Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-03

toward the scrap-heap of matte
1t is too early now to CUES
new efforts to solve basic pr,
encouraging to see that the ma
ton has the honesty to admit
new solutions are needed. the
vitality to find them and the
courage to try them.
Britain. in the first postwar
years, tried to regain the posi-
ton it had occupied in the
world during the previous hun
dred years. She tried to remain
a global military. trading, bank
ing and political power, and
reached for a standard of living
at home second to none.
Realities fell short of hopes
In all phases of Britain's post
war recovery attempts. The
world of the past hundred years
had ceased to exist.
Military Power Diminished
British military power dimin-
ished in relation to that of
America and Russia. At the
same time, costs ate heavily into
the nations income. 1t was
demonstrated at Suez that Brit
ish armed forces. no matter how
well maintained. could not ac-
complish what the British gov
eminent wanted.
Old trading patterns had dis
solved, and in the fight for world
markets. Britain seemed TO be
in danger of losing to America
and Germany.
Britain remained the principal
world banker. but at tremendous
sacrifice in the fight to maintain
the value and prestige of the
pound sterling.
Meanwhile the British voice in
world affairs seemed to fade.
The government complained that
no one was listening to Britain's
troubles or respecting Britain's
needs. The blow-up over SueZ
seemed to be the result of frus-
tration as much as anything else.
To support these efforts to
maintain the old position, Brit
aims citizens were asked to pay
more taxes than anyone else in
the world and to buy fewer goods
with what money they did have
left. "Austerity" became the
British trade mark. 1t still will
be for the foreseeable future.
Many Leaving Country
The new government, the one
which took Office under Prime
Minister Macmillan when An
thony Eden retired in January,
decided to take stock of Britain's
position in the world and see
If life couldn't be made more
pleasant for the fed-up citizens
more and more of whom were
leaving the country.
Some basic decisions have been
made. Others are in the works.
It has been decided that
Britain will take the lead in
attempts at European economic
integration-a move which the
government comedies may lead
to some degree of political in
tegration with Continental Eu-
rope.
The defense establishment is
being overhauled. and old basic
assumptions about Britains re-
sponsibilities to defend large
parts of the globe are being re-
examined. Britain's defense re-
sponsibilities will be modified to
fit Britain's ability to pay.
The government has decided
to maintain the nations role
as the worlds banker and it has
showed its willingness to spend
large amounts Of money to
maintain the position of the
pound.
AS a consequence of decisions
to hand some of Britain's global
defense responsibilities over to
America, Britain will also con-
cede some political responsible
ties to Uncle Sam. 1t cannot be
said, however. that Britain plans
to give up very much of its as
sumed role as world political
leader, 1t will have to rely more
on diplomacy. however. than
guns.
New Vitality Shown
The new government certainly
is showing vitality. Can the peo-
pie do the same? Can business
adjust to the competition a Eu-
ropean free trade area would
bring? Will labor refrain from
taking more than the nation
can afford to pay it? Will all the
citizens be content to practice
austerity until Britain is over
the hump?
Close observers of Britain S
business community say that
industry and commerce will ad-