The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1950-09-15

Locke Over Conditions In
t Great Britain
5 BY GEORBE IMMERSION, Hysham
2 Mr. Locke in his review of John 7
c Flynn's book, THE ROAD AHEAD
: states There is truth in his (Mr
: Flynns) repeated assertions that TIL
r people of England are not doing to,
welP. I presume that the meaning in
tended is that the British people ar,
simply not doing well. I owe it to my
fellow -countrymen and friends in Mon.
tana to emphatically refute this
The working class and the majority
of the middle class of Britain are es-
sentially better off than they have
ever been in the nations history. This
does not mean that they should not
have been very much better off between
wars, the fact is, they were not Their
| standard of living, too, is comparable
/ to that of their counterparts in Scan
dinavia and higher than that of their
counterparts in any other European
| country.
No European nation is self-sufficient
nor is there any need for them to be
so while they can trade with one an
other. 1t is not so much that Britain
cannot but that it does not produce
food and fibre sufficient to nourish and
clothe its population" For various
reasons it is a manufacturing nation
with highly educated and virile popu-
lation of skilled craftsmen and tech
nlclanS. The output of scientific en-
deavor has been completely out of pro-
portion to this population. and adver-
sity will still further keen the edge of
its resourcefulness.
While the USSR and the USA, each
in ways peculiar to themselves, APP
propriate each great scientific discov-
cry as its own. it is not for me to de-
scribe the contributions of British sci |
ence; but permit me, merely in passing |
to remind you of penicillen, radar. DOT |
and atomic fission. Mr.. Locke, how
ever, does not count industrial poten- |
tial as wealth
BRrTISH WOULDN'T CHANGE
WITH Us. WORKERS
1t is admittedly very much more diff
ficult for Britain hauling in the bulk
Of its raw material by sea- than for
he almost completely self sufficient
JSA, to establish a given standard of
wing; but even so, do not think the
working class generally of Britain to-
lay would like to change places with
heir American cousins. and I would
ven extend that to large sections of
he middle class-television sets and
automobiles are not the most important 5
hings in the lives of all people :
As far as British colonization is con-
erned the island people have given \
lore than they have ever gained from e
he colonies. Not just in technological il
evelopment, but in its sons and daugh- t
ers and cultural intangibles, not to a
lentlon an Incompatible tradition of j
rec institutions and Jurisprudence 1t h
'as the "bloQd, sweat and tears" of t
ritons, not that Of the aborigines, p
nat developed the former colonies of v
in md | a
u example. These countries rapidly V
ecame dominions. That is, they be- &
anne completely governing states d
18th only voluntary tie Of fellowship r;
it'll the Mother Country and with each ST
her which can be severed should it p
2 so desired. They still have need of
tch others products and trade m
The British Commonwealth is the ST
lit of great deal of ignorance and m
Iarice in the US not a little surpris- al
z in those who give lip-service to tr
competition as a way of NJ
fe Then there is the incubation of If
If Righteousness fostered in the m
aching of American history which Ii,
nds its way even into the prejudices ~
many contributors to this paper ~
1LF-GOVERNMENT. THE AIM
To return to the argument, however. al
ere were a number of colonies in bl
hich native labour was exploited, and do
do not mean this only in derogatory tn
nse, of which India was the largest tn
d the richest. No people were more wi
yare of this than tine British them Of
Ives, and as conditions improved for w,
G British working class-also ex- we
1ited-so also did they improve for Us
e Indians. Self government was the ar
n of British policy in India and In tn
ms enjoyed an increasingly signifi- or
Mt share in the government of their COZ
lntry as they became sufficiently edu Ter
ed to do so. India is now a domin- wa
by it's own choice. The contribu- tn,
n to India by Britain is not so easily ke
essed as midas purely economic ris
ltribution to Britain. TIL more one thf
dies the traditions and religious
avages of India, the more one APP o.
ciates the prodigious problem in
we'd in the amicable establishment VI
government. No one can deny W.;
t, as it is, the solution has not been "a
entirely happy one. Nor is India 49, ~
ter-off economically and morally IL -
yet, and according to the eminent %
ian journalist D. F.. Karaka in his 1
k betrayal in India" (GollanczD it Brl
decidedly worse off. not
ritain has still a few colonies, the per
It important being West Africa and sys
ava, both will attain self govern as
1t in due course if they prepare II
nselves for it land they are doing son
the native inhabitants there have sar,
been driven into reservations. In ing