BRITISH TOPICS

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22611, 16 May 1945, Page 6

BRITISH TOPICS

TRANSITION FOR LABOUR ADJUSTMENT TOO SLOW DATE FOR ELECTION (Special Correspondent) (Received May 16, 11 ajn.) LONDON, May 15 The people of Great Britain are settling down again to work after their victory celebrations and the bunting which waved above the good-natured, happy, well-behaved crowds is gradually being taken down. There still remains the feeling that it is difficult to realise the war really has ended, that there is no longer need for anxiety for the men and women in the forces, and no need to worry about fresh methods of attack from the air. The chief interest among the forces and naturally at home is the method of demobilisation. It will be only partial, for large forces are required in the Far East and for policing Germany. The Minister of National Service, Mr Bevin, is to announce in the House of Commons tomorrow the date of release of the first servicemen and women. It is expected that a start will be made in the latter half of June. There is reported to be dissatisfaction at the speed of the Ministry of Labour machinery for changing over to peacetime industry and that it is widespread in many war plants all over the country. Fears of an approaching period of chaos in the British manpower situation have been expressed by workers, trade union officials and employers in the industrial areas of the Midlands and the north-east. Workers Sent Home Thousands of redundant workers whose high piece rate earnings have been cut to the basic rate of pay are said to be kept waiting idle for weeks waiting for transfer to other work. Hundreds have been sent home to wait until new jobs are found for them. At the same time employers in factories doing other than war work are in acute need of skilled labour but say they cannot get men in sufficient numbers from the Ministry. The difficult period of transition has begun. While Mr Churchill's blunt remarks to Mr de Valera have given wide satisfaction, there has been indignation at reports of high ranking j Germans living in comfort, being treated in a friendly manner, and even giving orders as in Denmark. General Eisenhower’s order has served to allay this to some extent, but many people are troubled that the German military leaders may gain some success in whitewashing themselves at the expense of the Nazi Party. Tougrh Attitude Wanted The British people, \vho are always criticising themselves for being “too soft/*’ are determined that a tough attitude must be taken toward Germany and are in no mood for reading reports of friendly conversations with German leaders. Speculation on the date of the general election continues and tends to point to the autumn. It is being said that the conservatives want a summer election while Mr Churchill’s prestige is at its highest, but that Labour wants to wait until the autumn in order that the public and particularly the men in the forces may be fully acquainted with the political position, also to safeguard against any kind of emotional voting. It is thought possible that the Labour Party conference this coming Whitsun week-end may give a pointer to when the end of the coalition may be expected.

In international affairs there has been "general approval for the action of Britain and America in stating that the future of Trieste should be settled at the peace table. But at the same time nobody is particularly happy about the general situation, for as Mr Vernon Bartlett, M.P., points out in the News Chronicle, even inside Germany settlements are being made which only the peace conference could alter by force. Lublin Administration The Russians, for example, have authorised Lublin Poles to establish their administration as far west as the Oder, but no published decision of the United Nations has ever announced this degree of dismemberment of Germany. The Daily Herald notes that Archbishop Damaskinos has sailed to the Dodecanese Islands to “plant the Greek flag,” and that apparently he is claiming that this act anticipates the revision of the Greek frontiers to which the Allies have already agreed With regard to the San Francisco Conference there continues to be uneasiness as to precisely how the veto power of the proposed world organisation would operate in an actual dispute. There is also reserve regarding the relation of the regional pacts to the universal system contemplated in the charter. Strong Empire Front There is a strong and growing feeling in Britain today that the British Empire must stand solidly together after the war. Close friendship is desired with both America and Russia, but this pro-Empire background comes first. It is a somewhat disturbing experience to meet on the Continent both servicemen and returning prisoners of war and find that they link the Empire and America together but have mental reservations regarding Russia. This applies particularly to returned prisoners who had anything to do with the Russians. tl is of couse only one small section of what might be called public opinion, but the eye have yet to meet one returned prisoner liberated by the Russians from the Germans who has a good word to say about the Russian Army. They are not enthusiastic about their treatment in prison camps by the Russians and several have stated that if they had not escaped they would still be in the camps. One Canadian airman said American lorries arrived at the camp in which he was held but the Russians would not let the prisoners go. Nevertheless about half the camp broke through the wire, accompanied by firing, and reached the lorries. Orders Not Yet Through The through Canadian told this to a brigadier in my hearing and asked whether he thought it serious. The brigadier replied no, because the Russians had asked the Allies to remove prisoners as soon as possible I and ho thought it probable that the I Army orders had probably not yet reached the lower Russian, ranks.