1949-09-23 — Page 7

SPECULATION ON UK ELECTION THIS YEAR

Just Wishful Thinking

By The Opposition

LABOUR PARTY NOT READY

London, September 21. Britain's devaluation of the Pound has started a fresh wave of political speculation on the possibility of a general election in November.

But Labour Government quarters lent no support today to the suggestion, which many of the Government's backers ascribed to wishful thinking in the Opposition camps.

Parliament is expected to have an emergency recall for two days next week to discuss devaluation, and speculative reports have suggested that the Conservatives may set down a motion censuring the Government on certain aspects of devaluation policy.

COMMONS MAY BE RECALLED

London, September 21. Sir Stafford Cripps, still lacking Support for his devaluation policy from the Trades Union Congress, today agreed to meet its General Counell next Monday night, prob- ably the eve of the reconvening of Parliament.

The TUC General Council last night refused to pass-judgment-on the need for devaluation of the pound, a step that will lead at once to increased prices for bread and ficer and one that the Government insists requires frozen wages

Sir

The Council appealed to Stafford, who is Chancellor of the Exchequer, to meet it and explain not only the financial step but its possible consequences to organised labour. Sir Stafford agreed.

Mr. Herbert Morrison, the La- bour Government's Parliamentary leader, is flying home tonight from Southern France to confer with the Prime Minister, Mr. Clement Attlee

Mr. Morrison and Mr. Attice will decide to recall Parliament for an extraordinary session of two or three days, probably starting on Tuesday next week. The Cabinet will probably meet on Thursday or Friday.

Sir Stafford has already started drafting his speech to Parliament. He will face severe criticism from both the Conservatives and some members of his

Own Party United Press.

GENERAL FACING EVICTION ORDER

..

|

But

the

Government would have to be convinced at a serious challenge from its own supporters throughout the country, and of the need for a fresh mandate fol- lowing devaluation, before it all its leng-standing scrapped schedule," which times the general election for mid. 1950.

The possibility of such a chal- cannot be ruled out. A icage cannot straw in the wind, according to Government opponents, was the action of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress last night in withholding judgment

devaluation on

decision. the

Formal endorsement had been ex- pected.

The Parliamentary Labour Party-nearly 400 strong has yes to react to the Government's 30- tion:

Before Parliament meets next week.. Sir Stafford Cripps and

The Steel Bill cannot be law before next May.

Another important Socialist Act. Parliament measure the which cuts the House of Lords" power of delaying legislation - will not reach the Statute Book before the end of the year.

"Loyalist" sections favour a mid-1950 election because they hope that Britain by then may be reaping some of the econo- mle benefit of the Washington talks and devaluation, It was learned this afternoon Sir Stafford Cripps, the that Chancellor of the Exchequer, has row agreed to meet the Trades the Union Congress leaders at Treasury on Monday afternoon to hear their criticisms of devalua tion as affecting the industrial population.

The leaders, headed by Mr. H. L Bullock, Chairman of the other leaders will endeavour tGeneral Council of the TUC, are. ensure that the Parliamentary Party is rallied effectively behind expected to make the following

points:

the Cabinet.

Vital 10 Days

Price Of Bread

(1) The increase of a penny then the price of a loaf of bread

Ominous rumblings political side

of labour, have will affect an enormous number followed the news that devalua- of lower-paid workers. tion means dearer, bread and

(2) Other price increases, cer- the possibility of other increassa tain come gradually, will add

to this burden.

In the cost of living. Many observers believe that if there were serious evidence of loss of confidence on the labour side and in

country general-

ly, the Government would retort Let the country decide now." The next 10 days during which devaluation criticism will have received full Parliamentary ventilation-will undoubtedly de- cide the Government's course of action.

The plain fact, which some in- formed Government quarters are first to admit is that the Conser

ative election machine is better prepared than the Labour ma chine for an immediate election. All Labour plans are based on an appeal to the country next April at the earliest.

Tokyo, September 21. The Siamese Government in- tends to ask General Douglas If the Government considered MacArthur for the eviction of an election expedient now, rela- Lieutenant-General H.C.H. Ro-tire unpreparedness of the cam- bertson, Commander of the Bri-paigning machinery would not Occupation prevent it tish Commonwealth

from going to the Forces, from his house in Tokyo, country. But it would take this a Siamese Government represca step only if driven to it. tative stated here today.

will

The house is the property of the Siamese Government, the re- presentative added. When free it

to its return

its former use as the Siamese Embassy.

General MacArthur's Supreme Command Readquarters is likely to discourage any such application for an eviction order.-Reuter.

Bills to Be Passed

Powerful left wing sections of the Government's supporters are Labour should determined that carry out its 1945 election.pledge to nationalise iron and steel be- tore giving up office.

BY SEA- BY AIR-

BUTTERFIELE & SWIRE

SHIPPING

Agents

CHINA NAVIGATION CO., LTD. BLUE FUNNEL LINE ·

AUSTRALIAN ORIENTAL LINE LTD.

AIRWAYS

General CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS LTD. Agents AUSTRALIAN - NATIONAL AIRWAYS

Booking Agente

LTD.

SKYWAYS (FAR EAST) LTD.

and

BRITISH OVERSEAS: AIRWAYS CORPORATION CHINA NATIONAL AVIATION CORPORATION HONG KONG AIRWAYS ;

NORTH-WEST AIRLINES

"PAN-AMERICAN WORLDWAIKWAYS:

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES

Connaught Road, C.

Brauch Office: 50

Tel. 30337

onnaught Road

Tel. 24878-

(3) Some degree of unemploy- ment is a possible consequence in due course.

The leaders will discuss ways of reconciling the price increases with the Government's "frozen wages" policy. Their views will be reflected in Parliament's two- day debate.

00

the

Jap Copper Shipped To Red

THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1949. –

New Truce In Steel Dispute

Washington, September 21.

The United States - Stee! Corporation today accepted President Truman's request for a new six-day strike truce » -and agreed to bargain with

the steel workers' union,

The President had asked that the truce, be maintained until 6.01 am GMT on Octo- ber 1, in the national interest.

Reuter.

Balkans

A Threat

To Peace

לוס

FRENCH LABOUR'S ATTACK ON DEVALUATION

Paris, September 21,

The French General Confederation of Labour today condemned the devaluation of the French franc against the dollar and demanded immediate wage increases to offset the anticipated rise in the cost of living.

The Communist-led Confederation, the largest union body in France, said in a statement: "Devalua- tion is a traditional means of impoverishing and exploiting the working masses.”

has

"The devaluation..which just takes place is, moreover, to the profit of the American trusts and to the detriment of our na- tional interest," it added.

1.---Á holiday bonus of 5,000 franes for all workers and 1.500 franes for depondantza-"

2-A temporary cost of living indemnity of 3,000 francs for all workers.

3.Certain individual hour increases.

wage

MOSCOW RESUMES ATTACK

Moscow, September 21. Marshal Tito's clique in Yugoslavia will be swept away by popular wrath, an editorial in "Pravda" said today.

The front page editorial was headlined

"Spies and Murderers in Power."

"Izvestia" also devoted its 4-The re-introduction of col-firmat page editorial to the allered and Rankovic lective contracts (the same salary exposure of Tito for all workers in the same pro- in the Budapest trials. fession or the same basic salary "History teaches," "Pravda" said, "that enemies of the people resort to such desperate means as diversions,

and provocations murder not because they are strong but because they are weak and destined to perish.*

for all workers in the same re- gion).

It called on workers to react against the devaluation and strive for a "Government of -Democra- Athens, September 21.tic Union" by pressing a clas Foreign aid being given to the for: Greek guerillas, primarily by Albania, represents a threat to peace in the Balkans, the United Nations special commission the Balkans said today.

A supplementary report also asserted that the Greek armed forces have eliminated organised resistance along the Auerilla Northern borders of Greece.

The Yugoslav Government, it has supplemented its re- sajd cently declared policy of closing its frontiers.

General UNSCOB asked the Assembly of the United Nations to repeat its request to Bulgaria Albania to immediately and cease from aiding the guerillas

to solemnly draw the atten tion of Albania in particular to the increased gravity of the threat

7-A return to the 40-hour to peace in the Balkans that would ensue should its call be disre-week with the same pay as for a 48-hour week to prevent un- garded.

The Greek Government has employment. announced that it plans to in- Toke Article 51 of the United to invade Al- Nations Charter bania in self-defence if any new aggression occurs

The repart also requested permission for operate

Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia

it entered querillas who have those countries have been dis- armed and Interned.

and

In

●

Referring to the estimate of 28,000 Greek children abducted in the past 18 months, UNSCOB condemned in the strongest terms the violation of fundamental hu- manitarian principles

of adolescent age have been sent back to Greece

to

Childreh

fight in the ranks of the guerillas-Associated Press.

as

TREASON TRIAL ENDING

me"

5. Free discussion of wage conditions.

6-An increase of unemploy meat benefits from 150 francs per day to 250 franes.

Strike Threat

In a speech to the Anglo- American Press Association of i Paris tonight. the anti- Communist trade union leader,

M.

"The best sons of the Yugoslav people," "Pravda" continued, "are leading the heroic battle against their Fascist leaders. They are revolutionary resurrecting the Communist party true

to the principles of internationalism.”

"Izvestia'e" headline was "The foul agents of the Imperialists have been caught with goods."

FLY AIR FRANCE!

HONG KONG TO

Bama Landen New York Haiphong Hanai Salgon

£158*:*:** £175 HK$4,150,40 HK$315 HK$330 £28

PARIS

AIR FRANCE

£174

QUEEN'S RIDE., GROJKO FLOOR (OPP, STAR FERRT).

TEL. 15831

Page

FLY

SIAM

FLY

S

the

TO

Bangkok

&

Singaperu

The editorial said. The c Albert Bouzanquet, said posure of the spies plot in Bel- that France may be faced with grade and Budapest is one more "Insurrectional strikes" as a re-proof of how hopeless the efforts sult of the devaluation,

of the imperialists are to hold

M. Bouzanquet, who is Secre-back the advancing march of his- tary of the "Labour Force" Con-tory developing to the advantage federation of Labour, said: "If of the camp of democracy and

ia- the Government wants to avoid socialism whose forces are a social crisis, which might go as numerable and grow with every far as insurrectional strikes, the day."--Associated Press. freezing of wages must be abolished.*

The cost of living had increas- ed by 21 per cent since the be- ginning of the year, he added.

It is learned in usually reliable quarters tonight that the Gop- ernment has practically decided to increase some wages-Reuter-

U.S. ENVOY TO NETHERLANDS

bassador to The Netherlands to

ан

ONE EFFECT OF DEVALUATION

Milan, September 21. The devaluation of sterling has practically stopped the movement of foodstuffs from Italy to Bri- tain and Western Germany.

A Government railway official who handles export rail goods said

to other that deliveries European countries had dropped about 30 per cent. ·

Exports of fruits and fruit pro- durts suffered most

Washington, September 21. President Truman today nomi- naled Mr. Selden Chapin, a State Department career officer, as Am-

The reduction in traffic began succeed Dr. Herman Baruch, who with the opening of monetary resigned recently.

talks recently in Washington, the Mr. Chapin has been serving as official said.-Associated Press. State, Mr. Dean Acheson, since he

WHISKY PRICE was brought back from Hungary

ADJUSTMENT early this year His recall from

Edinburgh, September 21, Budapest was demanded by the Commumist Hungarian Govern- The Council of the Scotch ment after he was named in the Whisky Association today decid- testimony at the trial of Cardinaled to adjust the price of whisky Mindszenty. Mr. Chapin denied for shipment to the United States being involved and was supported so as to avoid any loss of dollars by Mr. Acheson Reuter.

consequent on the devaluation of |sterling.

The decision was made after consultation with the Gov- ernment.

Sir Stafford will open

this de- hate with a 60-minute speech

Budapest, September 21. covering the Washington talks.

last day of the Rajk On the devaluation, and the new doliar- trial in Budapest today, after the earning opportunities now pre-prosecution had asked for the sorted to British exporters. death sentence for all the accused, the accused, The Conservative leader, Mr.defence counsel frankly told the Winston Churchill, will lead the count. We cannot defend the has been setary of attack

Government's deeds of the defendants but can economic policy.

only try to defend their persons." The Prime Minister, Mr. Cle- The defence pleaded that the ment Attlee, will probably wind accused were merely "tools" of the Americans and Yugoslavs and up the debate-Reuter.

asserted: "Tito and the imperia- lists should sit in the dock as the chief defendants.

"Raik was

only a tool," said Elek Kazzo, counsel for the num- ter one defendant. "Such crimes would not exist if there his were no warmongers."

One lawyer asserted: "It is only for the time being that Tito and not in the the imperialists dock

The defence counsel repeatedly

Warsaw, September 21. stressed the difficulty of their A Polish Government spokes- tasks, one declaring it would be man, asked for his comment on General MacArthur's. Head-easier to defend some one who Tuesday's demand by Dr. Konrad

had killed his father.

new Adenauer,

West' German launched official quarters today

Several counsel

also pointed Chancellor, for the return-of- investigation of

2 of reports that

out that their own duty was to Germany's former Eastern terri group of American traders were

kelp build secretly selling war potential

uild socialism.

tories, curtly replied: “I do not frequently quoted Soviet care to comment They Japanese copper to countries be-

on. the state- Minister Foren

Vyshinsky's ment. I do not care for it." hind the Iron Curtain.

declarations when he served as Since 1945 Poland has resettled prosecutor in the great Moscow nearly 6,000,000 people, mainly purge trials of 1937.

from Polish territory ceded to "Here we have only to insert the Russians, in the areas former the dark forces of Imperialism' ly belonging to Germany East of where Vyshinsky

insky mentioned Fas was trans-shipped to Poland and cismin sald Attorney Laszlo Sofal, the Oder-Niesse river line-As-

"We recognise the seriousness speaking for the defendant Szalai sociated Press.

Nation

Tokyo, September 22.

SCAP officials told the United Press that reports from a number of sources alleged that

copper

purchased in Japan, ostensibly for Holland, Belgium and France.

Czechoslovakia,

of the reports," one GHQ official

are

court adjourned after the

said. If true, the least cial closing speeches by the defence

could happen to the buyers mense. It will resume at 9 am. volved would be to have their on Thursday when the defendants licences revoked and told to leave will have their chance for a "last word" in court-Associated Press. Japan."

Another official said that three contracts under investigation in- volved some 4,000 tons of elec- trolytic copper valued at more than $1,000,000.

Copper is on the list of strate gic war materials the export of which to Russia and Satellite

London,

INDIAN ENVOY. SEES ATTLEE

September 21. The High Commissioner for India, Mr. V. B. Krishna Menon, Export contracts validated by Clement Attice, today and re- called on the Prime Minister, Mr. the occupation include the coun-mained with him for 40 minutes. try of final destination and con- It is believed that they discuss-

countries is banned by the Unit

ed States Government.

sumption

Officials said according to re- parts the copper was trans- "shipped from a Butterfield, and Swire freighter at London to Poland.

Shipments consigned

to Antwerp were transferred to

ed the latest developments in the Kashmir dispute-Reuter.

KING GUSTAV

Stockholm, September 21: King Gustav of Sweden, who barges and thence by river and is suffering from bronchitis, was rall to Czechoslovakia. Shipments were alleged to have weak today after a night disturb been made since July 1 this year ed by Bouts of coughing, Dr. physician. when the first offerings of Jap

Casserman, the Royal D anese copper were made to for-the 31-year-old King, who is eign buyers.

In view of the strict restric-on his Oeland Island estate in tions on the sale of such strate the Baltic, is travelling to Stock- gic-zoaterials, profits on the alholm by train tonight to hold a leged transactions were thought Cabinet meeting tomorrow-morn- to have been large-United Pressing-Reuter

GERMANY'S DEMAND

FOR TERRITORY --

fly with CPA

to

Singapore Monday & Friday MANILA Wednesday &

Saturday

CAL

30331

BUTTERFIELD

G SWIRE

The adjustment, it was stated, will not result in any increase in costs to the overseas' consumer,—~ Reuter.

POASH

Bangkok

ALTER TALAD, Singapers.

EVERY

WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY

Peninsula Hotel Lobby

S.

A. C.

Tel 58885

Every TUESDAY & SAG DAY to BANGKOK A

WITH CONNECTION TO

SINGAPORE PENANG

RANGOON & CALCUTTA

Wednesday

17

Friday

For full-particulars Please apply:-

General Agents:

SOUTH EAST ASIA TRADING CO. (SIAM) LTD, 69, Connaught Road, West, Tel No. 24292, Peninsula Hotel, Kowloon, Tel. No. 56416.

Booking Agents;

AUW PIT SENG'S TRADING CO. LTD. 10. Pedder Street, Tel. No. 26733. CHIANG HUAT HONG

*. Connaught Road, West, 1st floor, Tel No. 27591.

FLY TO CANADA

by

Canadian Pacific

SHORTEST, `FASTEST ROUTE TO NORTH AMERICA

The Canadian Pacific "Empresses" ara back again! To-day, they are four-engined Pressurized for "Empresses of the Air”. comfort manned by seasoned Canadian crews. Fly relaxed in full-length, reclining "Loungaire" chairs. Stewardess service. Connections at Vancouver, rail or air to all points in North America.

FLIGHTS EVERY THURSDAY From Hong Kong for Tokyo and Vancouver.

Information and reservations from

Canadian Pacific AIR

GROUND FLOOR UNION BLDG.

TEL 32067

"THE WINGS OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST TRAVEL

ELINES