POST-WAR EUROPE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 192, 28 May 1945, Page 4

POST-WAR EUROPE.

“DEFINITE TURN TO LEFT.” AN AMERICAN OPINION. In the post-war Europe, as things are shaping, France will develop a brand for State planning. That is the line do Gaulle is deciding to take. Labour gets a key role, says the “United I States News,” of Washington. Belgium will follow rather closely the example of France. Germany'will be impoverished: will be stripped of heavy industry; will be on short rations as slie works off very heavy reparations. Germany will face no alternative to widespread socialisation; will tend to orient lier economy toward Russia as she pays major reparationss in that direction. Poland j will he forced to a Russian orientation. It suggests a definite Left Wing turn. Balkan areas will lose normal German markets, will be forced to look to Russia for outlets for surpluses. It will ‘be the same with Czechoslovakia. Italy will be impoverished; will tend to be Leftist in economic policy. Also, in Asia, Japan will be ruined ; and will offer little trade opportunity. The result is that the United States ! may find little world company as a | strictly capitalist nation, may find the ; going a bit rough in seeking to induce ‘ the outside world to turn back toward freer trade, toward less State control over the .economy. ’ Even Britain is thinking in terms of a Government-business partnership, in ’ terms of controlled exchange, control- ; lied imports, planned exports, more use "j of Empire preferences. The post-war ;! world definitely will not look like the ‘ pre-war world.