The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-11-23

LONDON, England-Postwar Eng
land is full of surprises, contrasts and
new problems. Many cities showing
the terrible marks of destruction, the
countryside dotted with airfields and
military camps and yet the green and
smiling earth producing bumper crops
of vegetables and offering pasture to
COWS and sheep in reduced numbers,
but good quality
Trade union leaders elected through
the political vehicle of the Labor party
sit in the cabinet as responsible heads
of the various ministries and as the
custodians of the government and pol
icy of Britain. American working men
have expressed interest and surprise
in this Labor government In England
the average person, well-to-do and not
so well-to-do alike, regard the Labor
government with calm assurance that
they will carry out a sensible, practi-
cal policy which will continue to en-
phasize the. unity of purpose of the
British people and bring about eco
nomic recovery, both within the coun-
try and around the world, as a reflec-
ton of an external policy of broader
trade.
The Labor government is deeply
concerned with the increase of produc-
tion in all enterprises, as only out of
this increase can the improved social
conditions, the expanded social secur-
ity program, and the plan of full en-
ployment be paid for and maintained.
An American businessman visiting
in London the other day was profound
ly impressed by a procession lasting
the whole afternoon of about 10000
building trades workers in the city of
London. 1t was carefully announced
as procession and demonstration, not
TO strike. But no one worked and the
banners and cards carried made clear
that the building trades workers were
demanding better wages and shorter
hours, not only from private employ
ers, but from the government = the
government now consisting of their
fellow trade unionists.
thought the procession the biggest
news he had seen or heard in England,
there was almost no report Of it in
the local press. People on the side
walks regarded 1t with interest, but
without applause or without jeers and
denunciations. This calm acceptance
of the rights of men to demonstrate
and demand is a part of the complex
British character of modern times, and
is an admirable expression of the con-
sistent tolerance which is cultivated
as a virtue and regarded as an es-
sential in British community life.
This tolerance which they practice
toward each other is real contribu-
ton in world affairs, enabling them
without pain to adapt themselves to
all sorts of people and situations
whether they like or approve of the
situation or not. And it is a virtue
which they have come to gradually
and by effort. English history is
history of terrific conflicts and strug-
giles of one group with another. Yet |
they have managed in the end to COM
promise these conflicts in construc-
tive way, gaining out Of the Unpopular
suffrage, public education, improved |
working and living conditions, and
protection of the people who live on
these islands.
Justice and mercy follow naturally |
after tolerance as ideals in human af-
fairs. And although deep prejudices
often exist, there is here on the whole
a conscious effort to see that all kinds
of people have access to Justice
The Labor party is committed to
policy of giving all of the great num-
Der of foreign-born or foreign-speaking
people who live in England full social
and economic opportunity. Anti-Semi-
tism is rare and regarded as very
wrong. A recent popular book sold on
newsstands is a popular philosophical
of the damage people do
themselves by prosecuting or hating
others.
The Labor government is introduce
ing broad social security bill based
on the Beveridge report and in gen.
eral inconformity with the program
agreed upon in the coalition govern
ment. This bill providing for main
tenance for cripples and disabled per-
sons, for medical care and hospital
benefits for the sick, for family al
Iowances in families with more than
one child, as well as for the usual old
age and unemployment assurances, is
bound to have very profound effect I
upon the life of England and upon
conditions
The Labor government is having diff
iiculties already persuading people
who worked during the war in some \