TWISTING LION’S TAIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 265, 22 August 1949, Page 3

TWISTING LION’S TAIL

Risky Game, Warns Minister BRITAIN STIL&t PRINCIPAL MARKET (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright). LONDON, August 20. “The game of twisting the lion’s tail is a risky one and may recoil on those who indulge in the pastime,” said the Secretary of State for War (Mr E. Shinwell) speaking at Aspatria, Cumberland. “Some of our overseas critics forget that Britain was and still remains their principal market,” said Mr Shinwell. “We purchase far more from them than they ever did from us. Now, when we are almost exhausted ourselves in six years of war and find ourselves in a grave economic position, our magnificent efforts in the past are overlooked. It is bad enough when overseas critics attack us, it is nothing short of treachery when critics at home, from political motives, seek to disparage this country. “The suggestion that Britain is played out is sheer nonsense,” he continued. “Since the end of the war our productive capacity has increased far beyond anybody’s expectations. It is time that sneering references at home and overseas to Britain's. decline was stopped and due recognition given to this country’s part in world affairs.’” The Labour Party newspaper, the “Daily Herald,” criticised the airing of domestic political issues at the Council of Europe deliberations at Strasbourg. “The Assembly is not the place fdr Mr Churchill to conduct his British electoral campaign, nor an appropriate battlefield in the Irish cold war against partition.” “It added that if free from mischievous irrelevances the Assembly could do a modest if not a sensational job in the remaining time.