Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-09-11
British Dollar Crisis
Called Threat to U.S..
Fears Ignorant, Indifferent Majority
May Undermine Efforts at Solution
By Frank X. Kent

May Undermine Efforts at Solution
By Frank r. Kent
Concerning the conversations which have
started here between high officials of this
country and Great Britain over the critical
situation due to the latter's dollar short
age" there is almost unanimous agreement
on the basic realities among the informed
and understanding in both nations.
For example. 1t is agreed, first. that unless
there is prompt action major British eco
nomic collapse is inevitable; second. that
such collapse not only would affect adj
verSely our own economy but would nullify
the benef1cent effect of the Marshall Plan,
thus playing directly into the hands of the
Soviet forces whose aggressive policies we OPP
pose as national menace; third, it would
weaken the Western alliance we have set
up and threaten our national security all
along the line. In brief. it is as vital to us
to stabilize the British situation as it is to
the British. No serious economic injury
could af11ict one without unfortunate effect
upon the other.
The statistical facts upon which these
conclusions are based are not open to ques-
ton. Both the American and British tech
nicians, who have been working together
here for some weeks, are in complete &C
cord. With them it is not a question Of
being almost unanimous" On the statis-
teal facts they have achieved complete
unanimity. On the statistical facts no other
result is possible. Under such conditions.
there would seem no sound reason the top
officials should not agree quickly upon the
salutary steps to be taken in our mutual in
terest. 1t is easy to see how there can be
some difference as to detail but, intricate
as are the problems, it is not easy to see
how there can be any difference as to direc-
ton. Unhappily. however, it is not as simple
as that. If the men who must decide also
could put their decision into swift operation.
it would be fine. That is not possible under
the democratic form of government which
prevails here and in Britain. Our leaders
lack unlimited authority. Here is one Of
the most far-reaching decisions men have
been called upon to make in our history.
1t would be ideal, indeed, if they could
concentrate exclusively upon the wise and
right thing to do. But unpleasant political
facts compel them to consider how far they
can go in the desirable direction without
losing congressional support and arousing
adverse public sentiment.
$500
There will be danger of that throughout
this momentous meeting. The reason lies
in the barren state Of the public mind, which
Is reflected IN Congress. When one states,
as above, that there is almost unanimous
agreement" among the Uniformed and I'M
derstanding," it also should be stated that
the Informed and understanding" are an
inf1nitesimal fraction of the whole. The
great bulk Of the people are utterly ignorant
and Indifferent. Not in so years has there
been an issue about which they know so
little or cared less Hundreds of explanatory
editorials and columns have been written,
some very wise and helpful, others by men
who obviously are not themselves clear in
their thinking. Also, there have been many
articles, speeches and statements on both
sides OF the ocean. And, there has been
propaganda pro and con.
The trouble about all this is that 1t has
been miles over the popular head It has
not illuminated the subject; 1t has just bored
and bewildered the people. Some one re-
Gently asserted that there are not 20 men
in the entire Congress who can properly be
classed as Informed and understanding"
on this issue. AS for the people generally.
more than 80 per cent can be justly labeled
ignorant and Indifferent" The danger Of
such situation is that the susceptibility to
demagogery on the part of the people is
about equal to the temptation to "demagog'
on the part of the politicians Thus, the
small isolationist minority and the incurably
anti-British individuals who infest so many
communities have a great opportunity to
SPIcdu NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AIlQ ullSuuQeT"
standing.
That q similar state of affairs exists in
Britain was made clear by a recent London
dispatch to the New York Times from James
Reston, who asserts that the British work.
man, with his pockets full Of pounds, does
not understand what the dollar shortage"
has to do with him and thinks it all nom
sense. A somewhat similar feeling exists
among the average British employers. I'm
short" says Mr.. Reston, while Sir Stafford
Grips Is worried about earning more dol
lars, the average British employer and en-
ploye are not-and until that gap between
official and unofficial thinking is filled, the
dollar gap will not be. either"
The overwhelmingly important question Is
this-can the slender but Informed and
understanding" minority induce support
from the great ignorant and Indifferent"
majority in this vital business or not? So
far as this country is concerned, there have
been numerous instances In which the lin
formed and understanding" failed to get
that support; plenty Of not-too-remote occa-
sions when the ignorant and Indifferent"
majority, disregarding facts and reason.
went in the exact opposite direction. With
no desire to be pessimistic about the current
conference, it must be said that 1t Is no
easy thing to get the truth to the people on
an issue such as this-nor to get them TO
respond when they get 1t.
ford nl.. led of. Disabled veterans in car
riages closed the procession. The total num-