The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 5

5 WORLD WHEAT AGREEMENT RUHR'S RENEWED THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN. THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1049 THE BRITISH AT AQABA SKILFUL COMPROMISE IN LABOUR ELECTION POLICY PROTESTS .80 Maximum Mediator Objects TRUCE BROKEN BY ALL PARTIES" Next Instalments of Nationalisation CEMENT, SUGAR, AND WATER SUPPLY SUGGESTED From our Labour Correspondent RUSSIA'S DESIGNS IN EUROPE CHECKED Claim by Mr, Bevin A TORY WARNING OF NEW MOSCOW MOVES FROM OUR PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT Reparations Policy FATE OF FACTORIES UNDECIDED From our own Correspondent Dusseldorf, March 23. The German press is giving prominence to statements by th'e Ministry of Economics in North Rhine-Westphalia criticising Britain's dismantling policy and methods in the Ruhr. The Westdeutsche Housing is treated as a subject of the first importance, and it is understood that nationalisation of the cement Londojs, Wednesday. Mr.

Attlee, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Bevan, and all the other architects of Labour party policy assembled at Transport House to-day to approve a party statement on. the policy to be offered to the country at the next election. The draft plans were approved and they are now promised to the constituencies and to.the world at large in the first week of April.

Policy-making has been the subject of numerous discussions with the T.U.C., with the Co-operative party, with individual trade unions, and with Ministers who. like Sir Stafford Cripps. are powerful figures in the Government but who are not members of the party's National Executive. The result of all this activity seems to have been a victory though it may be tactical rather than strategic for the school of thought which thinks that the party, if it wins the next election, had better' use the next five years to consolidate ground already won instead of venturing far into enticing new fields of nationalisaton. The forthcoming policy statement will not be a final declaration of the party's intentions.

It will be debated at the annual conference in June and discussed again at the Trades Union Congress in September. The political emphasis in final policy-making will depend on what happens at these assemblies. BETWEEN THE LINES The document approved to-day is said to hold little that is revolutionary. But the Left wing of the party may be able to read hopes between the lines. One gathers that wholesale promises to nationalise great industries like chemicals or shipbuilding are absent, but that there are passages which could be interpreted as asking the country to give the Labour party a general mandate to nationalise any industry in circumstances which might seem appropriate.

This is skilful political tactics the Left wing need not rebel, but the party as a whole remains uncommitted. The framers of policy have cast their net wide to attract as many voters as possible. The ideology of nationalisation has been given second place to the practical effects of policies on people. Dealing with the Berlin air-lift, Mr. Macmillan speculated (amid Mr.

Platts-Mills's cries of War on whether we could not have forced a withdrawal of the blockade by direct measures, and he wonders whether we can carry on the air-lift indefinitely. But he was emphatic on one thing. We must be prepared to resist a "fake appeasement move by Russia designed to lead to a German treaty and the ending of the occupation. That, said Mr. Macmillan.

would be a kiss of death and would leave Germany wide open to the gangster methods which enslaved Czechoslovakia. What a wicked thing to say," objected the outraged Mr. Platts-Mills, who had been on the boU all through Mr. Macmillan's speech. In an earlier collision with Mr.

Platts-Mills and' Mr. Gallacher, Mr. Macmillan had warnsd the two that this was no comic affair but might be a tragic one before the summer is out. He has spoken in this strain before. A CLASH While Mr.

McNeil agreed, as has been said, with Mr. Macmillan's general assessment of the situation in Greece and did not wish to diminish its gravity, he yet claimed there were some signs, though not to be exaggerated, of economic recovery and some evidence that advances are being gained against the rebels, particularly in the Pelopon-nese. The Minister promised that the Government would keep a careful eye on Yugoslavia but he frowned on Mr. Macmillan's proposal for economic help on terms and uttered a warning against embarrassing the Yugoslav Government at this difficult moment. With great alacrity Mr.

McNeil endorsed a shout from below the Government gangway, "Tito's not for sale." That is quite he commented. As the debate developed Germany came more into the picture and Mr. J. T.U.C.'s ANXIETY OVER WAGE RESTRAINTS Chancellor Urged to Consider Price Control From our Labour Correspondent Washington, March 23. An international wheat agreement for four years was concluded here to-day, fixing the price range within which 456,283,389 bushels of wheat will move annually.

Subject to ratification the agreement will come into force on August 1. The agreement fixes a maximum price of $1.80 (nine shillings) per bushel and a minimum of $1.50 in 1949-50, falling by 10 cents annually to $1.20 In 1952-3. Transactions outside the agreed range of prices will be entirely free but will not count towards fulfilment of obligations assumed by signatory countries. Five nations will guarantee to export 456,283,389 bushels of wheat annually to 37 importing nationa. Russia and Argentina are the only large exporters not concerned in the agreement.

The quotas of the three main exporters the United States, Canada, and Australia are down by about 10 per cent on the agreement drawn up in 1948 but not ratified. They are Bushels Canada 203.069,635 U.S.A 168,069,635 Australia 80,000.000 Britain, to take 177,067.938 bushels, is the largest importer. BRITISH DISAPPOINTMENT At the final plenary session of the conference to-day, the leader of the British delegation, Mr. Sheed Anderson, moved the adoption of the agreement, but said the Government was greatly disappointed that two major exporting countries, Argentina and Russia, were not to sign. He hoped both countries would consider signing the agreement at a not too distant date." Mr.

Anderson said Britain believed the new agreement could make an enduring and effective contribution towards the stabilisation of world wheat prices provided there was close co-operation between the signatory countries. As long as Governments carry out their obligations under the agreement it is open to them to conduct their trade how they wish, by private trade or by Government institutions. If an exporting country and an importing country agree, a transaction or part of a transaction for the purchase and sale of wheat entered into before the entry into force of the new agreement shall. irrespective of price, count towards the guaranteed sale and purchase quantities of those countries. There are some doubts whether the United States Congress will ratify the agreement and commit the country to supply wheat at a price which will involve the payment this year of more than $50,000,000 in subsidies to farmers.

There seems little doubt that Canada will ratify promptly. The danger is that without an international agreement the United States might declare wheat in surplus supply, which would mean Canada's exclusion from future wheat purchases under the European Recovery Programme. Reuter. TIMBER OR STEEL Mr. Wilson Orders a Review Mr.

Harold Wilson. President of the Board of Trade, assured members of the Timber Trade Federation in London last night that proposals by the trade concerning the resubstitution of timber for steel were under urgent review. He was referring to claims that to use steel as a substitute for timber cost more dollars than timber itself. I believe that even though dollar softwood may be involved, some re-substitution of timber for steel will undoubtedly be in the economic interest of this country," he said. Our need of steel for reconstruction and re-equipment, not to mention colonial development and essential exports, nas brought about in the past two years a steel shortage which perhaps dominates all other raw.

material shortages He had asked all departments to review the substitution policy as a matter of urgency in the light of the trade's proposals. Major W. Newland Hillas. president of the Federation, had said that many alleged substitutes for timber did not compare in either cost, suitability, or durability with timber, and it would be of great economic advantage to Britain if certain of these substitutes were exported in larger quantities. An important factor in the question of attempting achieve equality between exports and imports was that bulk buying had led to high prices.

The trade was confident that it could buy much cheaper. SKELETON IN ESSEX -COTTAGE Murder Not Suspected Police inquiries, following the finding of a skeleton, believed to be that of Miss Ada Constance Kent, in a tumbledown cottage at Fingringhoe (Essex) on Tuesday, are not being conducted on the lines of suspected murder." This was stated by Captain F. R. Peel, Chief Constable of Essex, last night. It is understood that it has not yet been established whether Miss Kent, an ex-actress, who was 66 when she disappeared ten years ago.

met her death naturally or by accident or suicide. The cottage door was nailed and barred last night after the police had finished clearing out the furniture. Two youths, who have reported that some years ago they disturbed the skeleton. are to Be interviewed- lac box containing the skeleton has been taken away by Dr. F.

E. Camps, the county pathologist, whose report is expected to show the cause of death and to confirm that the skeleton is that of Miss Kent. TRAWLERS AGROUND IN GALES Some of Crew Taken Off Oslo. March 23. The British trawler Indian Star tonight rescued some of the crew of the Hull trawler Spaniard (542 tons) which had run aground off the SXetnes lighthouse near Gamvik, Finmark, North Norway.

It is believed that the Spaniard's skipper and some of the crew remained on- board. The vessel, -in westerly gales, was thought to be in danger of breaking up. and a salvage boat was going to help her. Another Norwegian salvage boat was going to the assistance of the Grimsby trawler Leeds United (405 tons) which, laden with fish, had run aground south of Harstad. Reuter.

From our Diplomatic Correspoafient London, Wednesday. The report of the Palestine acting mediator, Dr. Bunche, to the Security Council, in which he states that recent Israeli and Trans or dan troop movements along the Palest in e-Transjordan frontier in the region of Aqaba and the recent reinforcement of the forces Britain sent to Aqaba in January all constitute violations of the truce conditions accepted by both sides under the Security Council resolution of May 29, has not been submitted to the British Government. The view is taken in London that Britain never regarded the terms of the May resolution as affecting Britain that it applied only to the parties directly concerned in the dispute and that Britain was not a party to the dispute. Britain has always maintained that her right to move her forces within the Middle Eastern area affected by the resolution in accordance with her several treaty obligations remained unaffected.

It is also pointed out that Dr. Bunche made no representations either tp Britain or to the Security Council when Britain first answered the call for help by Transjordan under the terms of our treaty of mutual assistance and sent her first troops into Aqaba. The position as regards the Council resolution had not been changed by the dispatch of reinforcements. The belief is expressed here that the Israeli protest to the Security Council about the presence of British forces in this Red Sea port, and Israel's reported refusal to negotiate an armistice settlement with Transjordan until Britain withdraws, are dictated by the hope of robbing Transjordan during the armistice negotiations, which are to take place shortly, of the bargaining point which Transjordan would have in the presence of British troops on her territory. That may be but no such motives can be attributed to Dr.

Bunche, and however it may be felt that a protest on such an issue may come ill from Israel, Britain will have to take seriously the indictment which is contained in the acting mediator's report to the Security Council. THE INTELLECTUALS Trouble Coming in New York New York, March 23. Patriotic, civic and ex-servicemen's groups announced plans to-day for a mass protest against the world peace conference opening here on Friday. The co-ordination of a picketing movement has been undertaken by the newly formed People's Committee for Freedom of Religion. The leaders said that thousands will be in the line and the demonstration will have as its slogan Communists are not welcome here.

We don't want you. Get out." Dr. Stapledon, the only one given a visa in Britain, is on his way. The Russians who arrived to-dav dodged the reporters by walking out of a back door of the airfield building. Sponsors of the protest movement said that crepe-covered flags of the countries of Eastern Europe will be carried by refugees and prayers will be said for an end to the Red Fascist intolerance and tyranny by picket lines around the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where the conference opens.

The pickets will carry pictures of Cardinal Mindszenty, Archbishop Stepinac, Jan Masaxyk. and the Protestant ministers imprisoned in Bulgaria. Mr. Joseph Calderon. a lawyer and chairman of the People's Committee for Freedom of Religion, said It is time we took the initiative away from Stalin and his Communists here." Associated Press.

A VISA FOR MR. HORNER Mr. Arthur Horner. Communist secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, who is a delegate to the International Coal Conference at Pitts ourgh next month, was yesterday granted a visa at the United States njnoassy. Me said afterwards that there had been no difficulties and no supplementary questions had been asKea.

AIR-LIFT CASUALTIES Proportion "Amazingly Small" From our own Correspondent Dussexdort, March 23. There have been so many accidents recently on the Berlin air-lift that the British Air Force headquarters in Germany has pointed out that the percentage of fatal accidents is "amazingly small" considering the vast number of miles Sown. The Royal Air Force alone has Sown 17,000.000 miles and has made 7,700 sorties. The United States Air Force has had an even heavier task. The two Air Forces' totals of fatal casualties are only 19 and 26 respectively.

Two members of the crew of a Royal Air Force Dakota on the Berlin air-lift were killed in a crash near Lubeck late on Tuesday nigbt.1 DANGER OF "CRUDE" FILMS Pope's Appeal to Parents From oar own Correspondent Rome. March 23. The Pope to-day received 1 en ten preachers in Rome and, in the course of a long address, he used strong language about the films which propagate ideas of a life on earth without God." The Pope said that this propaganda was open, seductive, and continuous." He added: When one thinks, cn the one band, of the nauseating crudity and filth, in newspapers, reviews, cinemas, and theatres to-day. and. oa the other hand, of the inconceivable aberrations of parents who take their children to see these horrors, one blushes with shame and indignation." He said the Church was working for more dignified films.

industry is offered as a material contribution to housing progress. Similarly new measures of control either by nationalisation or 'bv the extension of municipal control over slaughter-houses and meat-wholesaling are suggested as steps that the party intends to take to improve the quality and perhaps reduce the price of meat. SUGAR, RUM AND WATER Sugar-refining is apparently another candidate for nationalisation, or for something near it. But the nationalisation of sugar-refining has raised some unexpected difficulties. Ift buying out the present sugar-refiners, the State would find itself the owner of a large section of the West Indian rum industry, to say nothing of the sugar plantations which Colonial peoples themselves may one day want to control.

The party has had trouble enough over the suggested State ownership of public-houses in new towns. Does it want to go into rum-distilling in a big way It seems doubtful. The public ownership of water-supply undertakings is said to be recommended in the document, and this is not expected to cause much controversy indeed, the Liberals have already recommended it, and the Conservatives, who seem searching so eagerly for Liberal ideas, are perhaps unlikely to raise political passions over water. For the rest, the document is said to offer an overhaul of the distributive trades, although in view of Co-operative objections to anything approaching State control of distribution the overhaul seems likely to stop short of major changes in retail shopkeeping. Wholesale trade, however, may come in for more attention.

Equal pay for women remains an awkward subject. Women are certainly demanding it. The Labour party is already committed to believing in it, but the Government is still reluctant. One must await the document to see what is proposed in this dilemma, for the precise form of words here will be more important than any new expression of accepting tqual pay in principle." Like all pronouncements from the T.U.C. when the General Council is conscious of conflicting pressures, this statement is remarkably involved.

What it means is that Sir Stafford has persuaded the General Council collectively that the unpalatable policy of frowning upon wage increases is still necessary, but that the members of the council as individuals subject to pressure from their rank and file are not at all confident of being able to urge restraint unless there is a marked fall fairly soon in the prices of the things that people most want to buy. The T.U.C.'s suspicions of anything that could be interpreted as laying down a national minimum wage, and the reluctance of individual unions to accept economic planning as far as wages are concerned, seem to have persuaded the Cabinet to confine its wages policy to the expression of hopes of what it would like to see. The results have naturally been arbitrary. Senior civil servants have been recommended substantial increases, but the charwomen in Government offices have not. Engineering workers, who asked for were recommended but the railway men, who asked for 12s.

have been given nothing. The situation now is far from happy. If there is to be a wages policy, some further statement by the Government is badly needed. If the position is simply left as it is, the grievances of the unlucky may multiply into a good deal of trouble. AN INDEX OF PROFITS Sir Stafford Cripps has promised the T.U.C.

that he will try to arrange for indices of salaries and profits to be published in the same way as regular statistics about wages are issued now. He hopes to improve the statistics in this year's White Paper on national income by separating salaries from incomes derived from profits, but he thinks it unlikely that either of the new indices can begin to appear before the spring of 1950. The Inland Revenue returns are among the main sources of information on salaries and incomes from profits. But these may not be published in any way that might betray the incomes of individuals. The new indices will be based on group returns which may somewhat lessen their value, but which will safeguard individuals.

MR. CHURCHILL IN NEW YORK Pickets Shout Go Back New York. March 23. As Mr. Churchill arrived in New York on the Queen Elizabeth to-day pickets organised by the "Committee against War Propaganda" of the American-Soviet Friendship Council marched near the dock entrance chanting.

No North Atlantic Pact. Go back. Mr. ChurchilL We want peace." The demonstration was orderly and did not interfere with-the thousands of New Yorkers who waited in the streets to welcome Mr. ChurchilL Mr.

Churchill told reporters at a press conference on board that he was a "whole-hearted supporter" of the Atlantic Pact. He was particularly glad to visit America to express the thanks that we all feel on the other side for the good work the United States has been doing for the world," Asked about his speech at Fulton three years ago, Mr. Churchill said he would not go back on any. of it. In fact, event had gone beyond it.

Mr. Churchill drove from the dock escorted by motor-cycle police, and as the car emerged the pickets lined up across the road, bowling up their placards and shouting. Mr. Churchill's car had sweat out of the deck entrance before the demonstrators could get near nrm. neuter.

MR. STANLEY FINAL "NO" To. Aviv. TTf 23. The Israeli Government's final decision to refuse-to allow Sydney: Stanley to enter Israel was given in Parliament to-night.

His entry was not in the interests of the State." said Mr. Shapi -Minister of the- Associated. Press and British United Press. Westminster, Wednesday. Mr.

Harold Macmillan gave to-day's debate on Germany and Eastern Europe an unfortunate start. To the obvious surprise and irritation of the Labour benches and. as it seemed, to the surprise also of some Tories, he got some tart party polemics into his speech. The Atlantic Pact is the Fulton speech realised: Western Union is the Zurich speech translated into action. So Mr.

Macmillan. That was legitimate enough. But he erected on that some scornful allusions to the way in which the Prime Minister and Mr. Bevin had, as a matter of policy, deliberately ignored the Fulton speech. "Now," he exulted, they have come round precisely to the Fulton policy." And he thumped the dispatch-box.

It was not only the irrelevance of this to a debate on Germany and Eastern Europe but the patent straining after debating points against the Government which it denoted. This was not the only instance of it Only in the closing sentence of his speech did he decide to offer Mr. Bevm a word of congratulation on the conclusion of the Atlantic Pact Even had it been allowed to stand alone there was no great warmth in the congratulation, but he abstracted even from that by adding the qualification that Mr. Bevin's record would be better if it had not been for his treatment" of Mr. Churchill.

Mr. Bevm, who had only arrived in his seat a few moments earlier, was stung into exclaiming repeatedly, Nonsense." HOSTILE LABOUR BENCHES Mr. Macmillan has constituted himself Mr. Churchill's chief fugleman. Not a speech of his for a long time but has contained its panegyric of Mr.

Churchill. He has no monopoly of admiration for Mr. Churchill. Most people gladly hear Mr. Churchill praised, but the praise loses its significance when it is done as sedulously as this.

As was to be expected, from time to time he warmed up Labour hostility to him. Al this was below the level of such a debate. When, however, he forgot to be the party controversialist he had things to say on aspects of German and Eastern European affairs demanding attention. He sees the position in Greece as desperate, and Mr. Hector McNeil, the Minister of State, who followed him, did not quarrel with this "general assessment" of the situation there.

Mr. Macmillan even predicted that if the struggle with the rebels is not ended by this summer Greece may collapse and be absorbed in the Soviet system, while in that event our Eastern Mediterranean flank would be turned and the position of Turkey and Persia compromised. He called for help for Greece with all speed, particularly for the transference of aircraft to her. Even, as he put it, at the risk of offending some of his friends he complained that there was no effective co-ordination of the British and American missions in Greece. Coming to Yugoslavia.

Mr. Macmillan was all for exploiting the present situation. He proposed economic assistance for Tito on conditions, one of which was that he should close the Greek frontier. He also shares the oDinion of some others that Moscow is planning a stroke to destrov Tito and Greece at the same time through the creation of a Macedonian federation under Bulgarian leadership. He even went so far as to advise that Russia should be warned that she would be held responsible for Bulgaria's actions.

RETURN OF LORD BALDWIN Bands and Red Flags Sr. Johns. Antigua (Leeward Isuisds). March 23. Lord Baldwin, Governor of the Leeward Islands, was greeted by enormous crowds when he arrived here from Britain.

Three "steel" bands and a brass band flying red flags waited for him. Trade union representatives carried aloft a large photograph of Lord Baldwin. The approaches to the wharf were decorated with arches of palm branches and flags while streamers of flags were erected across the main street He drove to Government House at a snail's pace with the bands playing and the people pressing and dancing round the car. According to the newspaper "Workers Voice," the programme was that all night crowds will romp outside Government House in a victory serenade with the drums wildly beating a tattoo." Reuter. JEWISH APPEAL FOR ARAB REFUGEES Telegram to Dr.

Weizmann Mr. Marcus Shloimovitz, of Salford. a member of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, yesterday sent the following telegram to Dr. Cbaim Weizmann. President of Israel Letters received from business correspondents in the Lebanon and Syria stress the tragic situation of the Palestine Arab refugees.

They are at present existing the most deDlorabie conditions of squalor and semi-starvation. Many are dying every day. The leaders of Israel should permit the Arab refugees to return to their former homes and show that they are merciful and humanitarian in accordance with the teaehines ol Judaism. It is their doty to their faith. I appeal to yon to use your influence- DR.

MALAN TO ATTEND DOMINIONS. TALKS Dr. Malan, the South African Prime Eaister. told the House of Assembly in cnetmta "yesterday that be would attorn th conference of Commonwealth Premiers to be held in London about April 21. He said the conference was unlikely to -last stole than week.

Zeitung gives five main accusations 1. Dismantling is still going on in plants which the American Humphrey Committee visited and which may still be struck on the dismantling list This is for if dismantling operations were once suspended in a large number of plants there would be considerable difficulty in restarting them. The British authorities were in no way bound to alter their dismantling schedule because of the Humphrey Committee's visit to the British zone. According to the German Ministry there are 59 plants in North Rhine-Westphalia recommended for survival by the Humphrey Committee. The British authorities believe there are 84.

2. German experts are not allowed to examine British assessments of the value of plants dismantled. A British spokesman said to-day that they had no right to do so, nor would an examination serve any special purpose. Plants are being dismantled as surplus to Germany's agreed level of industry and not on a basis of value. MACHINES ALLOWED TO RUST 3.

The Ministry of Economics drew attention to the large amount of dismantled machinery which, it-is claimed, was rusting and deteriorating during its long storage in North Rhine-Westphalia and which has not yet been allocated to receiving countries. It is believed that there are 180,000 tons of dismantled machinery in the Land and that long-winded procedure of distribution adopted by the Inter-Allied Reparations Agency in Brussels has caused this accumulation. 4. The whole dismantling programme is designed to eliminate German competition from world markets. This is an bid accusation which has been repeatedly denied by the Western Allies.

5. The Germans offered an alternative blastfurnace in the Vulcan works belonging to the Thyssen complex in place of that belonging to the Henrichihutte at Hattinbn now scheduled for dismantling, and the British are dismantling both. These accusations will be studied bv the Military Government, but a certain amount of agitation must be expected in the Ruhr as a result of the long-drawn-out inter-Allied negotiations on dismantling. Comments such as those in the "Westdeutsche Zeitung" that British dismantling measures are "devoid of all economic sense" and that reasons given bv the British are worse than paltry must be expected until the last ton of dismantled machinery has been removed from the count ry. BRITISH OFFICER ACCUSED Expelled from Prague Prague, March 23.

Captain Phillip Wildash, the British Military Permit Officer in Prague, left for the Czech frontier to-day after being threatened with arrest on very serious charges." A statement from the British Embassy said Captain Phillip Wildash, the British Military Permit Officer in Prague with the status of Consul, was detained by the police yesterday morning for interrogation and released later in the day. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed his Majesty's Embassy that there were serious charges against Captain Wildash, who would probably be arrested unless he left the country within 24 hours. In view of the short time-limit no proper investigation can be made. Further if necessary, will be issued in London. Captain Wildash is leaving the country to-day." The police yesterday questioned Captain Wildash for six hours and removed several possessions, including a telephone directory, from his flat To-day a police guard was placed outside the fiat, where his wife and young daughter are staying to attend to private affairs.

Josef Dittrich, the Czech cashier in Captain Wildash's office, was arrested last night and is still detained. British authorities describe him as an "exemplary employee." The permit office, which handles applications from people in Czechoslovakia for visas to Germany, was closed to-day. Until instructions are received from Allied headquarters in Germany local officers are dealing with permit applications only for the urgent business or personal affairs of their own nationals. American. British, and French.

Reuter CZECH CONSCRIPTION Two Years' Service Under New Bill From oar own Correspondent Viemha, March 23. The Czechoslovak Parliament to-day passed a Conscription Bui authorising the Government to call up for military service in an emergency all Czechoslovak nationals, male and female, between the ages of 17 and 60. The new law does not introduce conscription for women, who are expected to volunteer for service in sufficient numbers. If too few volunteers come forward, however, the Government is entitled to introduce conscription for women too. Conscripts will serve two years with the colours and five months in reserve.

Normally only two classes (men aged 19 and 20) wQl be conscripted every year. CLASS STRUGGLE Prague, March 23. General Svoboda. the Defence Minister, introducing the bilL said the puree of the Officers' Corps had been followed by an "intense re-education on the. basis of the 'mw of Marxist-Leninism the teaching of all iHuwi bob unoe-iasers were neing Mm MAM WfTT 4MMMMAT rT WWT devoted to the- people -the politically' mature.

Iron discipline and an intensified watch over all members of the armed forces at-, tins time, when the class strwzle. sharpens is in the forefront of ouT consideration. Witfacat merer we shall reveal, tbe strunle and xcjjoci mrminr- vug jTmnmo qi reaction." Reuter. B. Hynd contributed some criticisms of what he called the shifting policy of the three Powers, especially in the permitted level of industry.

CHECK TO RUSSIAN DESIGNS Mr. Bevin had reserved himself for the closing speech. He devoted himself mainly to Germany but ended with the general claim, in answer to a charge that we were losing the cold war. that on the contrary we had every reason to be satisfied with the check to Russian designs in Europe and particularly to her attempts to disrupt Italy and France and so bring about chaos on the Continent. He interpreted Mr.

Macmillan as having demanded the blockade of Eastern Germany following the Soviet blockade of Western Berlin. That, retorted Mr. Bevin. meant sanctions and sanctions meant war. He repeated it It would have meant war.

The alternative of the Berlin air-lift had, Mr. Bevin argued, achieved the arrest of the Communist advance at a relatively cheap cost. On Bonn and the occupation statute, Mr. Bevin told the House that there are still two or three disputed points but he insisted that the three Powers must spend their energies in surmounting these difficulties, which he declared to be of minor consequence compared with those that have already been overcome. He also mentioned that the Berlin airlift is to be raised considerably in readiness for next winter.

Dealing with East-West trade, which had figured a good deal in the debate, Mr. Bevin announced himself against a break in the trade, given proper safeguards against exporting war potential to the satellite countries, and suggested that we should not help ourselves with the common people of the satellite countries if we set about trying to starve them. Debate on page 6 17 CZECH LEADERS TO BE TRIED Exiled Politicians Prague. March 23. The Czechoslovak oihcial gaze Lie announced to-day that Jan Papenek, the Czechoslovak delegate to the United Nations before the Communist coup, will be tried in his absence in Prague on Tuesday for treason, with 16 other exiled leaders.

The list of accused includes former Ministers of the Republic, members of Parliament, diplomatists, and journalists. Leading personalities of Czech committees in Paris, London, and New York are named. Among the accused are Dr. Petr Zenkl. former Deputy Premier and former chairman of the Czechoslovak Socialist party.

Dr. Hubert Ripka. former Foreign Trade Minister and Socialist leader. Frantisek Nemec, former Minister to Ottawa, and former' member for social welfare of the emigre ogvernment in 1 London during ine war. ur.

juraj oiavut, former Ambassador to Washington, previously Minister of the Interior in the London Government during the war Vladimir Krajina. former general secretary of the Czechoslovak Socialist party. Vaclav Majer. former Minister of Food and leading Social Democrat. Reuter.

ARGENTINE INDUSTRIES FACE CRISIS State to Take Over Stocks Buenos Aires. March 23. Argentine industries, facing paralysis or a serious decline in output owing to shortage of materials, will receive Government assistance under; a decree issued to-day. All industries in this plight or threatened with difficulties during the next three months must, according- to the decree, declare their stocks to the authorities. On receipt of the declarations, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce will take urgent steps to cover the shortages.

The Treasury indicated that these steps would include expropriation of the needed materials, after which distribution would be rationed. Reuter. GREECE AND TURKEY ON HOLIDAY LIST Mr. Glenvil HaH. Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in a written reply yesterday to Mr.

John Lewis (Lab. Bolton), announced that Greece and Turkey had been added to the list of countries for which the tourist travel allowance would be available during the 12 months beginning on May London, Wednesday. The Economic Committee of the T.U.C. has had a meeting with Sir Stafford Cripps and told him that it is becoming "increasingly difficult" to restrain wage claims by workers in the lower wage groups. The T.U.C.

has added its powerful voice to the demand for reductions in purchase tax and coupled this with a renewal of its previbus demands that the Government should do more to bring down prices by statutory measures of price control. The General Council of the T.U.C. considered a report of the committee's interview with Sir Stafford to-day, and afterwards issued a statement clearly intended both to Support the Government's general economic policy and to warn it of the conditions of continued trade union support. "Attention is directed in the report to the fact that savings built up during the war have been greatly reduced, and production has increased, the statement says. "On the other hand, more is being consumed than is being produced in this country, and consumption was in fact increased during 1948.

The General Council endorsed the committee's view that since the danger of inflation is still present, although less imminent, the relaxation of restraint on increases in personal incomes might seriously affect full economic recovery. 0 In considering price changes during the past year, the report stressed the increasing difficulty of restraining wage claims by workers in the lower income groups, especially in view of tne fact that the stocks and prices of goods in shops had obviously increased. The report suggested that the Chancellor of the Exchequer might be willing to give particular consideration to some reduction in the purchase tax on essential commodities. The report pointed out, on the other hand, that the complete removal of purchase tax from items entering into the index of retail prices would reduce that index very slightly: furthermore, the necessity for an overall Budget surplus during a period of inflation is recognised in the report. "The General Council accepted the committee's view that the Chancellor of the Exchequer should be advised of the concern felt about the increases in prices which have taken place and urged to consider the possibility of reducing prices by statutory control, and also by a reduction in purchase tax where practicable." MR.

TAFT SEEKS BIG CUT IN E.R.P. "Obviously Padded" Washington. March 23. Senator Taft," the Republican leader, announced to-day that he would propose a cut of $1,000,000,000 in Marshall Aid when the European Recovery Bill reached the Senate. He said he did not question the sum of $4,280,000,000 for the year beginning on July 1, but he thought the 51.150,000.000 for the three months before July 1 was "obviously padded.

The Economic Co-operation Administration wants the money to keep its pipelines full, but I am not at all sure it would not get along just as well if we cut the overall Senator Taft said be would vote for the bill even if the Senate refused to cut the figure. Reuter. COLLAPSED IN COMMONS LOBBY Miss Florence White, founder of the National Spinsters Pension Association, collapsed in the Lobby of the Home of Commons last night when she was a siring Members of Parliament to sop-port the claim of her association for at 55. She was taken to West minster HosoilaL Miss White had been in the Lobby for seven hours. Miss Alice Lane, who has been associated with Miss White in her campaign for the past.

fourteen years, said last night that' her collapse was "due to exhaustion, frustration, and disappointment at the way the Government has treated her over our pensions Miss White's condition was later stated to be comfortable'' Renter..