The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, December 1, 1944. POST-WAR CONTROLS

Grey River Argus, 1 December 1944, Page 4

The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, December 1, 1944. POST-WAR CONTROLS

Liberation from captivity, so far as it may be a criterion of developments after the war, does not herald, to the extent that it has gone among European countries, any great enlargement of freedom. Factions display - not only rivalry, but hostility towards each other. The exercise of control appears ' still essential in the absence of an exercise of restraint. It would be a bold prophet who would attempt to forecast the state of the world at the end of another decade. Decidedly indefinite remain 'the probabilities as to territorial changes resulting from the war, except that areas which it brought into enemy occupation will doubtless return to their original holders. Yet in Eastern Europe even this is not certain. Politically the whole situation is also uncertain, and, economically, is, if anything, rather more uncertain. What is definitely indicated in France is that private or rather industrial capitalism will undergo a modification, and in heavy' industry, such as coal and iron, give place to a greater measure of State capitalism. Tn the Low Countries there is less likelihood of such a development, despite the fact that ai the moment in the larger centres the agitation reported might tend in this direction. Outside of cities and areas of industrial capitalism in Western Europe, ithe economic tradition probably will remain individualistic. but the trend elsewhere is towards collectivism in the form either of State .or highly organised capitalistic controls. State controls, extended during the war over food, clothing, housing, and other essential things in Britain, are destined indefinitely Ito outlast the war, and may do likewise in nearly every belligerent country. This war will leave few countries as it found them. The Americans by means of lend-leasc may have laid a foundation for inter-State dealing upon a mass scale which may prove a lasting precedent. On the other hand. Americans propose a. campaign against control in the matter of information, at least such of it as the masses know as news. They must imagine pressure will avail. Though 'the press normally is less trummelled by custom in America than elsewhere, not even the people there ignore the fact that the proprietors, as elsewhere, exercise their own controls, and so limit tlhe license they use that it does not hurt the biggest vested intertsts. The British Broadcasting Corporation is calling' an Empire consultation, intending after the war to maintain its present policy, which means as definite a control and censorship in peace time as in war time. It will be directed at propaganda to preserve imperial cohesion, and any news calculated not to serve that end will be excluded. The ' 8.8. C. spokesmen affirm liheir policy to be that of co-operation with flic press, especially in big news agencies, which themselves 'discriminate very rigidly and obviously in the information they circulate. The fact has too long been notorious to need emphasis. A press-radio combination is more likely to be a menace than a benefit.. Another sphere in which wartime practice may exert an enduring influence is in the control of manpower, or, in other words, the conscription of labour. There have been promises to stop at the earliest possible moment, but any number of excuses may be advanced to show that this moment remains in the doubtful future. One excuse may be that control is the'alternative to unemployment. There are many politicians who assert their belief that conscription is preferable to unemploymen't—or freedom. What is beyond doubt is that military conscription will not end with the war. Modern technical processes in industry may induce those in power to centralise control and naitionalise ownership in new directions; whilst in the monetary field, bankers notwithstanding,

Governments are sure to retain no little of the power which' they have appropriated during the war to raise money, and use it in the management .of public ‘debt. Direction of capital investment towards particular objectives is another line which Governments are likely ito regard as their prerogative. There will possibly be an early political, reaction after the war as against State controls, but it cannot be expected to reStore pre-war conditions. What may occur is that this new framework of regulation now existing will be made, to give scope for individual freedom so long as it is limited, and is not extended so as to entrench on die initiative of the State. Some foresee a modus vivendi as between massed capital and the State such as will afford economic security for all at the expense, on the one hand, or individual political liberty, and, on the other, of excessive rates of profit. Interest already has generally been lower cd. It may remain a barometer. If it continues stable at present levels, the limitation of profits will, be evident, with a period of new stability'for the existing industrial system. Otherwise, a prospect of returning exploitation might, provoke such a reaction as to . induce collectivism. The question is whether this risk will bo run. Its solution is going to be one of the ultimate consequences of this war.