Evening star., 1944-02-27
Nobody Ready
For Wars End
Bu OUen L. Scott.

country unprepared to deal with the
problems that will follow. That unpre-
paredness will be even more painfully
apparent In domestic policy than in
foreign policy.
first, faint approach to the problems
that will come with peace Is made In .
report by Bernard Baruch This report
deals for the most part with the prob
| lens that will confront war contractors
when about $40,0O0,0OO,00O in war con-
tracts are Cancelled suddenly and when
great quantities of war material will be
left over, to be disposed Of
Solutions offered for these particular
problems follow closely the thinking of
the Army and Navy. A generous policy
of settlement Of war contractor claims
is favored. Aside from that however,
the report concerns itself with matters
Of organization and with general obser-
| vations. Even at that level, there is q
| dispute with Congress and the prospect
| OF delay.
So far as can be discovered, however,
nobody IN Congress or In the Executive
Branch OF the Government Is prepared
to answer the more specific and more
important questions that are to arise.
For industry, there is the question of
who is to be permitted to make what
civilian product first Before many
months, unless hit-or-miss policy is
to be followed, some agency of Govern
ment must be prepared to say whether
company that completes its war orders
can start making civilian products ahead
OF its competitor. Somebody must de-
termlne whether a warboomed industry
can invade the field Of a prewar industry
that may still be tied up with war orders.
| There must be decision concerning
whether the policy should be to restore
prewar competitive relationships In In.
dustry or whether war should be allowed
to work something Of q revolution In
those relationships.
For the country as whole, there Is
the question of what is to become of
Government financed war industry,
More than $1,000, 100000 of public funds
Is invested in industrial plant and equip
ment that can be competitive with
private industry. There Is an $500, ,0oo,-
700 synthetic rubber industry, a great
new magnesium industry, big alumni
mum industry, huge aircraft industry.
"a big steel industry. If those and other
plants are shut down, many workers
will be out of jobs and some regions
Will be hard hit. Yet If they are not
closed down or absorbed by private in
dustry, many varieties of difficulties will
be involved
For workers, there Is the question Of
what the Government is to do to assure
| JOBS. When one war ends, several mil.
lions OF workers suddenly are likely 10
ind themselves out Of work Private
industry will not be in . position to
absorb them Immediately. In fact, tho
most optimistic appraisals suggest that
at least 100000 workers will be seeking
work and unable to nnd it even after
the adjustment has been made to post.
war prosperity. Somebody will have 10
decide whether it Is to be the Govern.
ments responsibility to assure work and
II so, how Neither the White Houss
nor Congress likes to think about this
central problem that will develop with
demobilization.
For taxpayers, individuals and cor.
porations, there Is the question Of what
Is to happen to taxes when war snds.
General statements are made about thu
need to reduce taxes. Yet 1t Is beoomtns
apparent that the Federal Government's
budget, after the war Is over and An
adjustment back to peace Is completed.
Will amount to at least $40 ,00o, 900 600.
How taxes are to be lowered apprecahlv
II tnat budget Is to be balanced hss MT
been answered. On the other hand. II
taxes are not to come down sharply.
there Is the question of the WILLINGNESS
OF individuals and industries to venture
IN the way that will be needed to asn,-e
full employment.
lhose are just a few OF the problssns
that lie ahead in domestic policy. Thers
Is no evidence of a willingness In Con.
eress or IN the White House to taae those
and other problems in a realistic way,
A somewhat similar hesitancy is noted
In foreign policy in the economic field
IL is recognized that If there is to ba
an approach to the solution of inter.
national problems in the field of cir.
ie.!cy staolllzation, trade policy, air
poAcy, shipping policy, investment policy.
some basic agreements must be reached
curing the war when nations are under
some compulsion to give concessions
Inc TACT is that very little real progress
is being made in an approach to azree-
ment on these and other problems.
The British are inclined to back aw.v
from commitments in the field of chr.
rency staoilization. Currency is of onlv
academic Importance to Russia. Hr,t.,n
IaVors broad use Of cartel agreement.
IN postwar to divide up world markets
Ihis country is opposed in principle tn
widespread use of cartels. Russia on.
crates its foreign trade as one giant
cartel. This country is hesitant to max.
oroao commitments in the field of for.
elgn investment. Yet other countrie,
take the view that the United State,
must become great world banker ~
the rest OF the world will be forced n
control its trade.
AS the war moves toward It. nna,
phase, there thus is very little agreement
on postwar policy either In the for.is,,
or domestic field
The emphasis In Coneress and ~ ~.
Whlte House is on letting nature tax.
lts course wherever the problems IN.
VOWED deal with political issues Of deen
Importance. The present attitude is an.
OF conservatism This att;+,,d. -,