THE RIGHT REACTION

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 199, 20 May 1941, Page 6

THE RIGHT REACTION

With the position in Europe and the Middle East becoming more involved, the dangers more pronounced, and the outlook more uncertain the statement made by Mr. J. G. Coates, stressing the need fot national unity, was timely. “Differences must be swept aside and old antipathies forgotten” to enable the country to concentrate on one issue—the war effort. There could be no more compelling motive, lor, although this country is far removed from the present battle arena, its existence is at stake and all that that involves. Che hist essential toward this end (Mr. Coates said') is the attainment of a real sense of national unity.” Unity in the face of impending danger is the traditional policy of British people. As the. storm approaches they come closer together so as to ensure that strength which unity alone can provide. Ihe people of the Mother Country arc doing it today to a degree never surpassed in tlieir long history and in that consolidation ol the national strength lies the best augttry of ultimate success. It is not enough to have a truce regarding political propaganda, not neatly enough. Partv political issues should be noticeable by their absence lot, until they are removed, how can there be any real sense of national unity ? The Prime Minister is on his way to London and he will be able to state, with all the emphasis at his command, that the people of die Dominion are as one on the prosecution of the war, but he will have to admit that their energies in part at least are still dissipated in party disputations and divisions on local political issues. How docs that compare with the stirring message brought by the ex-president of the British Trades Union Congress? He has been able to say that the people of Great Britain stand as one in the determination to fight till victory has been won and that, in the meanlime. there are no tilings political to distract and divide. Ihat i> the right course and it should have been taken in this Dominion when the ati'>u:d Parlv first offered its lull co-operation with the Government.,