The Omaha guide., 1947-09-13

HIGHLIGHTS

DINNER FdllS, OlViOeIlu OilCShS diiu
Tax Bills of Every Individual
National and International Pro-
blems Inseparable from Local
Welfare
The British experiment in soci-
alism is of unusual interest to
the American people. First of all,
we naturally feel a much closer
kinchip with England than with
any other country except Canada.
Tho bond of a common language
and m institutions is a
strong one. So is the fact that
we havc been allies in two great
wars. and millions of Americans
have visited and liked England in
either a military Or a civilian cap
acity.
England's trials and tribu!a-
tions under the Labor govern
ment, therefore, ARE continuing
to occupy a top spot in theAmeri-
can press, and theyy have been
the subject of millions of words
of reporting and Interpretation.
And, of late, many of the inter
prefers have come to the somber
conclusion that British socialism.
just like European socialism, is
putting theology ahead of every
thing else.
Henry Hazlitt recently touched
on this in one of his Newsweek
columns, when he wrote: "Fana
tics have been defined by Santa
yana as people who redouble
their efforts after they have for.
gotten their aim. So the heads of
the Labor government are for
getting their ideals of liberty, for
getting even the material purpose
Of their plan, and drive grimly
ahead with a plan that has be-
come an end in itself. Meanwhile
their planned economy is running
out of coal, running out of dollars.
And perhaps most serious of all,
it is running out of alibis."
This point of view is not con-
fined to the United States, nor
even to Mr.. Churchill's conserva.
tive opposition in England. Some
of the Labor officials have engag-
ed in sharp differences with Mr..
Attlee, on the grounds that his
program is unavoidable. This led
to a near crisis in the Cabinet a
short time ago, but Mr.. Attlee
was sufficiently strong to ride
out the strom. Even so, there is
still some unrest in high Labor
circles which may make its ap.
pearance again.
The growing strength of COM
munism in England has been a
cause of worry. This. does not
mean that the communist party
itself is of substantial size-it has
only two members in Commons,
and it is a sorry also-ran in
most elections. But some avowed
communists have risen to posi-
lions of considerable influence
, and authority. AS an example,
the leader of the coal miners is
an oldold tim communist, and
a faithful follower Of the party
line. Some writers have openly
raised the question as to where
his final loyalty might lie in the
| event Of serious trouble between
the Soviet Union on the n hand
and an Anglo.American alliance
on the other.
In many circles, the Labor gov
nernment's recent action in levy
ing a Is per cent net profits tax
| on American movies-a step
which was Immediately followed
by a ban on film exports to Eng
land by the American producers
is regarded as having been motiv-
ated more by theology than by
economics American films are in
high favor in England, and at
tract about 70 per cent of tie
total movie attendance. A strong
ease can be made for preventing
The further export of England's
dwindling dollar supply for en-
tertainment. But the Labor gvc-
eminent, instead of slapping on
a ~prohibitive tax, could have in
England, as many of them have
said they were willing to do.
Life's London correspondent ex-
plains the tax by saying that Sir
Stafford Grips, its instigator,
Feels that U. S. films create a
longing in British hearts for the
fancy plumbing and conveniences
and the shiny new gadgets and
luxuries with which Hollywood
Grams its sets. He would like to
dull this appetite" If this view
is correct, England has banned
American films because it doesn't
want the British people to see
Installations of comfort of the
luxury. The attitude of mind be-
hind that is uncomfortably close
to the mentality of the high