying and India has reduced its purchases of unessentials but, in general, the effect of the majority of the cuts is not expected to be felt until 1950'. "The most disturbing aspect of dollar cuts," continues the financial editor, "is the assumption by most Commonwealth countries that their former purchases can be switched to the United Kingdom and other sterling area suppliers. If the only reaction of India and Australia, for example, is to look for substitutes in Britain and elsewhere in the sterling area, the result will be that their dollar deficit will be passed on to others. Goods sent from this country to India cannot at the same time earn us dollars. In some things, of course, supplies are abundant enough to supply both markets and dollars would be saved. But in many cases, particularly manufactured goods, there is simply not enough supplies to satisfy the sterling area and the ■ United States. The president of the Board of Trade, Mr. Wilson, himself said at least four times last week, that the main problem of selling. to the United States is no longer one of priee but of deliveries." CHORUS GIRLS CALLED TO ORDER A Cairo message states that, following a remonstrance from the rector of A1 Azhar University, eight British chorus girls who' have been appearing in Alexandria's leading cabaret, "L'Auberge Bleu," have been instructed that they must wear more clothes. j In a letter to the Prime Minister, Sirry Pasha, the rector said: "Some newspapers, magazines and cinemas are publishing photographs of almost naked women. These awaken the beast in man and distract his attention from important questions." The British girls were adequately clothed by London cho'rus standards, but these do not accord with Moclem ideas. i CHORAL HINT The Daily Express has published .an Osbert Lancaster cartoon in which a bowler-hatted gentleman at the corner of Downing Street is saying to three urchins engaged in carol singing: "Of course, I know that strictly speaking it's not a carol, but I wonder if you fellows would be interested in singing Waltzing Matilda' through the letter-box at No. 10."