The Chronicle star the Moss Point advertiser., 1949-12-23

Britain
By James w. Silver
Aberdeen. Scotland

Here are some questions
posed by the editor of the Scots
Independent November, l949)
which raises once again the
brutal thought that England is
through as a first rate power.
Laugh them off if you will, but
then read them the second time:
u Are English party politi-
clans. and political economists,
not living too much in a dream
world of the industrial revolu-
ton age of yesterday?
t2l Is fhe socialist idealoGY
not crying out for a share of the
spoils of another age-spoils
that have been dissipaied. or
used up. and which largely may
be said TO be non-existent to-
day?
(3) Are the trade deficits each
year not simply due to other
countries catching up with, and
even in some cases surprising
US in industrialization, and that
as a consequence the advant-
ages of being first in the field
in the industrial revolution have
been and are rapidly eneroach-
ed upon?
(4) Has the time not come to
recognize that a new world
economy has grown up. that the
ever advancing world condition
since the industrial revolution
era has shown definite ten
denotes to react unfavorably to-
wards England's economy?
t5l Is is safe TO plan on the
broad assumption that this new
world tho matter what particu-
lar type of party government
may be in power) can. or will
be willing TO. accept ALL the
huge quantities of goods essen
tial TO provide FULL employ
ment for ALL of England's ex-
listing population?
Co Can we rely on this new
world supplying us with ALL
the huge quantities of raw ma
terials, foods. and other neces-
sites. land at prices suitable to
us), that may be considered by
any English political party to
be essential to keep E~ngland's
huge industrial machine work
ing to FULL capacity, and to
sustain ALL her existing pop
ulation at such high levels of
living as NAV be thought to be
desirable by the English people?
The fiery editor summarized
Britain's history in two neat
packages which he terms y the
expanding process Q770-1914)
and p the recession process
0914-19491. He then answers
his own question, Can Eng
land Recover"
"If England is to maintain
her present population she will
require to export more. and it
is doubtful if she will find a
market for all her goods, work
longer hours, receive less pay
and cut down not only her de-
Tense expenditure but also re-
strict her welfare schemes.
THE alternative TO this is to
cut down drastically the num-
Der of her population TO bring
ii into line with what she can
support at reasonable standards
of living. Capitalism or Social
ism. or Communism or London
decentralization will not in Them
selves alter this state of affairs.
England will, however, con-
tinue no doubt, to lean on the
support of other COUNTRYSIDE
postpone the evil day. But post
ponement it will be, and the
harder the fall will be when the
dav comes"
The author of this dire proph-
ecy is a leading Scottish ma
tionalist whose feeling toward
England he himself sums up
with It. do not let us fall
with her" Admittedly, and re-
CARELESS of his predictions, he
has a strong case. But if every
assumption he makes is basic
ally sound. does that not still
leave the United States with
the absolute necessity, in its
own self-interest. of exerting
its great power to keep Britain
the strongest possible ally in
the worlds uncompromising
theological struggle?