Evening star., 1955-05-22
WHO'LL RUN ENGLAND? washington D. c Ae
British Voters to Decide Thursday
TORIES CASE
BY RICHARD WOOD

next parliament on its achieve
ments in the last.
The present governments record
is important. for it has given the
lie to many Socialist accusations
at the time of the last general elec-
ton. With a Tory government. 1t
was then suggested, the risk Of war
would be greater.
Some Socialist candidates went
further:
VOTE TORY AND REACH FOR
A RIFLE.
VOTE LABoUR AND REACH
OLD AGE.
So ran an election leafiet In Q
London constituency. Conserva-
tives now feel such charges may
rebound on those who made them.
Similar suggestions that Conserv-
atives would deliberately create un.
employment; that they would slash
the social services and that there
would be widespread industrial uD-
rest may all have the same effect.
Record at Home
In fact, none Of the gloomy pre-
dictions Of our Socialist opponents
have come to pass. We look back
at three and a half years steady
growth in economic strength. When
the Socialists decided on q general
election in October, 1851, we were,
as nation, over-spending at rate
Of about $4,000 million more than
we were earning. Gold and dollar
alarming rate and continued to do
50 till early in 1852. when Conserv-
ative policies began to make them.
selves felt.
In four budgets, the chancellor
Of the exchequer has made o dent
unfortunately no more-in the
mass Of taxation that burdened the
British.
The cost Of living has continued
to rise but. Conservatives claim, less
In the 31a years of their adminis-
tration than in the last single year
of Socialist rule. Earnings have
risen twice as fast as prices, instead
of always being outstripped by them
under Socialism.
Industrial production and the
number in employment are higher
than ever. The Conservatives have
been more than able to make good
their promise to build 100000 houses
a year. Since 1851, more than o
million have been built.
Record Abroad
1t Is, however, at their achieve
ments abroad that Conservatives
look with the greatest pride. When
the European Defense Community
at last died, they believe it was the
initiative Of the Foreign Secretary
now their leader-which rallied
Europe and made possible the Paris
and London agreements. They were
proud of the generous tribute paid
to Sir Anthony Eden by the United
States Secretary of State.
+ If Anglo-American relations be-
came. as is most unlikely. an elec-
ton issue, Conservatives would see
close understanding between the
British Commonwealth and the
United States of America as the
worlds greatest need for as far
ahead as anyone can see.
They have spoken clearly on For
mosa, being anxious to see guar.
antee on both sides not to resort
to force, the withdrawal Of Chinese
Nationalist forces from the coastal
islands and the reconsideration, at
an appropriate moment, Of Chinese
representation at the United Ma
tions and the future status Of For
mosa.
The governments defense policy.
over the last 31a years. has been
similar to that followed by the
United States. It has tried to build
enough military strength to deter
any possible attack. In partnership
with the other members Of the
Commonwealth and the nations Of
the free world it has worked toward
an opportunity to parley with the
Communist half of the world, from
position of strength and not Of
weakness.
Mojor Issues
What are the issues that are likely
to divide the two major parties on
May 26?
Both parties want peace through
strength; the Labor Party can no
longer convincingly claim that peace
is not safe in the hands Of the
Tories, though it may chide them
for not yet achieving a four-power
meeting at the highest level. The
Socialists have acquiesced in the
governments recent decision to
manufacture the hydrogen bomb.
Conservatives suggest no startling
notifications to the Health Service.
The main conflict looks likely over
domestic economic policy. In place,
for instance. of the governments
agricultural policy, where farmers
now sell on free market and the
government stands by with support
prices and deficiency payments, the
Socialists would substitute govern
ment trading commissions to buy
agricultural produce at fixed prices.
Conservatives wonder how this
would be compatible with the free
choice which the consumer at pres
ent enjoys and which can at the
moment be freely expressed on the
open market.
This kind of difference exists over
the whole economic field. Socialists
want to bring down prices by con-
trolls and some measure of restrie-
ton. Conservatives reply that it was
just these methods which failed
so dismally in the years after the
war. They believe the only answer
to high prices is greater plenty.
Greater production depends on 0
policy Of expansion, not restriction;
on fewer controls, not more.
This seem to be the key to party