Show NEWS REVIEW London Londo Meet Dissolves Inflation Bill Defeated The lethargic uninspired ending of the Big Four foreign ministers' ministers conference in London was reminiscent reminiscent reminiscent cent of nothing so much as the rather dreary business of tossing out the Christmas tree after the holidays There was a small amount of nostalgia nostalgia nostalgia nos nos- talgia and regret expressed over the abrupt finish of the unsuccessful discussions discussions discussions dis dis- dis- dis but there was also a thinly veiled feeling that perhaps after all it was a good thing the affair was over As seen dimly through clouds of futility and frustration what the wind-up wind of the German and Austrian Austrian Austrian Aus Aus- trian peace treaty talks amounted to was this The western powers had failed utterly to reach any kind of agreement with Russia on the fate of Germany and the failure leaves Europe more firmly divided than at any time since the war ended Although the delegates were unable unable unable un un- un- un able to agree on any single issue on their agenda the point upon which the conference balloon burst was the problem of German reparations To the inevitable question What now diplomatic authorities were answering with a prediction that the United States Great Britain and France would begin negotiations soon among themselves concerning the unification of western Germany Russia would be out of it and there was no prospect of another four- four power meeting in 1948 or in any other year CONGRESS Straw Man ManOf an Of the two pressing reasons why President Truman called congress into special session in November one had been disposed of but the theother theother theother other kept hanging around like an anevil anevil anevil evil spirit as the year drew to a close The senate and house had voted strongly in favor of authorizing up to million dollars for emergency winter whiter relief for France Italy Austria Austria Austria Aus Aus- tria and China but no such accord was displayed in dealing with the problem of inflation at home Rejecting President Truman's 10 point proposal for fighting inflation by imposing wage and price controls controls con controls con con- and selective rationing house Republicans offered an inflation anti-inflation bill based upon voluntary agreements agreements agreements agree agree- ments for price reductions With a two-thirds two vote needed for passage the Republican measure went down to defeat to The house split almost exactly along party lines over the bill not one Democrat breaking ranks to vote in favor of it it The President has asked for bread and you have given him a astone astone astone stone said Rep Brent Spence Dem Ky in summing up the debate debate debate de de- de- de bate for the Democrats Rep A. A S. S Mike Dem Okla dusted of off of another bromide when he charged the GOP majority with setting up a straw man to combat the menace of inflation That was the swan song for any inflation anti-inflation legislation during the special session Although the senate was wa preparing to act on the house- house killed bill there appeared to be belittle belittle belittle little likelihood that the Republicans would be able to put through their proposals |