Free politics arise out of opposition of interests and the clash of views. They work towards the resolution of these differences, not by assuming that an identity of interest can always be achieved nor by seeking to remove all basis of disagreement, but by reconciliation and compromise according to customary or acceptable procedures. If that is so, it is both unrealistic and unprofitable to ask that as soon as an area of policy becomes explosive or requires drastic action it should be promoted to a political Olympus where dwell the beneficent deities, All the Talents, National Coalition, True Patriots, and such demigods as Men of the Centre, and Radicals of All Parties.
In a weaker sense, however, the demand that housing and immigration be “taken out of politics”, though awkwardly expressed, is a valid protest against present dangers. The tensions, prejudices, and hostility inseparable from the settlement of foreign immigrants in any numbers, especially those remote in physical characteristics and social customs from an insular European nation, are open to exploitation in the interest of political power, local or national. To ask for an abatement of politics in this connexion is not to ask that argument should cease or party disagreements be submerged; but that policies be advocated and criticized with honest motives, with proper moderation, and with a responsible sense of the dreadful consequences that could flow from any serious mishandling or aggravation.
CONTINENTAL BOURSES STRONG RECOVERY ON MILAN
European bourses were a mixed bag last week, ranging from very firm to very much easier.
Milan took pride of place, with many issues scoring new highs for the year. The uptrend started as a technical reaction which met some profit-taking. But even a modest revival of investment demand late in the holiday-shortened week resulted in prices finishing some 30 per cent over the low points recorded so far in 1965.
Conversely, Zurich was hit by professional profit-taking combined with a good deal of hesitancy by investors who were anticipating higher loans and who were worried about the increasing effects of the anti-inflation measures. Here, prices fell to their worst levels for some six months.
Another centre to make a poor showing was Frankfurt, where shares eased almost continuously throughout the week, local operators declaring that foreign selling orders were responsible. Both Amsterdam and Paris were somewhat dull and hesitant; internationals quoted on the former
rineros. Vasta e sila fulos stir nel ruda frigo po adsi lo lenta progredo tru White Hall, Trafalgar Square, lo Strand e Fleet Street, ver San Paul.
Patrick O’Donovan (“The Observer”, London, 31 Janar 1965.)
FRUTIFA О STERILA POLITIK?
L’etveka okup nel Komunyos ensar pe plulida debatos pri du subjekos ki, as plus abserveros trir, pezir pluse nel mentos del urba voteros dun lo last-ersa general-elektos : lojo e imigro. Dok, paradoxe, respektat vokos se elevar askanda k’et alte politika qestyonos siu “dusat da politik.” Es eto mindar k’un trev sbur si askat nel partedos-malakordos pri lojo e imigro, e ke lo responsablas pril konduk о pril formazo del opin shur akontre koncentrisi pri sert principos e za aplikazo, pri ко tot beninformat e bondispona jensos sar putat akordenda, dan l’exijo shar si putat rivelan-da som malkomprenos pril natur de demokrata politik e del subjekos debatat.
Frida politik surgar da opon d’interesos e da urto d’opinos. It aktar ver lo solvo d’et defos, no pel prezum k’un idento d’interesos par si atangat, о kirande dusi kel bazo de malakordo, mo pe rekonsil e kompromado les uza о axeptibla procedur. Es ete, sar ambe norealista e noprofitifa aski ke, des un procedo-teren jar explodifa о nesar drastika aktado, it shur si promovat a un politika Olimpo vo lo benifa deos vivar. Tot Talentos, Nasyona Koalizo, Vera Patriotos, e tal semideos as Viros del Centro о totparteda Radikalas.
Dok, in un senso plu liva, l’asko ke lojo e imigro siu “dusat da politik”, gre malable expresat, sar un protest valida kontrel nuna dangos. Lo tensos, prejudisos e ostilados noseparibla dal instalazo de kelnuma xena imigreros, specale d’eos remota pe fizika karaktalos e socala uzos da un europa isla nasyon, se ofrar al explotazo nel interes de loka о nasyona politika poso. Aski un minazo de politik etrigarde no mindar aski l’argument cesu о lo partedos-malintendos siu submergat; mo lo procedos siu defendat о kritikat kon onesta motivos, kon propala modereso e kon un senso responsabla del afra konsekos ki derivur da un serya maltrato о pizazo.
(“The Times”, London, 22 mars 1965.)
KONTINENTA BURSOS GRAN RIKUPERO Ml LAN YE
Europa Bursos sir pasveke un mix, ganda da muy firma a mul deblira.
Milan prenir l’onor-plas, kon mul titlos markanda nuv cimos pol anyo. Lo monta mov ensir as un tekna reakto ki inkontrir som profitprenos. Mo mesme un modesta ravelyo del investo-asko ende lo vek kurtat pe un fest-id butir a presyos endanda 30 proek sure lo basesta puntos markat usnun in 1965.
Akontre, Zurich sir kolpat pe profitprenos kombinat kon un sert ezit del investeros, ki previdir plu alta lonos, e ki sir nugat pel kreska efektos del anti-inllada disponados. Ye, presyos kadir al basesta nivos del last sit mesos.
Unosa centro exibir un pova spekto, Frankfurt, vo lo titlos deblir fas kontinue dun lo vek, loka opereros atribande lo kauzo a xena vendos. Amba Amsterdam e Paris sir pluye morna e ezita. L’internasyonas qotat nel prima d’et merkados rispekir lo movos de Wall Street, dun Paris sir market reflected Wall Street movements, while Paris was unsettled ahead of Government measures which are expected to include company reforms.
WEST EUROPE’S GROWTH RATE SLACKENING, U.N. REPORT SAYS
By the Associated Press
Geneva, March 26. — Western Europe continued its economic expansion during 1964 but there are signs that growth rates may slacken this year, according to a United Nations report released today.
The Economic Commission for Europe said that the future depends on the problems now facing Britain, France and Italy.
The French and Italian governments were forced to clamp down on the growth of demand and output last year because of inflation in 1963 and there has not been any sign of revival, the report said.
Economic difficulties in the United Kingdom culminated in a record balance-of-payments deficiency and the report forecast that current trends and policies will not improve the situation “in\the foreseeable future.”
It added that Britain must boost its exports to correct the situation. “Те strengthen the export bias permanently means to change habits and attitudes as well as price and profit relationships, and this will not be done quickly,” it warned.
“But only if this can be done will the United Kingdom move into a phase of sustained growth.”
LETTRE A MES AMIS
(1958, Brussels).
June 8th,1958 “Junior fui et etiam senui.”
My dear friends,
Today I am celebrating joyfully my 70th birthday.
Having come to the evening of my life, which for the greater part took place during a tumultuous and blood-stained period in history, I find myself embarrassed at recognising — as I cast my eyes back over the years — that I view it with feelings that are wholly imbued with happiness.
Like all men, I too have experienced the cruel blows of adversity; nor could I avoid sharing in the misfortunes of others.
Yet, in spite of adversity and suffering and in spite of a sense of shame and spiritual abasement at having been only a spectator in an age of confusion and intolerance, I have been infinitely happy — and am so even today.