THIS TROUBLED WORLD

Evening Star, Issue 25745, 19 March 1946, Page 5

THIS TROUBLED WORLD

REACTIONS IN BRITAIN NOTE OF RELIEF GENERAL SPECULATION ON MR CHURCHILL'S FUTURE "(NI.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 11.40 a.m.) .LONDON, March IS. To everybody’s relief, this week begins in London on a much calmer note, and some of the creases have been removed from the faces of those who last week were asking: “ Will there be war? ” Though the situation in Persia, with its general background remains unchanged, this sense of relief comes almost entirely from the week-end speeches of Mr Ernest Bevin and Mr i. F. Byrnes, whose tones are regarded as conciliatory yet firm. ■ There is still hope, though not a very great deal,- perhaps, that Russia, will reply to the Anglo-American Notes inquiring why she has not removed her troops from Persia in accordance with Lhe 1942 treaty. The fact that America will bring the question before the Security Council nest week, and that Russia "intends to be represented there also promote the hope the situation is not desperate. Nobody, of course, likes it any more than last ■week, but Mr Byrnes’s declaration that. America will fight, if necessary, to defend U.N.O. and her insistence that the dispute shall be brought before the Council, are fully appreciated. A further ray of hoipe is gleaned from Mr Bevin’s decision not to attend the Council, indicating “ that unexpected developments ” are not anticipated. Mr Bevin is stated to take the view that the Council should'get the habit as soon as possible of relying on permanent delegates, and that Sir Alexander Cadogan is well able to put the British viewpoint. . GREECE AND INDIA. • There is almost as much attention being paid here at present to the question whether the Greek elections should be postponed from March 31, and many voices are heard urging that Mr Bevin should agree to that. In some quarters it is felt that if he persists in his decision and the elections are held now civil war may result. Opposite opinion asks whether anything is to be gained by postponement, and for. how long the Allied observers and British troops are to wait on Greek vagaries. Public interest is also concentrated on India and the impending departure of Sir, Stafford Cripips, Mr A. V. Alexander, and Lord Pethick-Lawrence. Opinion in Britain generally regards Indian independence as a foregone conclusion,-and that it is now a matter for the Indians themselves to work out the formula. Mr Jinnah’s comment, “ If Pakistan is refused there will be nothing left for the Moslems to do but fight,” has not exactly been received with enthusiasm. HOME INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS. There was a huge sigh of relief throughout the country when the unofficial strikes in Britain’s motor industry did not materialise. They were strange affairs, with the workers dancing while the plant stood idle, typical, it might be said, of the good humour of the British worker. But though plants are now working again, there is no tendency to suggest that the root of !the trouble has been removed. This is a demand for higher wages. The strike in'the Cossar radio factories continues, and though this, too, is described as “,an all-singing, all-danc-iug ” affair it is also based on a demand for higher wages. A whole series of sporadic strikes over the wages demand is said to be threatened throughout the country. The miners also are arguing with Mr Emanuel Shinwell over wages, one demand' being six days’ wages for five days’ work, while a paid fortnight’s holiday with 6ix statutory holidays is also wanted. Pressure continues for the Government to announce a wages policy, without result. CARS—NEW AND SECOND-HAND. To return to cars, it is estimated that British car manufacturers have orders outstanding for 230,000 cars, of which about one-third are for shipment overseas. The industry is loyally sending half its present output abroad. Those going to the home market are immediately sopped up. So keen is the demand for cars that something approaching tense interest is being taken in Government sales of 24,000 surplus motor cars, the first of which will be at Great Missenden, in Buckinghamshire, in a few weeks’ time. The majority of these cars have been standing in open-air dumps. They will be sold at uncontrolled prices, with no guarantee, and are expected to reach between £SO and £SOO. LIBERALISM. In political circles attention is directed to a report by the committee of the Liberal Party established after the election to consider the party’s organisation. Tt states that most of the troubles have been the result of widespread apathy and indifference to true Liberal principles among the rank and file. The weaknesses of the organisation at headquarters and in area federations were to a large extent a reflection of the state of things in the constituencies. The committee recommends the establishment of a “ grand committee ” to be responsible for public pronouncements on matters of day-to-day, concern and for taking the initiative on long-term matters. A report will he submitted at a party assembly early in May. COMMUNISM. The Labour Party is once more exercised by the renewed application of the Communist Party for affiliation. The ‘ Daily Herald ’ is particularly indignant, and says: “In other words, the Labour Party is once again being invited to swallow a dose of poison,” and declares that the Communists want to kill “the vigorous democratic Socialism which brought British Labour to power ” by creeping paralysis. The paper continues: “Ir they want to work with us they can seek membership as individuals, but they will not be received as a party.” CONSERVATISM. The impending return of Mr Churchill inevitably raises the question whether he will surrender the leadership of the Conservative Party. He has twice denied any intention of doing so, and it is stated that there certainly .trill not be any movement in the party "to effect a change without his making the first move. There is. however, a feeling that he may soon elect for the role of elder statesman, so quitting the hurly-hurlv of' domestic politics. SPORT. Many New Zealanders wtent to Twickenham last Saturday with memories of seeing Scotland beat the Kiwis and anticipating, as did most of the

critics, that Scotland would beat England. 'But in a grand game, full of excitement to the last minute, England defeated Scotland 12-8. Few would have given much hope for England at half-time, when they were 8 points behind, but it was noticeable that the white jerseys were snappiug about the field like so many steel springs. Suddenly the game went their way. Two of the tries scored were classical wing-three-quarter movements that brought 50,000 people to their feet in one gigantic roar—the New Zealanders ineluded-r-as the wingers made a final dash for the line. It was worth going miles to. see. The next big sporting event in the offing is the Oxford-Cambridge boat race on March 30. MORE CONCILIATORY ATMOSPHERE U.N.fl. ONLY SECURITY SYSTEM LONDON, March 18. “ The world breathes more easily than it did last week,” says the ‘ Daily Mail ’ in an editorial. “ Wise words and moderating actions helped to relieve the mounting tension and create a more conciliatory atmosphere. Mr Bevin’s renewed plea for a fifty-year British and Russian friendship treaty will also do much to calm excited nerves. “ Generalissimo Stalin pointed out that Russia was invaded through Finland, Poland, Rumania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, and, therefore, the safety and security of those countries are primary Russian interests. Britain could argue that, because Germany, attacked Britain through France, Belgium, Holland, Luxemburg, Denmark, and Norway, British-dominated Governments are necessary in these States. “ It is obvious,” the ‘ Daily Mail ’ adds, “that the United Nations Organisation, under which equal rights are guaranteed to every sovereign State', is the only real system of security.”