BRITISH POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 295, 14 December 1938, Page 10

BRITISH POLITICS.

PUBLIC APATHY GONE.

ELECTION EARLY IN 1939 ?

(By JOHN MULGAN.) LONDON*. November 22. The interval of time that lias elapsed since the Munich agreement has given England an opportunity to take stock of it-elf. Oil the whole, it would be unfair to sav that this

opportunity has not been taken. The political situation inside and outside the country has at no time lieen r-tatio. England is torn and disunited in a way which competent oliservers r-ay can only be paralleled by the situation here ill 1010 ami 1020. or in 1020. the year of the great strike. The political apathy of the last five years has gone, and it is unlikely that it will reappear. In its [dace there is a critical awareness of political issues that is both interesting and dangerous.

Munich gave England alnnit a week of rather hysterical relief and thanksgiving. Its abiding impression was a deep and common sense of frustration and humiliation which grew as the effects of the agreement became clear. The nation had been aroused to a high emotional pitch of sacrifice and patriotic endeavour. In the days that have followed it. has felt keenlv the dangers that are involved

in the present German hegemony of Europe: it has wanted leadership that would give an outlet to these feelings, and so far that, leadership has not been apparent. At. the same time, there has been a steady growth of disbelief in the efficacy of a policy of "appeasement." Revolt of the "Centre." Political movement* have l>een confused, lint they are now becoming clearer. In the Government ranks the first real revolt against the Chamberlain policy developed two weeks ago under the auspices of Lord Baldwin, who

has emerged from retirement. Mr. Anthony Eden is his spokesman, and his supporters are not only open dissentients like Mr. Duff Cooper or Mr. W inston Churchill, but al-n about foriy Conservative M.P.'s from the centre of the party. These people are demanding a strong and reallv national ( o>v ernment. Nat iona 1* ser-

vice. a Ministry of Supply and the eon-eri pt ion of the arms industry, the inefficiency of whose contract system continues to be an open scandal. (Firms who have not been admitted to the very select, ring of aeroplane manufacturers have now a bureau in Ixindon to supply facts not easily publishable because of the Official Secrets Act.) The intrigues of the "Bnldv inians" have shocked and angered those whose fortunes are bound up with Mr. Chamberlain's policy. It is possible that he may lie forced to •compromise to the extent of acceding to some of their demands and of taking some of them into hU Cabinet.

Tn assessing possibilities of this kind, one should reim'mber the strength and inflexibility of Mr. Chamberlain's character. No quarter has so far been given to the rebels. Memliers like the 1 >iie|ie.-s of Atholl. Mr. Winston t hurchil! and Mr. Harold Nicolson are facing serious trouble in their constituencies through the activities of I he central party organisation, which believes in breaking those who will not follow the party whip. But as the possibility of any improvement in Anglo-German relations becomes even more fantastically remote, and the poliev of appeasement more improbable, the initiative may pass to the party rebels.

The By-elecftons,

Inside the Labour party and the Opposition generally there has been much heart-searching. Tn the "first by-election after Munich —at Oxford —the local Labour party took the

nitiativc of withdrawing its candidate in avour of a common front with the Liberals.

supporting an "Independent, Progressive" candidate. The Government candidate held the seat, though with a majority that was halved. At Dart ford, in a straight fight, labour won a seat from the Government, though fighting it« campaign more on a refusal to consider cuts in the social services than on foreign policy. At Walsall the Government held its seat with only a slightly reduced majority. At Bridgewater the famous journalist and broadcaster, Mr. Vernon Bartlett. fighting as an "Independent Progressive" and directly on foreign policy, won a clear victory in a Conservative *eat that had returned a 7000 Government majority at the last election.

Labour is drawinjr two conclusions from rather conflicting evidence. First of all, that as t iino passes. as trade condit ion* worsen. a< German anti-Semitism ami other factors make •"appeasement" more difficult. they ean fight the Government on its foreign policy without being <1 "warmongers." Secondly that, while still refusing an official "popular front."' they can with advantage in Liberal const it uencies. or where their chances of snc(ws are remote, make common cause witli other Opposition parties. A general election early in 10:10 i<< oonsidered very likely. Conservative headquarters are said to he urging it on the Government a-< essential before the situation prows worse. The election promises to be active and bitter and virulent.