"THE ENEMY IN OUR MIDST"

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 181, 27 April 1940, Page 10

"THE ENEMY IN OUR MIDST"

The mention of “the enemy in our midst made by Colonel A. 13. Charters in his Anzac Day address at Lyall Bay (reported yesterday) was timely. Referring to the activities of certain persons and groups who, for various ostensible reasons, are opposing this country s war effort he said that attempts were being made to influence young men and to “give them an excuse” should compulsory service be introduced. “Any person,” he added, “who in time of war endeavours by persuasion or by propaganda to prevent our young men from enlisting is an enemy, nay, more—a traitor.” This was blunt speaking, but the sentiments will be echoed widely. New Zealand, in common with the rest of the Empire and Britain s allies, is only at the beginning of a struggle in which freedom and perhaps our very existence as a nation is at stake. Subveisivc elements in the community are in a very small minority, but il not completely checked they are capable of much harm at a time when unitv of purpose and effort is essential. I his truth is being recognized by the Home Government, which, notwithstanding its allegiance to the British tradition of respect for individual opinion, has resolved to check the misuse of freedom. “There is a risk. ’ the Home Secretary told the House of Commons on Thursday, “that the liberty allowed by our traditional principles may be abused by extremists of whom some are anxious to destroy that liberty. The warning should not be disregarded in this country. Certain steps have already been taken to discourage subversive propaganda, but there is occasion for closer vigilance. Nor should it be left wholly to the authorities to keep watch. A wartime duty devolves upon all responsible citizens to lje alert and to draw public attention, as Colonel Charters has done, to misuses of our freedom.