THE FUTURE OF SOCIALISM
SIR,—Mr. Francis Williams is ungenerous. I read The Triple Challenge with appreciation and a good deal of care, including the chapters he refers to, but I did not find in them, except by 'implication, the statement that he now makes, which, summarised, is that the State Socialist Govern- ment has been living on capital ever since it came into power, and that nationalisation (which on pre-war values shows a continuous loss), increases of wages, subsidies (including those on food) and the higher cost of living are all provided out of the rapidly diminishing savings of our people in past generations. It is a terrible indictment. Does he know of any responsible Socialist Minister who has publicly confirmed this? If so, when and where?
He quarrels with my reference to "real wages," but my meaning is obvious enough. "Real wages " have increased to the wage earner by 10 per cent., but the cost of living to all other citizens (a majority of the population) has increased by 70 per cent. That statement should be easily understood, whether or not Mr. Williams accepts it. I am not concerned to defend the statements of Mr. Churchill or Lord Woollen, or past Conservative Governments. I am not a Conservative ; but I am anxious that all of our citizens should realise the road that we are travelling and understand that except for American aid, which is of course temporary, we should be facing the direst conditions.
If Mr. Williams is right.in the foregoing statement (and I believe he is) our future prospects are tragic indeed, but, if we are to accept the con- clusions arrived at in The Triple Challenge, his remedy is more of the same medicine. It is not an inviting draught! Meanwhile, Mr. Williams does not controvert the major points raised in my last letter, from which I assume that he accepts them as accurately setting out the present situation in this country.—I am, yours faithfully,
ANGUS WATSON.
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