STRIKES IN U.S.A.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 November 1945, Page 5

STRIKES IN U.S.A.

PRESIDENT’S ACTION CONTROL OF TRANSPORT WASHINGTON, November 21. President Truman has ordered the seizure by the Government of the Washington transport system. He denounced the bus and tram drivers’ strike as a blow at the very roots of organised government. He said: “The Government won’t permit this kind of action to interfere with its processes either in the capital or in any other part of the nation. The union’s action brings discredit upon the whole body of organised labour.” The transport strike, which is the second in Washington in the last month, affects more than half a million persons. Mr. George Romney; general manager of the Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, said that when the full effect of'the strike called by the United Automobile Workers at the General Motors plant was felt, the weekly loss in workers’ wages would be about 2,700,000 dollars, with about 110,000 fewer passenger cars and trucks produced weekly. The ‘New York Times” in an editorial says: The present labour crisis is partly the result of encouraging the unions to ask for more wages, while telling the employers that they cannot increase prices if they grant wage increases. The General Motors strike can have such grave results that it is imperative to reach a settlement as early as possible. But the difficulties in the way should not. be under-estimated. The immediate responsibility is on the union leaders and the corporation management. But on this, and larger labour problems, there is a great deal for President Truman and Congress to do, and to undo.

The “Herald-Tribune” in an editorial says: It is appalling that on neither side is there enough goodwill to avert the clash. The blame rests, on both sides. The union made an offer to arbitrate, but this was accompanied by an ultimatum, the arrogance of which suggests anything but a genuine desire for peaceful settlement. But voluntary arbitration is not something to repudiate lightly, whatever the circumstances. Let us still hope arbitration can be agreed upon, and., a settlement effected before irreparable damage is done. LOAN TO BRITAIN WASHINGTON, November 21. British and American officials ir Washington have reported that the major points of the American loan to Britain are near solution. A British spokesman acknowledged that the offer of 4,000,000,000 dollars transferred to London was part of an overall proposal advanced by the United States in an effort to wind up the two weeks of discussions. About 3,500,000,000 dollars represented a straight loan at 2 per cent, interest, and 500,000,000 at 2? per cent, was the amount needed to settle the lendlease account on a cash basis for supplies shipped after V-J Day. ATOMIC ENERGY WASHINGTON, November 22. ’’ Mr. "Truman, in an interview; said that he was not pessimistic about the outcome of the efforts to bring war under control. He was certain that the world would have permanent peace. His statement followed a remark by a reporter that the newspapers were full of evidence that the world was not enjoying peace. “It takes time to get confidence among nations,” said Mr. Truman. “Every country is now paying less attention to international problems than domestic, but the attitude will change.” He had had no reaction from China, Russia, or France to the atomic bomb proposals. EISENHOWER AND UNRRA (Rec. 12.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 22. General Eisenhower, appearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in support of the 1,350,000,000 dollars UNRRA appropriation for 1946, declared that if UNRRA did not help the ravished nations they could not help feel that not only had the United States failed them, but that the hope that the solution of world problems was through United Nations’ action was illusory. He added that his observation of Germany had shown that UNRRA was operating with steadily increasing effectiveness. TELEVISION STATIONS. WASHINGTON, November 22. The Federal Communications are providing upwards of 400 commercial television stations throughout the nation. The plan gives seven each to New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. AMBASSADOR TO SPAIN WASHINGTON, Nov. 21. The Secretary of State (Mr. Byrnes) has announced that Mr. Norman Armour, at present Ambassador to Madrid, is retiring from the Foreign Service for personal reasons. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says: “Mr. Byrnes’s statement that no decision has been made regarding a successor in Madrid is interpreted as support for the conjecture that delay in appointing a successor would amount to a diplomatic expression of disapproval’ of General Franco’s regime.”