Evening star., 1947-11-12

ton In Germany now hangs. The other $780,
600 tons exported from England, or used In part
in the empire, would 60 long way to provide
some of the commodities that are necessary to
save England.
"The first reaction Of many people In Eng
land to this recommendation Is that 1t can't
be DONE . But the need is so imperative and
the time so short that would recommend that,
as part of the Marshall plan, the suggestion be
made that the Labor government in England
at the earliest possible date institute plan
whereby a special ration coupon would be
issued for each ton Of coal produced on Satur-
days, and coupon Of another color be issued
for each extra ton OF coal produced on week.
days. These special coupons would be usable
only In stores in the mining towns to purchase
from special stocks Of food and consumer goods
placed there for the express purpose by the
British government. If necessary, I would
recommend that special supplies of such goods
be sent from America to stock these stores in
mine communities.
IT have discussed this suggestion with one of
the longtime labor leaders of Great Britain.
man close to the government. 1t was his
opinion, and 1t Is mine, that the wives and
children of miners demanding supply Of these
goods that have been so long unavailable, to-
gether with the inherent patriotism Of the
miners to do their part to win the second battle
of Britain, will supply the incentive necessary
to produce the coal"
Supplying Of this American coal to Europe
will cost the American taxpayers 81 900 900 900
year.
There are over 100000 coal miners in Great
Britain and not more than two-thirds that
number in the United States Our Govern
ment moreover sent many millions of dollars
worth of shovels and other mining machinery
to Great Britain during the war.
Is it not more in accord with common sense
to follow the suggestion of Mr.. Brown of sub
sidizing the British miners to produce the coal
at home in Europe rather than mining 1t in
North America and transporting 1t over land
and sea 1000 miles to the same placer
Labor Government Blamed.
AS both Mr.. Brown and Senator Tydings
point out, the trouble is not with miners but
the methods OF operation Of the government.
While the wages are very low by our standard,
under the severe rationing system they are
permitted to buy but little of what they need
regardless of the money they earn If the
Government at Washington would arrange to
supply the miners the food, clothes and neces-
saries to make life worth while, they would
mine coal as they did before the war.
Raymond P. Brandt in The Sunday Star Of
September furnishes further and irrefutable
proof that coal is the key and indispensable
means for the restoration Of Europe-that
Britain has the coal, the miners and the
facilities to produce the coal, and is lacking
only the will, executive ability and economic
means to put them into execution.
This being so, the supply Of almost impossible
1f So p{c N,
next year will remedy nothing unless the root
causes are removed
If the Government in Washington is going to
assume responsibility for restoring the eco
Monies of Western Europe-placng the burden
on the American taxpayers-why does 1t not
place its diplomats and other experts to work
on this crucial problem at the right place?
They should be able, in delicate and diplo-
matte way, to persuade the British government
to unbend bit on their irrational methods
and permit our Government to furnish British
miners with the numerous things Of which
they and their families are now deprived by
its rationing system. Senator Tydings quotes a
well-informed person that the trouble is
inability Of the miner to buy necessities for
himself and family; food rationing points;
clothing and shoe coupons; prtorities for house.
wares; high cost OF luxuries; the inclination to
earn only what is necessary because Of the
pay as you earn" tax of so per cent above
$40 week. One mine manager said that If
he could get hundred fur coats and thou
sand pairs of nylon stockings to put up as
lure to the miners wives, he would not worry
about absenteeism-the wives would see that
the husbands worked Thus mining coal in
Britain is human problem like everything
else, but no bureaucrat ever knows that.
WILLIAM F. WILMOTH.