Oldal 3 [3]
OCR
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 Industrialist 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
