Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-01-29
Meat and Mr.. AttIee

The other day. in attacking the Laborite
program to nationalize Steel former Prime Min
lister Winston Churchill told the House of Com
mons that he and his Conservatives were deter
mined to seize upon any and every domestic
issue in an effort to bring about vote of con-
f1dence that would go against the Attlee govern
ment force it to resign and thus make necessary
new national election in Britain. In that event,
he said, the people would sweep out the "ins"
and return his own party to power ,
Although Mr.. Churchills view may be an
overestimate of the Conservatives ability to win
an early test there be no doubt that they
have more than few home-front issues to
seize upon-particulary the one that has just
been presented to them by the Labor govern
ments latest cut in the British meat ration.
Certainly if the sentiment of the public at large
is anything like the weekend opinions expressed
by typical housewives, butchers and newspapers
in the United Kingdom, this is development
full of political dynamite for Prime Minister
Attlee
The issue stems from the fact that last
July Britain whose government has been the
sole buyer of its imported meats since 1940
refused to meet the higher prices asked by
Argentina, which thereupon suspended it's ship
ments. Despite later negotiations, the deadlock
continued with the result that in December,
plies two sharp cuts were made in the British
ration. These cuts-totaling 40 per cent-have
now been followed by another one that means
a citizen of the United Kingdom must get along
with go per cent less fresh meat than he could
buy each week before the dispute with Argentina.
Stated another way the British now face
weekly meat ration apart from poultry and
rabbit, which are more eXpenSive) that is almost
so per cent lower than the one they had during
the worst days of the Second World War. In
terms of bulk, each of them will be entitled to
buy the equivalent of a small chop every seven
days, or slice of beef about twice the size of
penny box of matches. Americans who can
get all the steak pork, ETC., that they want
(even If at skyrocketing prices, may find such
a situation difficult to visualize, but nevertheless
it is hard reality in the United Kingdom.
It is reality, moreover that may we'll
develop into a political explosion against the
Attlee government. At any rate, the Laborites
will be hard put to explain it convincingly-
especially if they lack good and strong answer
to the charge that the increase asked by Argen-
tina would have cost Britain only about $40
100000 year, whereas the refusal to meet that
increase will mean that additional $685.
100000 in annual subsidies will have to be paid
to British butchers in order to compensate them
for the loss of trade caused by the reduced meat
ration.
If this charge is true, then Mr. Churchill and
the Conservatives can be counted upon to make
the most of it in effort to unseat the Laborites
The new meat ration is bound to stir up deep
resentment among housewives and in family
groups of every description throughout Britain.
Needless to say, If the Opposition can prove the
so per cent cut to be an economic absurdity, the
life of the Attlee government with its razor
thin Parliamentary majority will be definitely
In danger.