DICTATORSHIP

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22414, 30 May 1938, Page 11

DICTATORSHIP

A PASSING DISTEMPER ” LORD ALLEN’S APPEAL TO CIHY OF LONDON (fIOX OUB (VI COfcBISPOIIDIItf.) LONDON, April 23. Dictatorship is regarded by Lord Allen Of Hurtwood as a “passing distemper,” 50 years behind the times. Speaking in London this week, he declared that dictatorship resorted to compulsion in an attempt to catch up with the achievements of free men carried through half a century ago. It only appeared in countries that were struggling back to self-respect from humiliation in war, or out of a complete breakdown in the social fabric. Democracy was indestructible ana would prove permanently well founded in the intelligence and spiritual outlook of contemporary civilisation. Britain should remember that she had been partly to blame for letting this infection of dictatorship spread. She ought, therefore, frankly to admit the mistakes she had made and take active steps to restore broken friendships hnd to heal the enmities left over from the war. If she would do this she could lower the tension in Europe and release the longing for peace and humane conduct which the vast majority of ordinary men and women felt in every country. Lord Allen said that to-day London held the keys of finance and economic power in the world, and if they would use that prestige they could rally Europe back to democracy. It was all nonsense to say that democratic institutions were degenerate and unable to meet the complex tasks of modern government. Britain to-day was the envy of the world, and it was high time that she advertised her political wares with more energy. The eyes of millions of people in every land were turned to Britain and to its great city of London. They rejoiced in her stability and respected British love of mercy and compassionate dealing between man and man. They hoped Britain would not betray her great traditions. Every merchant and financier in the City of London could be an ambassador of peace, but he begged them not to keep silent in the presence of racial persecution or inhuman conduct.