A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
RATHER paradoxically the warnings of still harder times to come, and various other depressing news in Thursday's papers, had on me, and no doubt on most other people, a quite tonic effect. The suggestion that at last somebody was beginning to do something instead of continuing to let everything go on.drifting does at least foreshadow a change for the better. Most of it ought to have been done long ago, and the Government will not escape and does not deserve to escape, heavy censure for its laisser faire attitude in face of crisis. Now there do seem to be real signs of movement. We have been told for months that our rations may have to be cut ; now we are told they are going to be cut ; well, let them be cut as soon as may be as a start towards balancing our accounts. For we clearly can balance them. This country never looked less like being down and out. Its productive capacity is as high as ever it was. But world-conditions, of course, necessitate readjustments here, and
• life will be hard till they have been carried through. Politically the crisis may yet force us back on. a coalition government, though no- body wants one and on the whole it is not likely to happen. Mean- while I am glad to see the flat denial of the improbable reports of Mr. Attlee's intention to resign. Tne Prime Minister has his limita- tions, but he very' definitely has his qualities, and the moment you begin considering the series of changes which his resignation would entail the desirability of his remaining where he is stands out a mile.
Previous page
