Stranica 3 [3]
XeAs2e for November 52,
a yage three =
universally recognized for his capacities, experience ard widd-range
contacts, - will be regolaced and this not by a man of his own
trend of thought, but by the representative of a different political
partye With the importance that such affiliations have taken even
in European issues, this fact mighg’ lead te consequences which today
already should be taken into considerations
The mein characteristio of political life in Luxembourg is
that of a small democracy, where local influences and personal conneec«=
tions play a primary role, Luxembourgers have all gone through the
same schools - there are only publie schools with a preveiling strong
Christian spirit s know each other through business, through family
or neighborhood ties, This similarity of thought and this personal
closeness lessens the possible ideological oppositions,
Moreover there is a remarkable political stability in the country. Its
guarantee is the ruling dynasty that safeguards the Rankin kk
continuity and is the polarigtion point for a strong Luxembourg
patriotism and a feeling of unity.
Finally the country is well off. It has an ideal balance of farm land,
mining, great industry, small trade and intellectuals, The repartition
of ownership and the high standards of living of the population at
large, explain the social stability in the country. :
All these fortvnate cireumstanees taken together give the reason why
communism is losing ground in Luxembourg; this is true especially
since #he-mement-where certain gromps of foreign mining and industrial
workers are strictly controled and are not granted permanent residence
in the covrtry.
A peace campaign too has no appeal for a small arf stable country,
whese neutrelity has already been violated twice and who knows the
vahue of strong naigiimex allies to protect it in case of aggressíons
ta = es 9
Ihe economic sítvation - Benelux - the Coel and Steel Poole
Luxembourg whose economy is mostly centered on its mining
end industrial wealth and on its exports, lives throuch an era of
high prosperity. Its production is far above pre=rar levels, which
means inerease in salaries and in generel standards of living. This
industrial prosperity is not withont influencing agriculture that can
enjoy important governmertal subsidies ane advantageous priees and
opportunities in selling their productions.
Luxembourg propperity and similar favorable conditions
reigning in neighboring Belgium have however led to serious frictions
within the Benelux group, The Netherlands have for a long time practi:
sed a polif~ey of eustcrity and discipline; have been rationed until
recently and have kept their prices Gown, their salaries and markets
under control, Holland is thus in a position to produce at lower
cost thah its Benelyx partners a-d becomes a much feared competition
on the common market, Heavy protests have come throughout the summer
‘and fall from Belgian industry and Labor Unioncand from Luxembourg
agriculturee Feelings went high: Bho Feder tian of Belgian Industria¬
list creatéd e Comittee for Defense and Action against wide-scale
Dutch importation; the Luxembourg press and farmers' associatéén
expressed greatest concern about a project of settling Dutch rural
families into the Grand-Duchy where = with the vreveiling small