Britain In Uncertain Mood For New Year

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28473, 31 December 1957, Page 9

Britain In Uncertain Mood For New Year

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, December 30. Uncertainty hovers over Britain at the turn of the year, and few people are prepared to forecast with any assurance what may be the trend next year in trade, business, domestic politics, industrial relations or international affairs. This does not necessarily mean that ‘‘the New Year is being faced with pessimism but rather that there appears to be no reasonably definite answers to a number of questions.” While some are calling 1957 the ‘‘year of stagnation” others regard it as one of changing trends and influences —from the 10 per cent, fall in commodity prices to the inclusion in the dictionary of the word “Sputnik.” British industry is busy and .output has increased by 2 per cent, during the year, inflation has not been cured, and many ears being cocked to the United States from which is emanating the word “recession."

If. as now seems accepted, it continues for a least the first half of the New Year nobody can be sure of its affects on Britain and on the Commonwealth. In British domestic politics there has not only been disillusionment with the Government, and with the Opposition’s failure to attract more supporters, but also signs of what “The Times” has cpllcd “growing dissatisfaction with Par-

liament among men of goodwill." There was some support for Sir Hartley Shawcross when he recently complained of sham fighting and partisanism rather than party politics. Whether, as the Conservative leaders hope, the Government’s deliberately unpopular measures will eventually be forgiven and endorsed is anybody’s guess. Since it has been reported thai more people than ever before are now wanting to buy their own houses, the controversial Rents Aci may be regarded in a somewhat different light as the months go by. Much will depend on attempts to hold the cost of living and here the trend could go the Government’s way if the lower commodity prices are passed on, and if trade union demands for increased wages are tempered. A number of wage demands are soon to be pressed, and while at one time what was euphemistically described as “industrial unrest” seemed to threaten, there has lately been the feeling that trade unionists may hestitate to go to extremes.

The international situation, now dominated by talk of “Sputniks." “H-bomb warheads." “intercontinental ballistic missiles." “intermediate range ballistic missiles," and bombers flying around loaded with unfused hydrogen bombs—is definitely uncertain. After the spate of words from Marshal Bulganin's letters, the N.A.T.O meeting and Mr Khrushchev's seven-point peace Sian, nobody seems to have a clesft idea of

the next move. Is there to be a summit talk, a meeting of foreign ministers or more disarmament talks? There is at least agreement with the recent comment of Mr Gromyko when he remarked that the "international situation was not what it was a few months ago." The Soviet sputniks have done their job. There are some who believe with Mr Khrushchev that the Western policy of negotiating with Russia from strength might as well go into the ‘‘dustbin of history." But others agree with Mr Macmillan that the West must “arm to parley.” Occasionally recently there has been something of an odd sinister echo of the late thirties when the nations were “arming for peace." One recent development since the N.A.T.O. meeting is that a new twist has been given to the word “isolationism.” Where once it was associated with the United States now the tendency is for the United States to associate it with Europe. The sputniks place America In the potential world front-line for the flrst time in history. and this must have an important influence on international affairs.