Both Sides of the Medal

London's Economist last week complained of a problem: when it defends the Labor government against its critics, the British Socialists use it as evidence that the anti-Socialist Economist has all but gone Socialist; when it criticizes the Labor government, anti-Socialists in the U.S. cite the Economist as an authority to show that Socialism is no good. "From this dilemma there is only one escape," wrote the Economist, "and that is, for once, to give both sides of every medal."

On one half of the page, the tongue-in-cheek Economist printed the side of the medal destined "for American readers--not to be read in Britain"; on the other side, the side "for British readers, not to be read in America." Excerpts:

FOR AMERICANS: "It is a gross oversimplification to say that Britain's present difficulties are solely due to mistakes in British policy." FOR BRITONS : "For a generation past, the British people have been paying far too little attention to their competitive position in the world."

FOR AMERICANS: "Much of the largest cause of the present situation is to be found in the dislocation produced by two wars . . . Britain (apart from Germany) was the only country that fought right through both wars . . ." FOR BRITONS: "No other country is going to recognize any obligation to provide the British people with a living, no matter what their services ... in the common cause."

FOR AMERICANS: "Nothing could well be more disastrous than that America should take sides ... in the British general election." FOR BRITONS: "The British public should try to be less touchy about what is said in America. The real test is what is done, and by that test the United States Government has leant over backwards to avoid anything that could be construed as interference . . ."

FOR AMERICANS: "The British . . . have made greater efforts than any other people, and deserve credit for so doing." FOR BRITONS: "No efforts and no sacrifices, however heavy, are great enough if they leave Britain dependent on the generosity of others."

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