The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1947-08-14
Labor Cov'menf
Granted Power
10 MeefCriSis

London (LPA) - By a straigh,
party vote the British House OF
Commons last week gave Prime
Minister Attlee and his cabinet the
powers they asked for to meet
England's mounting economic crl-
sis.
Led by Winston Churchill, who
has announced his return from po-
litical retirement" to combat the
government, both the Conservative
and Liberal parties voted against
the Cabinet bill. Churchill, who only
a few days ago had attacked the
government for having no plan,
shifted his ground and accused At
tlee of leading the nation towards
.otalitarianism.
Attlee's immediate plans break
down into three catagories: first, a
reduction Of imports from "hard
currancy" countries particularly
the United States--in an effort to
conserve Britafn's fast diminishing
dollar supply; second, re-asser-
tion of the governments wartime
powers to control industry, invest
ment, the flow of critical materials
and the utilization of manpower; /;
and finally the establishment of
specific production targets in ex-
port industries.
In the future, industry will be
required to produce goods in de-
mand overseas, rather than deter
mining production items by the
criterion of profit. Firms being
operated ineffeciently will be sub
ject to government directives. New
investment will be strictly channel
lied by the government. Workers
leaving their jobs will be directed
to new employment. 'Drones" and
"Shivs"- voluntarily unemploy-
ed and the British equivalents of
our numbers runners-will be put
to work.
Import restrictions will hit the
British people as whole more
quickly than will the other items
of the governments program. Less
food will be brought in from the
United States. An effort will be
made to compensate for this ra-
tion out by increasing food imports
from "soft currency" areas and by
increasing England's own argicul-
tural production. Gasoline rations
will be reduced, and clothing cou-
pons will have to last longer.
On August 1, Deputy Prime
Minister Herbert Morrison had
warned leaders of the Trades
Union Congress that increased
production would be asked of work
ers in all key industries. Complete
plans to achieve the production
that British needs if her vital ex-
port program is to succeed must
wait further consultation with the
unions, Attlee said. The Executive
Board of the National MinewOrk-
ers' Federation has already said
that it was willing to increase
hours of work in the nationalized
coal industry by slightly more than
the government is requesting.
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Hugh Dalton reported to Commons
on the use of the American loan.
He had to admit that it would be |
exhausted in October 1947
# the present unfavorable balance
If trade continues. Dalton did not
emphasize what numerous Labor
MPs to Attlee's plans is crucial.
Although they are Loyalty support
ng him in the House, many are
snown to be disappointed. The Am
,rican announcement that the loan
IAN be revised takes some of the
sting out of their charge that Att
ee has tied the government too
loosely to the u. S. economically. Il
With all non-labor political for
.es In the country lined up against
he government at this crucial
the reaction of the Labor
MPs to- Attlee's plans be disap-
The American announve-
nent that the loan can be revised
axes some Of the sting out Of
heir charge that Attlee has tied
he government too closely to the
j. S. economically.
Speaking for the Prime Minister
Cripps said that the emergency in
.reases rather than lessons the
necessity for carrying through the
governments socialization pro-
ram, thereby dispelling fears that
he steel industry would be permit
ed to remain in private hands.
The Rebels " demands, however,
or more rapid reduction in the
ize of the armed forces will be
'ressed upon the Prime Minister