Show BRIT BRITAIN AIN Close Call British Prime Prune Minister Clement Attlee and his Labor party were till still holding the reins of British government government but but It had been a mighty close call There was a serious question of how long the Labor government could stand asa as asa asa a result of its meager menger majority in 10 parliament Added to that was the peril perU of an party Intra-party strife strite In which it was reported wingers left In the party were planning a test of strength with more moderate leaders leaders leaders lead lead- ers of ot Attlee's government THE TILE PROBLEM was an easU easily obvious one Should the Labor party part party par par- t ty walk easily In the face of its hairbreadth escape from defeat Inthe in inthe Inthe the elections or should it strike out boldly baldly for continuation and expansion Ion sion of at socialism The primary interest in the election election election elec elec- tion for Americans was of course whether or not the British people were committed to more socialism end cne resultant nationalism of Industry industry industry indus Indus- try and their way of life or had they grown apprehensive enough concerning the direction of government government government govern govern- ment to change it The answer was clear to the extent ex- ex extent extent ex ex- tent that a bare majority of the people are satisfied with conditions condi condl- enough enough at least to return the Labor government to power But significantly enough the balance of that power had waned so much In the past five years years that it was almost nonexistent WHAT DID IT MEAN It was much too early to gauge the elections election's elections election's elec elec- tion's effect on the American economy economy econ econ- am omy or on Europe's overall recovery recovery recovery re re- re- re covery program but disappointment disappointment disappoint disappoint- ment in 10 the Uie US U.S. S was widespread and there was some concern lest the uncertainty of the Uie Labor government governments government's gov gov- governments government's position Interfere seriously serious serious- ly 11 with American recovery plans abroad One American newspaper woman woman woman wom wom- an was able to put into print concisely concisely concisely con con- and graphically the divergent divergent diver diver- gent British viewpoints when she reported a Conservative as saying that England would never recover until the Laborites were completely complete complete- ly thrown out and a poorer class workwoman declaring that she I didn't care how much she he had to todo todo do without just as long lone ss II the rich didn't have any more |