RESENTMENT EXPRESSED IN LONDON AT OVERSEA CRITICISM OF BRITAIN ESPECIALLY IN UNITED STATE

Grey River Argus, 22 August 1949, Page 5

RESENTMENT EXPRESSED IN LONDON AT OVERSEA CRITICISM OF BRITAIN ESPECIALLY IN UNITED STATE

(Received 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, August 20 Following a complaint by Mr Emanuel/ Shinwell (War Secretary) about criticisms of Britain, Sunday papers have launched attacks on Americans in relation to the sterling crisis.

Mr Emanuel Shinwell, secretary of State tor speaking at Aspama,, Cumberland, saiu; —'me game ui twisting trie lion's tail is a risky one and may recoil on tnose who indulge in the pastime, borne 01 our overseas critics iorge t chat Britain was, anu still remains, tneir principal market. We purchase far more irom them than they ever did irom us. Now, wnen we almost have exhausted ourselves in six years oi war, and find ourselves in a grave economic position, our magnnicent enorts in the past are overlooked. “It is oad enough when overseas ci ittuo avtacK us, nut it is nothing short of treachery when critics at home, trorn political motives seek to oisparage tnis country. “The suggestion that Britain is played out is sheer nonsense. Since the end of the war our productive capacity has increased far .beyonci anybody’s expectations. It is time that sneering references at home and overseas to Britain’s decline were stopped, and due recognition given to this country's part in world affairs.'’ Touched off by Mr Shinwell’s “Don’t Twist the Lion’s Tail” speech, English Sundav newspapers today launched a full scale counter-offens-ive against American critics of Britain. A THREAT TO U.S.A. A Labour paper “'the People” pretesting that the Government is “Fed up” with tiie latest, most virulent anti-British campaign, in the American Press, said that it regarded thccampaign as a preparation for next month’s financial talks in. Washington when it said “The United States Government hopes to put Sir Stafford Cripps on the carpet for opposing the devaluation of sterling. The People” also says: “But Sir Stafford won’t fall for it. He is prepared to sav that sterling countries will turn to Russia and Canada for goods now brought in America with our dwindling supply of dollars, while cotton will be sought from Eg”ot and tobacco from Africa.” NO REVOLUTION The Socialist paper “Reynolds News” argued that “Britain is the only great Western European country' that has kept clear of post-war social upheaval and threats of revolution.” It said: “in the short run, American Tories and their screaming Press may triumph. They may. succeed in stampeding the Administration into seeking to interfere in Britain’s internal affairs and external trade relationships. The next tew weeks will decide. But, whatever the cost. British people will not buy at the expense-of principle. We have not thrown our own Tories into the political dustbin to accept American ideas as dollar imports. ARE AMERICANS FOOLED The strongest line was taken by the popular “Sunday Pictorial”, who editor, in an “Open Letter to the American People”, asking for a fair hearing, said: “Too many of you Americans are being fooled by grasping, bigoted tycoons, by brash politicians, by your lying anti-British Press.” . , The Conservative paper, Sunday Times” said: "To find a way of living within our moans, at home and abroad, will require drastic and swiit action. If Mr Ernest Bevin and Sir Stafford Cripps go to Washington, as spokesmen of the nation, determined to solve the problem regardless of party dogma, they will have the nation behind them, and can count on the Oppositions suppoit, but, if thev go as partisans, or moral beggars, relying pn the offers oi others, they will fail, as they deserve and Britain will wreak upon their Government and their party a just retribution.” The Labour Party newspaper. The Daily Herald”, has criticised the airing 'of British domestic political issue". at the Council of Europe’s deliberations at Strasbourg. It says: “The European assembly is not the place for Mr Churchill to conduct his British electoral campaign, nor an appropriate battlefield in. the Irish cold war against the partition of Ireland. If free from mischevious irrelevances, the assembly could do. a modest, if not a sensational nob in the remaining time, Arguing that the demands might wreck the Labour Government’s election chances, two of the largest unions affiliated to the Trades Union Congress, the Transport and General Workers’ Union and the General and Municipal Workers’ Union opposed a proposal bv the Amalgamated Engineerinp Union thut it should submit new wage demands asking for an incroase of £1 a week for 2,500,000 workers employed in the engineering and ship building industries. After considerable discussion,. the Amalga’ mated Engineering Union agreed to refer the proposals back to its constituent unions for further study, with instructions to report back in one month.

FRENCH MEAT FOR BRITAIN LONDON, August 20. An agreement will soon be ready to give Britain 40,000 tons of French beef next year. This is in addition to 40.000 tons of pork and bacon for which an agreement is ready to be initiated.

West Germany Signs Trade Agreement With Sterling Area BERLIN, Aug. 19 Western Germany has signed a new trade agreement with the sterling area for the exchange of goods valued at more than £125,000,000. The agreement signed in Frankfurt yesterday, covers a Deriod from July 1, 1949, to June 30, 1950. Under it, West German exports to sterling area are expected total about £53,000,000, while Germany is expected to import about £73,000,000 in goods. The agreement makes provision for imports of at least £10,000,000 by the British Dominions. Reports that West Berlin is to become a State in the West German Republic'were premature, Mr John McCloy, United States High Commissioner for Germany said. The London Daily Telegraph said: “Britain, France and the United States will soon lift the ban on foreign investments in Germany.” It is estimated that an annnnl investment o p between £250.000.000 and £275.000,000 is no'-ded to make the Western zones self-suffi-cient Most of this would come from German sources, some from Marshal 1 '•id funds, and the remainder it is hoped from foreign investors.” The four Allied commandants at Berlin reached agreement on a point at a meeting. The Soviet Commandant

(Major General Kotikov) agreed in principle to a British proposal that each half of the city recognise the stamps of the other half. Hitherto, any mail posted from the Western sectors to the Eastern sector has had to be paid for twice, once in West marks and again in East marks.