THE BIJFER - #VENTIG POST
Tom
HENDERSON
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1950.
EDITORS PRESS BERVICE, INC.-NUEVA YORK
1892-
Divided Opinions
Strasbourg
THE
at
more
At
Assembly of the, son-in-law, defined the Council's tham "an Council of Europe met it seems little
role as one of review over the Strasbourg
activities of various inter- governmental bodies,
some
in
&
#10
the
FOR THE
BUSINESSMAN
Stockpiling
7
Presenting
Experts With Problems
(OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)
London, Dec. 10.
One of the problems facing the Anglo-American working party which was set up following the talks between Mr Attlee and President Truman on the economic implications of Western European defence pro- grammes will be to decide to what extent American stockpiling purchases are depriving Western European industries of their "fair share" of raw materials. And having decided, to do something about it.
Few people would disagree in principle with the American stock- piling policy. Its purpose is to build up stocks to ensure that in the event of war American industries would not be handicapped by shortage of raw materials.
There is, however, a growing degree of resentment in Western European governmental and industrial circles over the rate at which the American stockpile is being accumulated.
The actual amounts of raw materials which the American stockpile aims to absorb have
and remain a always been
contribution to the common de- closely-guarded secret. But the | fence programme. following figures give some idea
the extent of
of this "non- | commercial" demand which has
upset the world markets.
It has been reported that the stockpile has already absorbed 400,000 (short) tons of copper. It aims to accumulate 2,500,000 tons roughly the amount that is expected to be produced in in the words of a British MP, the whole world during 1950, academic and disillusioned de-
The price of copper bating society”.
creased
by over 300 since 1939.
THOREZ CALLED
somewhat despondent mood.
M. Mollet's resignation has Many delegates have be-
now resulted in a vote being gun to feel that unless there taken in the Assembly's General is
made Affairs Committee, progress
at the in- rapporteur, fairly soon towards uniting stance of its new Europe, they might as well Mias Marga Klompe of
Netherlands, on the question of THE dramaitic removal abandon
by the "Strasbourg limited federation. Eleven TH
Soviet plane to Moscow of were for encouraging Experiment" altogether.
those Maurice Thorez, Secretary- countries
federate which The main cause of frustration
General of the French Com- wished to do so etubborn has been
and the
(ie. without munist Party, has set the inter- of the Britain and the Scandinavian national political gossips talking "reactionary" attitude
wish to); this week. According Council's Committee of Minis- countries, who don't
to the ters. The Ministers-minus Mrton were against; and four ab-
Russians M. Thorez, who is vote cannot be suffering from partial paralysis Bevin, who, apparently, had stained. The
us it does not of the brain, more pressing things to do put into effect
is to undergo give the
required two-thirds treatment in a Soviet firmly sat on most of the As-
clinic. it does sembly's recommendations when majonity. But
show But this can hardly be the real deeply the Council of they met in Rome earlier this how
reason dince presumably he latter's proposals Europe is split over the ques- could have been treated just as month. The for revising the Statute of the tion of its future. Council
referred were
to a group of "experts" for study. The qucation of a European Army was shelved-on British initiative. In fact, apart from signing a Convention on human recommenda- rights, the only tions of the Assembly that the Ministers approved were those on full employment and a social security code. Small
wonder
im- patience at his Assembly's work -he is its president-being treated in this way.
that M. Spaak has shown
Now
PATIENCE GONE
an
session at Strasbourg.
TH
THE CRUX
Fince
10
HE crux of the difference A botween the French (and Continental) and British (and Scandinavian) approached is
is prepared that surrender some of her sovereign The idea rights; Britain is not. of a united Europe is strongly believed in by Frenchmen who regard it as the only possible solution to the problem of Ger- many and Franco-German wars.
And
with the
does
well in France.
The most plausible explana- tion so far put forward is that Thorez has been taken to Mos- cow because he is, at present, a poor security risk for Russia. It is significant that a member of the Health Commission at-
in
has
percent
The stockpile is absorbing tin at an annual rate of between
BRITAIN CO-OPERATES
The United States Govern- ment has taken strict measures consumption to control civilian of certain raw materials but the free have amounts thus set not been made available to other Western countries—they have merely been transferred to the stockpile. The fact that been im- these controls have posed, however, makes it dim- cult for Americans to under- stand the European point of view.
50,000 and 60,000 tons a year. Before the Unibed States
+
Its aim is to build up a stock Government agrees to cut down about one and a half years' pro- of 250,000 tons-equivalent to its stockpiling purchases it will that Western require evidence
them- duction at the present rate. The European countries are price of tin has increased by elves taking steps to control nearly 1,000 per cent since 1939. civilian consumption. So far as Britain is concerned these steps. have now been TOTAL OF 78 ITEMS
taken. The Government this week ordered The stockpile also aims to cuts in the consumption of zinc, accumulate 3,750,000 tons of copper, aluminium and nickel.
There is still room, however, manganese (2,752,000 tons more than it has so far); 1,000,000 |for a much greater degree of tons of rubber (equal to more co-operation in the allocation of than half the total estimated essential raw materials to those world production of 1950); and countries which form the North to add 10,000,000 lbs of tungsten Atlantic Alliance. to its present: reserves of 47,- 000,000 lbs.
tached to the N.K.V.D. (Soviet Secret Police) is known to have
The stockpile is also absorb- accompanied the Russian doctoring other scarce
raw materials who examined Thorez in Paris. such as sisal, aluminium, zinc, Should the French Communist nickel, cobalt, chrome and lead. it could not look after its leader materials has Party be forced underground. The
all price of
these raw increased
con- siderably since 1939.
THIS
ele-
And Europe, they believe, can in his weak condition. Left only be united through federa- alone, he might have been tion. Britain, on the other guilty of "Titoist" indiscretions. event has occurred hand, because of her geographi-ment exists in the Communist
A considerable nationalist that has already been of cal position, her ties significance for this last week's Commonwealth, and her tradi-Party of France today.
M. Guy tional way of thinking,
CHOICE OF successoR Mollet, Minister for European not feel the same urgency for Affairs in the French Cabinet, European unity.
she be- THIS theory
is strengthened as lieves, in any case, that such
that has resigned his position
by the fact
Auguste Tupporteur of the Assembly's unity should be sought through Locoeur, considered Thorez's
methods through most likely successor,
flew to General Affairs Commit.ce. This "functional"
Socialist has co-operation between Govern- Russia with his chief, Should brilliant French been the chief protagonist of ments in the OEEC style.
Thorez be forced to resign, One British voice, Mr R. W. G. Lecocur may well return to compromise between the British
approaches to Mackay, Labour M.P., suggests Paris wearing the sick man's and Continental
a compromise between federa- mantle. On the other hand, it European unity. In saying why
and functionalism: tods Japanese Duclos who is at he had resigned he disclosed lism
in- merge the that he had been largely
OEEC, Brussels present acting as the Party's
Pact fluenced by recent debates in Treaty and Atlantic
or Secretary-General. ganisations into the machinery But the choice of a successor national parliaments.
of the Council of Europe which to Thorez, op Communist of M. Mollet obviously had in
week's "European" would become a Parliament of Western Europe and leader of mind this debates in the French Assembly two Houses. The Committee of the French Communists for the Commons. In the Ministers would be the Upper last twenty years, will in any French debate Messrs Reynaud House with power to veto any case be difficult. A and Bidault, former Premiers, legislation passed by the As- depend on the role that Moscow alled for a stronger European sembly (Lower House). There maps out for the French Com-
that meant are certain difficulties to this-munist Party in the future. Council, even if
concerning the Atlantic excluding Britain who was stille.g. dragging her feet. Reynaud, in Pact. his spooch, reproached Mollet this idea of a for rejecting "limited federation" (of France,
and British
latter has always opposed on the grounds that it would be a disaster both for France and Europe.
Ernest
HAMSTRUNG
itself,
lot will
ROMAN MODESTY 66117HEN in Rome, do as the Romans do". A French Italy and Germany). This the MEANWHILE the Assembly lady in the Italian capital this hamstrung by the summer was foolish enough to Ministers and split into oppo- ignore this wellknown precept. sing groups, is in a state of She went to a restaurant in an suspended animation. True, it evening dress whose cut, it
drew
and was originally conceived
malignant as a seems, body for creating
public criticism Europe
from three Democrat opinion, not as DOOR SHUT
deputies executive Christian an authority, Truc, since OEEC, who happened to be dining dobate caw the Brussels Treaty and the there. This week, in the Italian THE British
Davies, Under- Atlantic
the behaviour Chamber,
of Organisation cover Secretary for Foreign Affairs, almost all the field of European these worthy gentlemen wh
during a question firmly shut the door in the face co-operation there is little left.mentioned
recant order that of any sort at federation. The for the Assembly to do except about the
bo be fig- British Government, said Mr talks--and then only on pre-nude statues were Davies, could not commit it- scribed subjects. (By discuss-leaved. The Government's re- that sinoc the lady advocating a ply was self in advance to accept everying defence and recommendation of the Council European Army it has, strictly concerned had sped the three
delegate of Europe, nor
any speaking, gone outside its deputies the matter was sub- sovereignty that might entail sphere.) But there is a foar judice. As for Ag leaves, that interference with the country's among delegates that unless was a question of custom and planned economy. Conserva- they can translate some of their manners, How modesty-mind- the od Signor de Gasperl's Govern- dives, in essentials, differed resolutions into action, little from the Government Counoll of Europe will even-ment pooms suddenly to have
boogmel Duncan Sandys, Mr. Churchill's tually die of thintia. At
Altogether there are 78 items are being stockpiled. on the list of materials which
The danger of this huge pro- gramme is twofold: it is largely the alarming responsible for rise in the price of certain raw materials and it is depriving in- dustries of other countries in the Western Alliance of the means to carry out their
STANDARD. BRIDGE by M. Harrison-Gray
A 8
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Dealer: East,
44 44
Love all
1440
N.
KQ 7 8 3 8
Q 10
8 2
1004
KJ7
9 5 A 10 8 4 K 953
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THE COLOMBO PLAN
Britain has taken the lead in
available money
to making
plan for finance the Colombo economic development in south and south-east Asia by announc- ing the rate at which Sterling balances held by India and Cey- lon will be released during the next six years.
held Sterling balances
by India will be released at the rate the of £35,000,000 for each of six years covered by the plan, and Ceylon will be able to draw Sterling £21,000,000 of balances during the period July 1, 1950 to June 30, 1957.
its
Negotiations with Pakistan own regarding her Sterling balances are still proceeding and agree- ment is expected soon.
When this deal occurred in rubber bridge, there were three passes up to North. Normally his band would be too strong for a pre-emptive. not call, especially when vulnerable, but the position is different if he is fourth in band. Three Hearts is now the only common-sense bid. South bid Three No Trumps. and all passed..
West led 4 to East's A, and Q was returned. South could now afford the luxury of ducking a round of Hearts to guard against 4-0 division, East's play, at trick 1 was weak; the play of could not lose any- thing and would have left South la doubt as to the location of ♣ A. The necòs- sary safety play in Hearts would then have appeared: too risky.
ria.
~London Expresa Sørpton, }
**
to
Although these announcements were undoubtedly designed give the Colombo plan a flying start not everybody is satisfled that our economy can stand the strain of such large releases. Countries to which releases aro to be made will receive them in the form of capital goods to assist their development pro- grammes. We are thus back to the old problem of "unrequited exports."
If world conditions were what we wished them to be these re- too leases would not impose great a strain on our economy. But it should be remembered that they will be drawn during a period when this country is actively rearming-and all the while the terms of trade moving against us, necessitating even greater efforts to increase our exports. This three-way stretch may yet prove to bo more than our economic fabric. can stand,
are
Whether events prove we have bitten off more than we can chew or not; the? fapt remains that the gesture has been mado and it is to be hoped, that this. British Initiative will not be wasted.'n Refusalito essenter counter-claims for wat expendi» · tureľby this country is proof of | Britain's Intention to, translate the idea that was born at Colom→ bo' into action as soon as possible. :
Ali
perisqlitat