Evening star., 1949-10-12
|Cripps Tells Workers
They May Face Shifts
To Help Dollar Drive
BY the Associated Press

LONDON, Oct. 12.-Sir Stafford
Cripps served notice on British
workers today that some may
have to give up their present jobs
and 60 to work in dollar-earning
industries.
I'VE now have a greatly i'm
proved opportunity to get into
the dolalr markets, which we must
SEIZE" the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer told a news conference
That will undoubtedly entail
some change in our pattern OF
employment"
During the war the government
exercised the right to direct Brit
ish working men and women into
jobs where they were most needed
The government still has the right
but has not been using it.
22,200,000 Employed in July.
Cripps did not say that it in
tends to use it again, but he did
say:
Full employment does not and
can never mean that every indi-
vidual job is guaranteed for as
long as the present occupant
wishes to stay in it. That would
be industrial stagnation."
Employment in Britain at the
end of July totalled 2,200, 900, ex-
cluding members of the armed
forces, the chancellor said. This is
per cent greater than year ago
The number of unemployed is
around 100000.
Cripps said production in
Britain is rising steadily. For the
last IL months, he said, it has
jumped Is per cent. compared with
the 1916 average.
Conservatives Open Farley.
| Meanwhile. Britain's Conserv-
atives opened their annual party
conference In an atmosphere OF
election fervor. with Deputy
Leader Anthony Eden blasting
the pound devaluation as cut
in wages, living standards and
social services.
However, there were increasing
signs that Prime Minister Attlee's
Labor Government may wait until
next spring before calling an elee-
ton, for which there has been in
creasing pressure ever since last
months devaluation of the pound
from $4.03 to $3.50.
Mr.. Attlee sees Foreign Secre-
tary Bevin tonight on the elec-
ton question. The British Press
Associations political expert, who
often has political guidance, said
some informed Laborites would be
100 to l against an election in
November. The Labor Govern
ments fiYe-year term expires next
July. but Mr.. Attlee can call an
election any time before then.
Labor Policies Assailed.
The Tory conference, biggest
in Conservative Party history,
unanimously adopted a resolution
condemning the Labor Govern
ment's financial and economic
policies.
|. The action came after the dele
gates heard Mr.. Eden call the
pound devaluation "a cut in
wages. in the standard of living
and in the social services"
The fact that it is an indirect
cut does not make it less real OF
painful" Mr.. Eden said. .-.>
7" The wartime foreign ininiste,
said the Labor government "has
spent too much time DESTROYING
wealth and too little time ere.
ating 1t. J" adding that unless Brit.
ain takes a new course, the fall
t1n the standard of living, which
must in any event be painful. will,
be catastrophe"
Bevin Awaits Election Date.
Mr.. Bevin. arriving on the Queer
Elizabeth at Southampton from
New York, said he, too, is waitins
to find out when the Labor gov.
ernment will call general elec.
ton. ..
Apparently referring to Health
Minister Aneuran Bevan's predic.
ton that an election would com,
very soon," Mr.. Bevin told re.
porters:
! According to the paper, one O
my colleagues said he had tn,
election date but he was not goint
to tell. Well, I don't think Mr.
Attlee would tell him and not in.
form the rest Of U.S."
Mr.. Bevin said that while in thu
United States he had discussed
British Far East interests with
Secretary Of State Acheson.
Il don't say any understandings
was arrived at but we let each
other know what we thought" he
said. He added that Britain.
position on recognition Of the Com.
munist government in China must
wait the House of Commons de.
bate. Commons meets Tuesday.