Number of Jobless Jumps in Britain: Around the World
LONDONÛÓUnemployment in Britain rose by 40,346 in the past month to 970,022, the government announced yesterday. The latest figures ÛÓ amounting to 4 per cent of the work force ÛÓ drew sharp political criticism.</br></br>Roy Jenkins, the opposition Labor PartyÛªs spokesman on economic affairs, told the House of Commons the nation was tired of hearing the Conservative government claim unemployment was easing ÛÏwhen the hard figures show it is getting worse.Û Jenkins said the Labor Party would move to censure the government.</br></br>The latest total, expected to reach 1 million by Christmas, was the highest rate of unemployment in Britain since 1945, with the exception of a severe winter eight years ago.</br></br>PARISÛÓThe U.S. ambassador to the Vietnam peace talks, William J. Porter, told the 136th session of the deadlocked talks he would have nothing to say until the Communist delegations gave a ÛÏconstructive replyÛ to the U.S. position.</br></br>Porter did not specify what he meant by a ÛÏconstructive reply,Û but a U.S. spokesman said afterward that the Communists had never replied to American proposals for a general cease-fire in Indochina, a total withdrawal of all foreign troops from South Vietnam and an offer for ÛÏreal negotiations.Û