Evening star., 1949-09-25
AH|ee Calls on Britons
To Stand Firm Against
Threatened Initiation
BY the Associofed Press

LONDON, Sept. 24.-Prime Min
lister Attlee called on the British
people today to stand firmly
against a wave of imitation under
the cheapened pound.
The people of Britain, he said
must meet "the challenge of the
times" with new sacrifices; busi-
ness and industry must hold the
line on prices and the worker
must produce more without de-
manding higher wages.
If they weaken, Mr.. Attlee
warned, higher prices which fol-
low would defeat the whole OBJ
ject which we have in view''-to
sell more to the dollar nations
and put Britain on her feet in
world trade.
Although the Labor government
chief admitted there would be
some inevitable increase in the
cost of living because of the cut
in the value of the pound from
$4.03 to $3.50. he declared there
is no occasion for a general price
increase.
Speaks At Party Rally.
The prime minister's speech at
a political rally in Llandudno,
Wales, was the big gun signalling
a week of decision for the party
that has run the government since
1945.
Less than an hour after he
spoke, Lord Woolton, chief archi-
tect of the political strategy of
the Conservatives. appealed to the
Liberal Party to join Winston
Churchill and his Tories in a drive
to GUST labor from power.
The first show of strength will
come in Parliament next Tuesday.
The members have been called
back from their recess for three
day debate on the governments
economic policy. On Thursday,
the Attlee government will de-
mand a vote of confidence.
With its top-heavy majority in
Commons-393 of $40 seats-the
government should win. But if
the vote shows a serious split in
Labor ranks it might drive the
government to call for an i'm
mediate general election. If it Is
defeated it would resign.
In any case, the government
must pick a date for an election
between now and next July. when
its five-year term expires.
Some Strikes Continue.
Danger signals are on all sides.
Some showdown strikes continued
on the government-owned rail-
roads. Rail workers were de-
manding more money, even before
the cheaper bound brought the
threat of higher living costs.
Business men were worrying
how they could sell 40 to so per
cent more goods to earn the same
number of dollars in the United
States and Canadian Markets.
Mr.. Attlee, however, declared
"old fashioned methods and old
customs must be swept away" for
Britain to lower costs and improve
selling techniques.
Devaluation, he said. spreads
the load over the entire nation,
should make British goods more
competitive in dollar markets and
should spare the worker IN export
trades from unemployment. tsve
I Britain's currency difficulties.
he added, had threatened a COM
plete division in the democratic
world on the economic plane"
He raped sharply at wildcat
strikes. Communists who pretend
to be friends Of the workers. TORY
newspapers that in effect play the
same game" gamblers in gold
shares" and others who think of
nothing but their own selfish
profit"
Lord Woolton Sees Disaster.
Lord Woolton, at Conservative
rally in Cornwall. said the 301z
per cent devaluation of the pound
last Sunday was the final step in
a Socialist economic policy which
has led to disaster.
with our depleted resources
and a devalued pound we shall
find ourselves able to buy less
abroad. and the first thing that
will be affected is our food" he
said.
He appealed to Liberals to
walk along with us on this occa-
sion to show the Socialists the
door,"
The Liberal Party has nine
members and the Conservative
189 in the House of Commons. The
Liberal Party is preparing an elec-
ton campaign of its own.