Evening star., 1942-06-14
BRITAIN THINKING OF RECONSTRUCTION
Recovery Believed Up With Prosperity Of World

bv tariff walls blacking the channels OF
trade at every turn. AS a great manu-
featuring Nation our future hangs on
the restoration of stable and sensible
economic order and the banishment OF
the chaotic state of economic warfare
which prevailed during the 10 years be-
fore the war.
But apart from economic policies there
was also economic poverty, so widespread
in parts of Europe that they did not
furnish market at all. In the six coun-
tries of Eastern Europe-Poland, Ru-
mania. Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and
Yugoslavia-there we're about l00,000000
living so poorly that they could buy
practically nothing-sometimes not even
matches. Many of these millions did not
earn more than one penny day. Even
on the assumption that they were able
to grow all that they ate, which was by
no means always the case, their maxi
mum income available for the purchase
of industrial products was about $6
year.
This chronic poverty is the chief do
mestic problem for all these countries.
but it is also problem for the industrial
countries as well. Almost at our doors
lies huge undeveloped market for all
kinds of things-crockery, furniture.
textiles, boots and shoes, hardware and
cutlery. to say nothing of bicycles. sew
ing machines and other goods belonging
to slightly higher grade of civilized
living. How can this economic problem
be solved?
Social Security Needed.
But it is not merely an economic
problem; it is also political problem.
AS long as there is no social security.
there is bound to be social unrest. A
great deal of the instability of Eastern
Europe can be traced 10 social and
launched upon the path of social prog
ress, it will remain source of disturb
arce and therefore a danger to the
peace of the continent of Europe. That
fact is clearly recognized in the Atlantic
Charter. and if its principles are to be
applied in Europe, a great deal of work
will have to be done. A beginning is
on modest scale. but the presence of
so many refugees from Central and
Eastern Europe greatly facilitates the
task of studying these problems and OF
working out solutions which will COM
mand the support of economists and
scholars who will be called upon in due
time to play leading part in recon-
structing the countries now under Ger.
man domination.
Lastly, there is the colonial problem.
In the past the country and the univer-
sites have paid too little attention to it.
A good deal has been done in the field
of tropical agriculture, tropical medicine
and anthropology, but great deal still
remains to be done as regards economic
and administrative problems of colonial
government The.colonies were as much
affected as the rest of the world by the
great slump Of l929-32, and it has not
always been realized that their projects
have to meet competition in the worlds
markets.
Such in very brief summary is some
of the work of reconstruction which is
now being undertaken by Nufield COL
lege. 1t could no doubt be considerably
expanded If staff or funds were more
readily available than can be the case
in wartime. They do, however. consti-
tute beginning, and they furnish soma
proof that even during war we are
trying to think out some of the problems
which will confront the country and the
Empire when peace returns. -
Reprinted from Bulletins From JritaiA.')