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cilities and holiday centers are promised the
They have issued three manifestos: an "Agri-
people. But although social welfare measures
cultural Charter," an "Industrial Charter,"
are underlined, the statement indicates that
and an "Imperial Charter," which set forth
their expansion depends on increasing the
in general terms their beliefs; finally they pro-
economic productivity of the nation.
duced in July 1949 a pamphlet entitled "The
For all the concessions which this program
Right Road for Britain." The Conservatives
makes to the more theoretical Socialists, and
do not promise any headlong retreat from the
its promises to the general body of constitu-
principles and practices of the "welfare state";
ents, the fiscally orthodox and painfully aus-
if they should be elected there would be no
tere economic measures of the Party were
revolutionary change, but certainly a shift in
clearly presented in Sir Stafford Cripps' budget
emphasis. The most remarkable effort of the
for the year 1949-1950. No taxes were reduced
Conservative Party has not been in enunciat-
save for a penny taken off the pint of beer.
ing policy, but in reorganizing and refinancing
Food subsidies were to be pegged in such a way
the party. Under the direction of Lord Wool-
that the cost of living would immediately ad-
ton party membership has jumped from less
than one million to some two and a half million
vance. Business enterprises were to get
slightly more generous treatment with respect
(the Labor Party counts over five million),
to the proportion of profits which they might
and at least two million pounds have been
put aside for capital development. Expendi-
raised from voluntary contributions.
tures for social welfare services and the like,
Neither party can look forward to the com-
said Cripps, could not be much further in-
ing election with assurance of victory. Many
creased without large increases in revenue.
competent observers believe that Labor will
Thus the outlines of Labor's economic policy
win again, but with a much reduced majority.
were seen to be still directed towards a con-
This prediction is based mainly on the lack of
quest of inflationary tendencies, an increase of
a clear, positive, and inspiring Conservative
exports, and a keeping of imports to a mini-
policy; on the persistent public suspicion of
mum. Such a program must depend for an
the Party as representing the worst aspects of
appeal to the voters upon its remarkable
the old order; and on the assumption that the
honesty, for it certainly offers them no bribes
incumbent Labor Government will be able
or delusions. The problem will be for Labor-
to select the election date most favorable to
ite leaders to maintain such a policy during
its return. On the other hand, it cannot be
the coming year against the pressure of rank-
denied that the vastly increased effectiveness
and-file opinion, and to do so without sacri-
of the Conservative Party organization must
ficing their chances in the coming election.
show results in getting out the votes, while
The Conservatives hope to gain the votes
the dreariness of life under austerity cannot
of those who are "tired of Socialist misrule."
fail to be reflected in a lack of enthusiasm for
Their leaders have taken a "practical" political
the government in office. Recent local elec-
view, that no government which has been in
tions show a definite trend towards the Con-
power during the five frustrating, austere,
servatives, but it is not yet pronounced enough
postwar years can hope to be returned by the
to make predictions certain.
grateful citizenry. Hence the Conservatives
One important fact about the situation is
for long scarcely thought it needful to draft
that political evolution has continued in the
a detailed policy of their own. In their cus-
traditional British fashion; the Conservative
tomary fashion they indicated that they would
Party has adjusted itself to all but the most
organize the economic battle with greater com-
recent accomplishments of its opponents, and
petence than their opponents have shown-
it could take office without producing any-
this is their major argument-and they hinted
thing even approaching a revolution. Stoutly
that the United States might be more generous
as the Conservatives denounce socialism, they
to a non-Socialist regime. They promise that
would certainly not denationalize coal, nor the
if elected they will reverse the nationalization
Bank, nor the medical services, nor the utili-
of steel, and probably also of road haulage.
ties, nor probably the transport services (ex-
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"ocrText": "28\ncilities and holiday centers are promised the\nThey have issued three manifestos: an \"Agri-\npeople. But although social welfare measures\ncultural Charter,\" an \"Industrial Charter,\"\nare underlined, the statement indicates that\nand an \"Imperial Charter,\" which set forth\ntheir expansion depends on increasing the\nin general terms their beliefs; finally they pro-\neconomic productivity of the nation.\nduced in July 1949 a pamphlet entitled \"The\nFor all the concessions which this program\nRight Road for Britain.\" The Conservatives\nmakes to the more theoretical Socialists, and\ndo not promise any headlong retreat from the\nits promises to the general body of constitu-\nprinciples and practices of the \"welfare state\";\nents, the fiscally orthodox and painfully aus-\nif they should be elected there would be no\ntere economic measures of the Party were\nrevolutionary change, but certainly a shift in\nclearly presented in Sir Stafford Cripps' budget\nemphasis. The most remarkable effort of the\nfor the year 1949-1950. No taxes were reduced\nConservative Party has not been in enunciat-\nsave for a penny taken off the pint of beer.\ning policy, but in reorganizing and refinancing\nFood subsidies were to be pegged in such a way\nthe party. Under the direction of Lord Wool-\nthat the cost of living would immediately ad-\nton party membership has jumped from less\nthan one million to some two and a half million\nvance. Business enterprises were to get\nslightly more generous treatment with respect\n(the Labor Party counts over five million),\nto the proportion of profits which they might\nand at least two million pounds have been\nput aside for capital development. Expendi-\nraised from voluntary contributions.\ntures for social welfare services and the like,\nNeither party can look forward to the com-\nsaid Cripps, could not be much further in-\ning election with assurance of victory. Many\ncreased without large increases in revenue.\ncompetent observers believe that Labor will\nThus the outlines of Labor's economic policy\nwin again, but with a much reduced majority.\nwere seen to be still directed towards a con-\nThis prediction is based mainly on the lack of\nquest of inflationary tendencies, an increase of\na clear, positive, and inspiring Conservative\nexports, and a keeping of imports to a mini-\npolicy; on the persistent public suspicion of\nmum. Such a program must depend for an\nthe Party as representing the worst aspects of\nappeal to the voters upon its remarkable\nthe old order; and on the assumption that the\nhonesty, for it certainly offers them no bribes\nincumbent Labor Government will be able\nor delusions. The problem will be for Labor-\nto select the election date most favorable to\nite leaders to maintain such a policy during\nits return. On the other hand, it cannot be\nthe coming year against the pressure of rank-\ndenied that the vastly increased effectiveness\nand-file opinion, and to do so without sacri-\nof the Conservative Party organization must\nficing their chances in the coming election.\nshow results in getting out the votes, while\nThe Conservatives hope to gain the votes\nthe dreariness of life under austerity cannot\nof those who are \"tired of Socialist misrule.\"\nfail to be reflected in a lack of enthusiasm for\nTheir leaders have taken a \"practical\" political\nthe government in office. Recent local elec-\nview, that no government which has been in\ntions show a definite trend towards the Con-\npower during the five frustrating, austere,\nservatives, but it is not yet pronounced enough\npostwar years can hope to be returned by the\nto make predictions certain.\ngrateful citizenry. Hence the Conservatives\nOne important fact about the situation is\nfor long scarcely thought it needful to draft\nthat political evolution has continued in the\na detailed policy of their own. In their cus-\ntraditional British fashion; the Conservative\ntomary fashion they indicated that they would\nParty has adjusted itself to all but the most\norganize the economic battle with greater com-\nrecent accomplishments of its opponents, and\npetence than their opponents have shown-\nit could take office without producing any-\nthis is their major argument-and they hinted\nthing even approaching a revolution. Stoutly\nthat the United States might be more generous\nas the Conservatives denounce socialism, they\nto a non-Socialist regime. They promise that\nwould certainly not denationalize coal, nor the\nif elected they will reverse the nationalization\nBank, nor the medical services, nor the utili-\nof steel, and probably also of road haulage.\nties, nor probably the transport services (ex-"
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