The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 5

THE OBSERVER, SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 1950 6 Turn of Tide? New Service For Obtaining TABLE TALK By Pendennis POLITICAL DIARY Mr. Attlee's Talks This Week Election Decision Soon By A POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JR. ATTLEE returns to Downing-street to-morrow and is likely to have important conversations with his colleagues during the v.eek. A decision as to whether there shall be an early General Election cannot be very long delayed. decide the Government to get the Election out of the way as soon as possible.

Paying for the War To the Editor of The Observer Your recent leading articles have introduced a most welcome and salutary shift of emphasis into the sterling, war-debi controversy. Owing to the arbitrary and accidental way in which the finance the common war eflort came to be distributed, these sterling debts are contractually pavable by Britain, and, as articles make abundantly cleart even a slowing down in the rate of releases would raise far graver problems in Asia than it would solve here. But as the Economic Secretary pointed out during the war-debt debate of November 22, the Washington cominuniqu of September last reenrded a notable advance in our joint approach to this question, in that the debts were there frankly and for the first time described as arising put of Britain's expenditures "in the common war effort." It is now high time that we all recognised that these particular expenditures are a part, and a part only, of Britain's disproportionate financial contribution to the cost of the war disproportionate by the patently sane Roosevelt-Truman concept of relating contributions to national incomes Month by month it becomes clearer that the failure to rectify this vast capital distortion lies at the root of much of the world's economic distress, including the inconvertibility of sterling. The same ertor is now being largely repeated in respect of the finance of our common defence under the Atlantic Treaty, -where the emergent federal defence function of the participating States clearly calls for the application of federal finance. Yours, Caterham.

J. L. Gibson. A Basis For Belief Sir, The article by the Head master of Eton, which you pub lished recently, may lead to a serious misunderstanding. He says that the German universities never created the intellectual basis for a sound public opinion in their country," and that they were unable to train a highly educated people to reject the sheer nonsense of Nazisml" fact is that such a basis does, not now exist in Western civilisation, and there are no generally accepted standards by which sense can be distinguished from nonsense.

In stable days of the past there was always some accepted standard, based on a general belief in a God who revealed Himself to His supreme creation, Man. But scienti Einstein, they said, the Institute will be complete. In 1932, with the to power in Germany, Einstein agreed to come to Princeton. The Institute has been built around him, though no one then expected that he had more to offer the world than developments of the Theory of Relativity he propounded in 1905. Caribbean Caesar TT really looks as if there might be some trouble brewing in the West Indies which could cause a good deal of embarrassment to Britain and America.

The Dictator of Dominican Republic, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, has suddenly made the surprising request to his puppet Parliament for the right to declare war on any nation." Apparently his padence is exhausted with the neighbouring island of Cuba, which he suspects is giving refuge to enemies of bis regime. The U.S. State Department finds it difficult to do more than wring its hands because Trujillo is that annoying phenomenon a successful dictator. In 20 years of unbroken rule he has made his Republic the most prosperous part of the West Indies by efficient government on military lines which have no place for the Four Freedoms; and he advertises his success for all to see. New bridges have his name in neon lights and his capital city (the oldest European settlement in the Americas) is now called Ciudad Trujillo.

If he moves Trujillo, could succeed in rousing a good deal of local patriotic feeling throughout the Caribbean against Yankee and British imperialism. Major and Minors the Schoolboys' Exhibi-tion at the Royal Horticultural Hall yesterday, one of the prominent figures, was Tate and Lyle's ubiquitous MrrCJaibe. Field-Marshal Lord Wilson, who opened the exhibition, toofca, particular interest in this controversial though his attention was slightly distracted by a small boy who exclaimed in a penetrating voice, "Coo, there goeu that Mtjor again Despite Mr. Cube, private enterprise was definitely outshone by the nationalised industries, which, like the Services, have done their best to persuade Young England to make a careers with them. Gas, electricity, and the Ministry of Supply all competed for youthful interest, but the Railway Executive, of course, stole the show, and got good publicity for its new liveries.

In fact, the smaller boys had some difficulty in breaking through the solid ranks of fascinated fathers. the new stamps of the United States of appear two heads. one of Achmed Soekarno, the first Indonesian the other of George Washington, the first American President. It is a bold comparison but at least Soekarno faces problems as formidable as those Washington met after Yorktown. He has to contend with grave disorders in East Java from Moslem separatists; he must avoid a clash with his well-rmed Communist brigades; he.

Vnust somehow raise the standard of living which has fallen during the troubles; he must reassure his more touchy followers that the help he needs from abroad will in no way infringe their, new independence. Like Washington, Soekarno is no library intellectual, but a great leader of men. Though the strategy of the revolt and negotiations has been in the hands of other, men, Hatta, Sjahrir and the generals, Soekarno towers above all other Indonesians. He is a tremendous orator with that rare manner and tone which can move a crowd more deeply than any dialectics. Undermining JIM BOWMAN'S decision presidency of the miners' union and! join the National Coal Board must seem to open several opportunities to.

the Communists. It -is Mr. Bowman who has largely hamstrung Arthur Horner, the miners secretary and the red hope in that union. His going also, means that three key jobs are made vacant a seat on the T.U.C.', the. vice-presidency of the union, and the secretaryship in Northumberland.

Surely the Communists have a good-chance of nabbing two out of the three? Horner might now get on to the General Council. Abe Moffat, the bull-frog leader of the Scotfisb. miners, would be their' candidate for the vice-presidency. i'-'- But, elsewhere, considerable trouble is being taken to disappoint these hopes. The General Council would rather choose anybody than Mr.

Homer even "a blind and paralytic mute. As for Mr. Moffat, he will be op-. posed by the formidable Jones, of the Yorkshire miners. If Mr.

Jones does become vice-president he will be an extraordinary contrast to his predecessor. Whereas Mr. Bowman was always the soul of any party. Mr. Jones makes a virtue of his seriousness.

Einstein's Shrine TTHE visitor to Princeton in tk. Ua, kun tlM on a pilgrimage of the scenes where Woodrow WUson first made his name as President of the college. The guide would then point to a brick building and murmur "That is where Dr. Einstein works, but we don't show that' If Professor Einstein has now found the "Key to the Universe I expect that the Institute of. Advanced Studies where he works will become even more of a' shrine than Wilson's college' The Institute was only.

founded in 1930 -and is a transatlantic version of All Souls, where the professors are expected to' think but not to teach. The genius of the was its first. President, Dr. Abraham Flexner, who shrewdly decided to make the Institute first of all a mathematical centre. Mathematicians, he found, did not want much equipment and they could agree amongst themselves who-was the most eminent man-in their field.

With a blackboard, a piece of chalk, and At the moment the fears of a breakdown in the negotiations seem to have been exaggerated. Both sides believe they have a legitimate cause for complaint. The British can point to the way the Argentine has fixed a number of arbitrary exchange to the holdup of remittances to this country, and the failure to buy as many of the less essential goods as anticipated. On the other hand the Argentines can say that devaluation has created a new situation. They have already, for instance, had to pay more for their coal and oil.

Trade Pact Upset By Devaluation As for their failure to buy as much from Britain as was expected, their answer is that they are now very short of sterling. Up to now meat supplies do not seem to have been the main point at issue, although the British have said they will not pay more. The present price of about 97 10s. per long ton was specifically laid down for the 'first year in the July agreement it was the only price that was and the British can therefore argue that there is no legal case for a revision until the end or What seems to emerge clearly enough is that devaluation and the measures recently taken by the Argentine have completely upset the equilibrium which the original agree ment attempted to create. The aim of the negotiations is now to find a new balance of trade between the two countries, nd to do this may prove to be a long and difficult business.

Way To Increase Sterling Oil jyjEANWHILE Britain's decision to economise on her purchases of oil from dollar sources once again draws attention to, the British refineries at Haifa, which have still not been re-opened. Before the Israeli-Arab war, 4,000,000 tons of crude oil a year were delivered to Haifa from Iraq. But a new line from Kirkuk has now been completed up to the Israeli borders, and could be extended to Haifa within two or three months. Deliveries could then be increased to about 7,500,000 tons annually. It is a little difficult to assess exactly what this would mean to the economy of the sterling area.

But, even at a conservative estimate, it is believed that Haifa could produce about 1,000,000 tons of petroleum a year about twice the amount needed to meet the standard petrol ration in the United Kingdom. It is understood that the Foreign Office has already tried to get Iraq to reopen, the pipe line, uu is now such a serious drain on our dollar resources that much stronger measures may have to be taken. Copyright. M.P. Retiring Sir Charles "Edwards, 82, Labour M.P.

for Bedwellty, Monmouthshire. since 191.8, has decided not to stand for re-election. For BO AC In Spring WHILE, the medium an long-term prospects foiUH British Overseas Airways are undoubtedly it would. bei wrong to take a complacent1 view- of the financial results of the Corporation's current operations." says- Sir Miles -Thomas, chairman of B.q.A.C, in a New Year's message. The rate of deficit is far too high," he' in soitesof energetic and far-reaching steps that nave been and are being taken to reauce expenditure.

Of the Boeing Stratocruisers originally ordered by the Corporation; and due for delivery by.iMarch,'il948.' only one had been delivered. The Corporation had, not vet te- ceived any Handley-Page Hermes lVs, although the original expectation' was that the neet ot would start com ing into-, the Corporation hands in uly, I94S, and an amended promise. inade last May, was that all 25 should be by. December, 1V49. Sir savs that devaluation, en tailing higher fuel and costs will increase expenditure during' the 1949-50 financial vear by 1,000,000, and the ottset of 1400,000 increase in revenue' still 'leaves a net extra deficit of 600,000 over the whole of the Corporation's routes.

Administration. Economies 'In general it mav be-said that the financial 1949-50 is a particularly dimcuit one tor B.O.A.C.: Costs, oi training crews 'on, Conversion courses to nanaie me new types oi aircraii have been incurred "4The sum' of -ap: proximately- 1,000,000 for the year will have been spent on this count be fore the increased revenue yield these new types -is forthcoming. i The administrative reorganisation of B.O.A.C. that becomes operativeas trom January margea economies in- aaminisiranon costs; and the reduction in' personnel at all levels of the combined B.O.A.C.- A. Corporation by.

some ,2,000 in 1949 is contributing substantially to economies 1 Bv the! earlv sorinz." adds Sir Miles "we' "should begin to see the turn' of the tide. substitu tion ot the Argonauts tor-Plymouth flying-boats on the Far trunk routes is showing' very encouraging financial results, turn ins: a loss of 320,000 per annum, into a cdritribu: tion at the rate of over .400,000 a year to general, overheads. 1949 Insurance Records INCREASED business during'. 1949 several or the leading-insurance com names TheseTeturns included: Life Assurance Society: 10,750 life assurances, compared with 13,032 policies in 1948 Total" new after' deducting reassurances, amounted to 7,600,000, compared with 7,325,500 in 1948. Legal and General: New policies in 1949 totalled 27,770 assuring 33,696,25 against' 1 25,454 assuring in 1948.

New; life assurances accounted for policies' v. for ll.l46,710,'.compared with 7,907 policies for. 10.778,7 in 1948. Eagle Star: New business in the life department' again a record at over 40.500,000 (38,446,078 in, Norwich Net new business in 1949 was approximately 32.000,000, against 1948. I The Halle Orchestra Manchester, December 31.

Halle plans are threatened a Manchester, Council Finance 'Committee suggestion that the city, may 'not -betJ able to guarantee the orchestra -more than 5,000 a year against financial loss. Stay A money down at the docks, and the women swarm like "starlings, -morning and evening, at the bus stops, off. to the City and the West End, or to-small ground-floor garment factories the East End. As a result there is money for food and clothes, land pleasure in the darc rooms that' have known squalor and hunger too well. Above, all else, Stepney is now respectable.

The drunken Saturday crowds dancing on the' pavements after closing time in the Mile End-road have their place is theu decorous and fantasucally skilled" dancing in the Mile'' End Baths. And on Sundays and Saturdays the women take off the scarves that have bound their heads like puddings all week, and -walk -as well dressed as any in London outside the Mayfair belt, with their menfolk in good blue suits; they. push shining prams that look like little shrines on wheels. True, you can still see old people bent terribly, by bad feeding and a life spent in evil working places But that is the past. There are thousands of families still sharing houses with gas stoves on the landing, a single lavatory, and a tap in the yard at the back.

Widows still live alone in one room in the "dwelling blocks" built sixty years ago. and sometimes die in solitude at the foot of four flights of stairs But that is being slowly changed. fF this place and people, 1 shall remember one family above all the others. The man was a young docker who spent four years in the Royal Navy. He jives, with his wife and two children, in a house that is a diserace to London.

He has two rooms, one up, one down. The floor downstairs is sott witn dry rot. The plaster walls crumoie tine lhe comer round tne electric meter is an unapproachable mass of corruption. His sitting-room is some fourteen feet square, yet it contains his staircase and fire, his larder and turniture.and across the floor are the toys with which Dennis, his first cnild. must play.

Ernest averages seven guineas a week in the cold store down at the docks He would not accept a house anywhere else. He never visits the West End or the country. He wants a four-roomed house with a front door that opens directly on a street And that street must be in Stepney. Patrick O'Donovan i German 6 Helps PEOPLE in who wish to employ German women domestics will in future be able. to.

get into direct communication with them under a new scheme announced by the Ministry of Labour yesterday. The new service will be free, except that employers must make their own arrangements' for getting the women to Britain. Applications for workers will be forwarded by the Ministry of Labour to the German central placing office, which will send details of a suitable worker to the, prospective employer and the names and addresses of two people given by the as This will not, however, be a certificate of character. All women, will have been medically examjned. If the employer is satisfied, the domestic will later write directly to him.

He must still apply for a permit to employ the woman-The scheme applies to single women and childless widows between 18 and 45, and sis limited to the en gagement of full-time domestics oh a living-in basis in private households. Schoolboys' Exhibition By A Staff Reporter TPHIS year two buildings, the Royal and New Horticultural Halls, Vincent-square, Westminster, necessary to house the Schoolboy's' Own Exhibition, which was opened yesterday by Field-Marshal Lord Wilson of Libya. The Army offers a realistic land scape target range, reverberations from which periodically shake the building. The Navy stand has a model destroyer bridge and the actual Yangtse chart used on the Amethyst (Commander Kerans is among the guest The. R.A.F.

has a model airfield. There is an excellent agricultural section, and' the Zoological- Society has a pets stand." A'so present in force are the Coal Board, the Ministry of Supply, the North Thames Gas Board, and, of course, British Railways, with a magnificent -model track lined by boys waiting for their turn at the controls. Side by side with these exhibits and their tempting career literature, are less ambitious but no less boy-fascin ating stands offering tricks, jokes and puzzles (including the window-smash ing joke), static, bicycle races, cigarette cards, wax modelling, and tubes from which enormous balloons can be The 'exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays until January 14.

Threat of Utility doth Scarcity Unless something is done bv the Government, the trade will soon be; back to scarcities in Utility textile goods, it was stated yesterday by Mr w. I caves, secretary, or the Whole saie Textile Association. As a result of devaluation, he said manufacturers now found themselves: unable to make Utility goods to sell at the permitted ceiling The Board of Trade had been asked to act and it was hoped it would do so. Air Search For Trawler R.A.F. aircraft from East airfields were yesterday searching for the 276-ton steam trawler Margaret faton, three days overdue tiom the North bea hsfung grounds.

She left her 'home port, Granton, Firth of Forth, fourteen days ago, and was due back on Thursday. crew of thirteen, including the skipper, Mr. Philip Stevenson, come from Granton and Leith. East End Notebook Mtthuti Peto A Stepney houseivifc of splendour on its This is a one-class town. Its working-class is not buried in back streets, not as in Marylebone hidden away from the real life of the borough.

VO man need feel ashamed ot envious on the streets of Stepney, where all men are, in fact and spirit, equals. As a result Stepney belongs to its people, and they return it the love that ancient Cirecks gave their white cities in the sun. It is more than a village spirit: it has something of the exclusiveness. the happy loneliness of a military" unit. It is Stepney Conn a Mnndum.

Naturally there is snobbishness in the East End. People in Poplar and Millwall tend to look down a little on Stepney, and Stepney people are" impatient of their pretensions. Mr. Jimmy Mead, licensee of lhe Bricklayers Arms, a burly man in a waistcoat with that jolly authority proper to publicans and sea captains, was explicit. "Stepney?" he said, "what on earth did you expect wouldn't lise anvwhere else If our houses arc old and small we can help each other and ou won't find manv who warn to move awav.

Don't you get an tunnv ideas, now; Stepney's all right" 'PHERE is another reason for this feeling, besides local patriotism. Poverty and this is the revolution has clapped its nasty wings and gone. Men get good fic knowledge, has changed all that Copernicus and Einstein have transformed our view of the universe, Darwin our view of the origin, and nature of man, and Biblical cnti-" cism our view of the nature of revelation. The full effect of these reorientations, only now being widely felt, is a general lack of faith in anything. Intellectually, humanity is on the march again, and no one knows where we shall settle down.

To hasten that event, however, is the most urgent task of our schools and universities. The facts supplied by science and the interpretation supplied by philosophy and religion must be combined. Only those who, knowing the facts about the universe as a whole and about human nature itself, have wrestled with them and are determined, like Jacob, not to let them go, can hope to get that new revelation which will once again give a firm basis to our civilisation. Yours, D. N.

Clark-Lowes. Shrewsbury. Too Little Joy Sir. In your leading article last Sunday you say we need reverence, responsibility, and restraint. May We not add rejoicing? We rejoice far too little and too seldom over our homes, health, food, family, friends, education, and the lovely country which holds us all.

Yours truly, Constance Charlesworth. Northampton. TOther Letters Page 9 lhe Premier, who has so far refused to commit himself, has now had a chance; in the quiet of Chequers, to turn over the problem in his mind. It can be taken for granted that he 'will return to London with very definite views. Nothing has recently happened to alter the "opinion, first put forward in these columns, that the Government has a choice between February and June.

Political opinion generally is that the Premier will decide on the earlier date, although there is still no convincing evidence that this will in fact prove to be true. It is said that Mr. Ernest Bevjn's decision not to visit India and Pakistan after the Colombo conterence is significant, and points to an early Election. But Mr. Bevin's own explanation that he wishes to get back for the Labour Party's Jubilee celebrations at the beginning of February seems reasonable enough.

Certainly it would look a little strange without him. Pros and Cons As Before Then there is the impression that Mr. Attlee has cut his holiday short and is hurrying breathlessly back for consultations on the Election. Unfortunately there is no drama about Mr. Attlee's return.

He always intended to get back to Downing-street to-morrow. Even Mr. Philip movements have been pressed into service. Now Mr. Noel-Baker has many virtues, but surely no one can suggest that Labour's Election army is likely to be thrown into confusion by the fearful cry, "Where is Noel-Baker? The fact is that the arguments for and against an early Election are much the same as they always were.

The Government can be fairly certain of the economic situation during the next two or three months. While it is difficult to believe that an international slump could materialise by June, it is nevertheless trite that to postpone the Election for six months is to take an obvious risk. There are, however, certain factors which complicate the question. Whatever Transport House may have said, many members of the Labour Party believed some months ago that there was a swing against the Government. South Bradford is now thought to have shown that the pendulum' is moving the other way.

It can therefore be argued that the longer Labour Waits, the stronger will the tide become. Effect of Argentine Negotiations On the other hand, it is believed that "some of the Premier's advisers are still opposed to a February Elec tion on the ground that bad weather on polling day would keep many Labour supporters away. This argument seems to have much less force now than before the war. After all, there can be few Labour voters in the unhappy position of poor little Harold Wilson whor as a child, we are (old, had to 1 run about without any shoes. The Premier cannot lightly disregard the views of the experts, but it is unlikely that he will give the weather the same importance as they seem to do.

What might have an important influence in the end are the Argentine trade talks. President Perdn may believe that he has a trump card and that the British Government would agree to almost any terms rather than cut the meat ration in an Election year. But threats of this kind might have a very different effect They mignt is serving you well IRON AND STEEL FEDERATION MgK from SkattffTuLa veya iTum ommgruM TIBET is, I hear, likely to to this country to try to gain support for her independence against the incursions of Communist China. Having been conquered at one time by each of their neighbours the Tibetans distrust all foreigners, except, the British. It is generally agreed in Tibet that the best Englishmen must be Tibetans who for some venial sin have been reincarnated in this only slightly lower form.

The Dalai Lama is the absolute ruler of Tibet, as its chief priest, and any ambassador to London would come as his representative. Since this would be the first opening of full diplomatic relations with the of St James, the King might be expected to receive Tibet's highest honour, the Order of the Ruby Button and Double Eyed Peacock Feather. Neiv York Timet Dr. Soekarno, President of the United States of Indonesia. Interest In Churches Campaigns By A Staff Reporter RESPITE the gloomy estimate that half the population of England are utterly ignorant of the Christian, faith, distinct encouragement for the missions planned for 1950, in the London and Rochester dioceses and by thev Methodist Church, can be' seen in the increasijuj, popular demand for.

books'on' religion: Since; the beginning of the war tnei Society for PrdDaaatioh of linnsnan KQowieage report mat have increased eight-fold arid; are still rising. "All their 27 bookshops, from Edinburgh to Truro, report a -steadily rising de mand tor serious books on the Christian solution for daily prob lems of conducts -The Bible is still easily the best seller," the output of the Scriptures in Great, Britain by the' British and foreign Bible Society in 1948-49 having, risen rb 1,750,000 from 1,500,000 the y'ear before. The total world distribution, was. 17,500,000. Bibles now printed" and sold even in the Russian.

Zone of East-Germany. Laity Keen to Help Further, evidence that people begin to furn to Christianity, for acure. For the world's evils is the keenness' of the laity to help in evangelical; work revealed by: Bishop Wand's Mission to London last year; "and the. increased interest in religion shown at -the conventions held by the' Methodists since their' conference last, July." Among the Methodists plpns for 1950, revival of religious work in rural 'areassprominent. Campaigns are already organised for Lincolnshire, and Deaconesses' living in caravans will tourjthe 'country, with travelling Sunday Schools equipped with cinemas; teams, of specially chosen ministers will be sent out to form religious organisation in villages.

To make contact ordinary people is the keynote throughout This approach particularly in several notably Manchester and The Bishop of London's, Mission' to London, it is emphasised, will-now go on continuously from year. to year. Instruction in Parishes A notableV part of this Mission's work deals with the clergy themselves. Among the 600. parishes covering 500 square of: some incum-! behts have become sadly dispirited' by, the war, which not only destroyed their churches and1 scattered their congregations, all theV.parish' activities which; they had- speritKyears in' building up.1 such men the "Renewal, of branch of the Councils has been specially organised.

Meanwhile. last vear Mission cer tainly showedithat teanis of the laity' can oe successruiiy tormea io cnust new membersFtor tne unurcn. -j, The laity are'the principal object of the. Bishop of, Rochester's mission this year. Bishop points out, they need; training many, or tnenv-inqugn personally, are, ignorant of the doctrines of Christianity.

The first "step, therefore, will be a course. of instruction by. the cljrgy in all parishes, and between Easter and Whitsuntide congregations will be asked to'make a solermr" reaffirmation lof their vows, and teams will be tormea to wort in uic uiiicrcui parishes. Not everyone has the natural ability to evangelise, but all, the Bishop emphasises, can by their daily lives what Christ ianity means: Special missions also win oe seni to the huge dormitory communities which have grown up in the Roches-tei area. The whole oroiect is part of a Five Years' Plan which Bishop Chavasse has devised.

Three Opponents Mr. Alfred Barnes, Minister of Transport, who is Labour M.P. for East Ham Muin, win nave tnree opponents' at General Election. Mr. t-naries joraan (conservative; and Mr.

Ernest Thomas (Communist) have been in the running for some time, and Mr. Harry Young nas now been chosen by the socialist fzny of Great Britain, a small organisation with a few hundred members, to contest the- seat. Christmas Spending. In the week ended yesterday, withdrawals from National Savings totalled 20.910,000, 9,025.000 more than new savings. In the week ended December 24 withdrawals exceeded new savings by 10,477.000.

Former M.P. Dies. Alderman William A. Robinson, Labour M.P. for St.

Helens, Lanes, from 1935 to 1945, died-yesterday, aged 72. To-day's Services St. Caul's' Cathedral. 10,30, Canon Marcul Knmht: 1130, H.C.. 3 15.

Rev O. Saie: 6.30. Rev. J. Collinv Cnon-in-RcMdencc.

Wesimiiuitr Abbcv 10.30, Canon Ctnrtn Smvih: I H.C.; 3. Prbcndry J. R. Osborne; 6.30, Rev. C.

B. Naylor. St Margaret'. Westminster. S.I 5 and 12 15, H.C.; 11, Canon Charles Smyth.

6, Rev. A. Wilcox. St. Marlin in the Fields.

8.30 and "5 H.C 11 30.. Rev. Amlen Williams: 6 30. Rev. M.

Charlev-Edardv 7.4S, Chml- mas and Eptpham in Poetrv, Prose and Music. Westminster Cathedral. 1 3. Rn Pilking- ton. T.

Rev. W. G. Wheeler Ninth Church of Ohmi Sieniivl. 1 ondon.

fl.rl, Marsham-slreet WeMnnrNier. -II nd 7 Centra Halt. Westminuer. II and Rev Dr. Songster.

Citv Temple lit Marjlcbonc PresbMenan Churvh. OeorKe-slrefi. I Jgvvarc-rnad 1 1 1 1 and 30, Rev. Dr. Leslie D.

Wealherhead Weslev's Chapel, Citv-road, C.I. 11 and 6 30. Rev. Ronald V. Spiiev.

30 Stepney, Here I STEEL TAKE-OVER POSTPONED AL LL that is left of Stepney lies between the branch ing of the Mile End and the Commercial roads, where the lorries drive headlong out of London as if in terror of what lies behind. It looks a quiet and "saddened town, as if the streets were still mourning its war-time dead and wasted generations. There is a deep London murmur from across the houses, but its squares and crescents are still. Sometimes there is a sudden shouting of gum-booted children, running past in some half-secret game, or the ding of a tobacconist's door-bell The quiet is suddenly broken by the noise of an tron-shod coster's cart that shuddersvpast like a small cheap chariot, shaking furiously and disappearing down the empty road into the silence. This place has suffered terribly, and lis wounds are still surprising to a stranger.

There are rows of ruined shops whose doors and windows still gape like dead mouths. There are empty spaces like fields scythed out-bv explosions. Some of the streets have grassy edges. Here and there are thin spires looking hopeless against the grey sky; the masts of ships sometimes show above the roof-tops. t.

I almost every street there are small chapels; most are burnt and ruined. Sometimes only a thin, faintly ecclesiastical front is kit. the doors are closed by crossed planks, and there is coarse grass and rubbish where the people praved But it is the little houses thai make Stepney thousands of them nnc after the other like notes in a long mad scale of music. They curve away in circles, or march off in long lines and form squares, or stand defiantly, two or three together, in an acre of ruin. They are almost always two stories high, three windows in all, and a door They have a sad repetitive elegance as if their makers half-remcmbcrcd some great tradition of building The streets hcai such names as Jubilee.

Para-Jise. and Arbour. Hjkms. Bclgiuve. anj AJclina.

The houses jre finished with dingy ellow plasiei. Their windows arc lighik uirt.imcd I heir Lhimnes smoke furiously Iliev homes, more jealously and proudly maintained than castles. Maybe, in a way, these narrow buildings have forced a special sort AH things for all people everywhere throughout a century of service this has been Harrods motto. The counties! messages of congratulation received during their Centenary celebrations have been proof indeed of the friendship and goodwill of thousands of people in all parts of the world. To all their friends Harrods send hearty greetings for 1950 and an assurance that the achievements of the past hundred years are but a prelude to even greater endeavour in the years ahead.

It means that thinking men and women of all parties who are increasingly uneasy about the nationalization of steel and its effect oh prices, exports and employment have a real chance to ask for this question to be reconsidered. The choice is between nationalization and the present proved policy. This policy is: 1 To retain healthy competition in service, costs, quality and inventiveness. 2 To stimulate progress through co-operation in research, recruitment, training, etc. 3 To protect the public interest by Government supervision of the industry through a board, representing workers and the public' Under this policy output has been raised, prices kept down and traditional good labour relations maintained.

1 HARRODS LTD luuid by thi BRITISH LONDON SWl.