BRITAIN RESTIVE OVER WAR EFFORT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 163, 13 July 1942, Page 4

BRITAIN RESTIVE OVER WAR EFFORT

REFORMS OVERDUE

Failure To Apply Lessons Of Defeats

Special Correspondent

United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, July 12. One outcome expected from the House of Commons debate on Libya was that the Primp Minister. Mr. Churchill, would make certain structural changes designed to improve the direction of the war and prevent a repetition of disasters. There is a certain restlessness that nothing has happened in the week following the Commons vote of confidence, which has been Increased by the rumour that Lord neaverbrook. who was flropped from the Government last February, may return to power. If this occurs it will please few, for neither his methods nor his results are generally admired.

The Libyan defeat had the effect of causing Britain to change step in the middle of an arduous race. "Action" was the watchword, and still Is, but it is now preceded by "efficiency," and an increasing determination to see efficiency achieved. The nation is now geared for war, but the Government's system has not stood up to war's supreme test—the winning of battles. The most unpopular word in Britain to-day is bureaucracy, which Is regarded as clogging the nation's war effort. It has produced what has been called "limbo of procedure," which has the effect of hamstringing the nation's striking power. Public Opinion Swings to Left This demand for efficiency is growing daily, spurred by the realisation of the reluctance of Westminster to deal with inefficiencies nr.d, as the Conservative Journal, the Observer, points out, vested interests at the source, in contrast, desire to expatiate upon specialised questions of strategy. If Hitler needs victory fop home consumption, so does Mr. Churchill, for while there is still no general desire to see him replaced, yet there ia Increasing restiveness under defeat after defeat, which is tending to have the effect of seeing public opinion swing further and further to the left, from where it views unfavourably a system which has left Britain in the drift of war almost unprepared, and coupled with growing distrust, as it fails to produce convincing results. It Is tho vary same system which did not. hoed Mr. Churchill's warnings before the war and with which he is now trying to win victory. This swing to the left is commented on by Miss Jenny Lee, former Labour M.P. for Lanark, who, referring to the views of people of every kind, occupation and income level all over the country, said: "If I risk generalising on their attitude towards public affairs I would aay most of tnem do not want to be conservative. They have no faith'in the Labour party and do not know where to look for leadership. They regard the Liberal party as a historical hangover, the Communist party as solely the Instrument of Soviet foreign policy, and the Independent Labour party as cancelled from reality by Its antiwar stand."

She aaks where this unanchored, leftward tending of public opinion, will rest. It Is too numerous to be Ignored and la In no mood to be trlflad with.

Voicing the views of this leftward trend In the Daily Herald Professor J. Lasky expresses the opinion that Mr. Churchill and his colleagues are condemned to fight Hltlerism with the men and methods of 1014. They, have, with minor exceptions, the historic governing class in full directive control of the war effort. What the Government needs to do Is to define the new way of life for the next age, but actually it promises anvthing that may be necessary for victory, accompanied by the assurance that the two main beneficiaries of the old order and their privileges will remain untouched.

lalicaee of Ruaia't Exaaple There Ib a goodtdeal of talk heard oftthe war wipingjout class distlnctlonlin Britain; butit Is difficult to be convinced by that assertion. 'The historic > governing >. class" is determined to hang on to present! conditions as much as they possiblyi can. The revelation by great! ability after years of unfavourable* propaganda, which is bitter and deeply in. the mind of a great section of the British public, has had much to do with the leftward swing, particularly in view of the derision that came from the system which muddled the peace and Is now apparently muddling the war—at least is not winning victories. It may be asked what all this has fot to do with the present position, ut it is the background of tne criticism which' comes from the right, equally as the left, the right realising that It is probably truer to say that "the unanchored leftward tending, of opinion" Is crytallising with a determination to see improvements aftar the war, while it stands condemned unless It can effect some alteration. Thus, Mr. Churchill, who is still desired as a war leader, comes between two fires. This background will vbe Important if Hitler defeats the*Russlan armies, crosses the Nile and holds the Suez by the end of summer. There will be very definite reactions In Britain.