Evening star., 1949-09-04

the Treasury Snyder to discuss
what more America can do to get
Britain out of the red.
Foreign Secretary Bevin insist
ed on coming to Washington to
participate on an even footing
with Sir Stafford in the momen-
tous discussions which will start
September 7. His aim is to en-
phasize the political-military as
poets of the situation. These
aspects also are behind the lively
exchange of ideas and informa-
ton which has gone on between
the members of the imperial gen.
eral staff in London and the
American general staff.
The British Foreign Secretary is
expected to place before Mr.. Ache
son and Mr.. Snyder a situation
which is alarming not alone for
Great Britain but also for every
member of the Atlantic coalition
In fact, he is expected to say that
the international political-military
Implications of the British crisis
overshadow it's economic aspects.
Admits Errors
There has been some admission
on the part of ranking members
of the British government-ano
particularly by Mr.. Bevin, 1t Is
said-that there may have been
some honest errors on the part OF
the British government in the
handling of the large loans and
other assistance given by the
United States since VI day.
Some American officials bluntly
told the British leaders that the
introduction of vast social re-
forms, such as have been put into
effect in England since the Labor
Party came to power in 1915
showed a serious lack Of foresight
Socialism cannot be introduced in
q country at time OF intense
crisis such as that which has fol-
lowed World War II.
ALI economic and social life was
80 disrupted by the devastation OF
almost six years of war that So
sialism could be introduced only
by the strictest kind of. totalita-
riafaisrnLwhich means, among
other things, compulsory labor
without limitations on hours and
the direction of labor into certain
occupations by a ruthless bureauc-
racy.
The British Labor Party, how
ever, pursued not this totalita-
rianism. but the old orthodox
tenets of socialism which con-
stitute cradle to-grave paternal-
ism. Moreover, instead Of COM
peIling hard work-the only road
to economic revival after war has
destroyed a country's wealth-it
shortened hours to the point where
little was achieved. This policy
together with rash and badly Or
ganized naturalization of some
Industries, is at the bottom OF the
present crisis, many American OBJ
servers believe.
Bankers Viewpoint
Strong but unconvincing argu-
ments have been offered by British
policy makers. Some left-wine
labor leaders have observed that
America with all its wealth cannot
and should not dictate what Is
best for the English masses. This
objection has been recognized as
quite proper. But no banker who i.
mindful Of his depositors' funds
and America is the worlds banker
today-will continue making loan!
without knowing a borrowers as
sets, the purpose for which loar
is to be used and the manner
in which it is to be spent. 1t Ii
from the viewpoint of the banker
that we consider it our right tc
ask the purpose for which the
American taxpayers billions will
be used by a heavy borrower.
When these discussions, which
have been reflected lately in bit
ter exchanges of epithets in the
British and American press, took
place, the world situation was
shaky but had not reached the
level of the last few weeks.
While diScounting some alarm
ist reports from London-which
some attribute to an effort by the
British government to soften up
un-American public opinion and
Congress, which holds the purse
strings-there is no question that
= the Tito Cominform conflict has
reached stage where the chances
are more than even that an armed
clash will result.
1t is this situation which Mr.
Bevin has in mind today, rather
than whether we or the British
government are right in the issue
of Britain handling her own social
and economic affairs.
Clash Feared
Most of our new Atlantic paci
allies are convinced that a Tito.
Soviet conflict cannot be localized
AS in 1914, when the Austro-Ser
bian conflict resulted in Worle
War I, and in 1899, when Hitler
attack on Poland spanked Worle
War II, there is a definite fear ane
belief that a clash of arms be-
tween Yugoslavia and her neigh
bors cannot be localized. Will,
Yugoslavia has no claims to oul
sympathy-as did old Serbia IL
1914 and Poland in 1939-the ar
rival Of the Russians on the shorei
Of the Adriatic cannot be tolerated
by the Atlantic pact countries. Ant
the defeat of Tito, without thl
sGhadow of a doubt. would bring
the Red armies there.
We do not care much wha
happens to Tito and his govern
ment. But we know that the i'm
7mediate consequence of the ar
rival of the Red troops on, tn,
Adriatic and the establishment O