Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-10-16

as Cney Q1Q curing the war.
Yet Britain has received NOR
goods and in direct loans, than
any other Western European
country. On the continent ration.
ing remains in only few luxuries
In Britain it Is even more drastic
in some ways than during the
war.
However, the worker in South
western England and in the Mid
lands does not bother to learn the
why's and wherefores of this situa-
ton. Businessmen and politicians
say that throughout it's history
Britain has never had a more un-
imaginative, stubborn and inef-
flcient government than it has
right now.
The Labor government, which
came to power in 1945, has de-
cided to run the country in ac-
cordance with strict Socialist
theory. The fact. that the world
was in the grip of unprecedented
political and economic turmoil
after VI day did not deter the
new and inexperienced leaders of
the Labor Party.
Naturalization to Stay
Although these men did not
have to worry seriously about
Communist inroads-as was the
case in France and Italy-they
decided to put Socialism into
effect Immediately. They pro-
ceeded to make Britain Social
list state, regardless of the fact
that the world was divided into
violently opposed factions-free
enterprise capitalism VS.. totali-
tartan communism.
Britain's economic experiment
is neither capitalism nor COM
munism. And while the French
Socialists-whou until 1947 had to
share power with the Communists
were compelled to introduce
drastic naturalization measures
under Communist pressure. the
British government carried out
such naturalization voluntarily
and without such pressure. Social
list theory insisted that the
primary sources of wealth should
be in the hands of the people
through their elected government
AS soon as the French began tc
receive American support they not
only discontinued any further
naturalization but actually al
lowed some nationalized enter
prises to revert to private enter
prise. The British government
faithful to Socialist doctrine, in
tends to follow the path of nation
alization. Hence its opponents
have nicknamed it the Book
Government"
Yet, in spite of the hardships
which are spread equally from the
lowest to the highest classes. there
is little likelihood of it being
thrown out at the next election
The unimaginative rank and file
of British voters are fond of such
men as Clement Attlee, Herbert
Morrison, Sir Stafford Grips
Ernest Bevin and Aneurin Bevan
Mr.. Attlee is typical bourgeoisie
who did his bit" as a major In
World War I and was a trusted
lieutenant later of the late Ramsay
Macdonald. the first British Labor
Premier. Grips is of the lower
nobility" and, like Mr.. Attlee, was
connected only theoretically with
the Labor Party because Socialist
doctrines appealed to him.
Leaders Unimaginative
The other members of the cab
inet are from the ranks and as
such are ignorant of the problems
of governing a country which until
less than a decade ago based its
prosperity on world markets and
an empire which now has vanished
into thin air.
Unquestionably they are all we'll
meaning persons and as honest
officials as can be found anywhere
in the world. But they lack i'm
agination and believe that the
destruction of British capitalism
which was the dominant element
in Britain's former prosperity, is
essential for the eventual welfare
of the British working classes
The workers are the only ones
who count in their minds.
Although the British govern
ment will not admit it. it is a
class government. All it's efforts
are directed toward proving this
to the large number of trade union
members and their families, on
whose vote depends the continual
ton of this great Socialist expert
ment.
The housing problem, for in
stance, is treated in a strictly
partisan manner. London suffered
heavily from the blitz. Yet rela-
lively little has been done to assist
Londoners because they are ex-
pected to vote Conservative in the
next election.
Large parts of London still show
the scars of Nazi bombardment
although private individuals and
companies are asking Tor permits
to rebuild the city's devastated
blocks. Red tape is such that it
will take years before such per-
mits are granted.
at present. permission to dc
reconstruction work in the city's
business a.eas can be given only
r the contractors assure the gov
ernment that they will allot "vol-
unfairly" a large portion of build
Ing supplies to housing projects in
sther areas.
sADos Party Powerful
The British are proud of imagi-
native men like Winston Churchill
But they consider such men useful