BRITISH COMMON-SENSE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1927, Page 9

BRITISH COMMON-SENSE

THE TRIUMPH OF SEASON

The Welfare League writes:—

When some eight to nine years ago organisations of the same kind as the New Zealand Welfare League came into existence in various countries of the British Empire the promoters were told many times over that thoy were chasing a bogey, that there was no danger of Bolshevism or disruption arising amongst onr people. Wo were assured that political Communism was only the hare-brained illusion of a few fanatical individuals who might well bo ignored.

Events, however, proved that this conception of self-satisfied indolence, which sees no danger till actually assaulted, -was a wrong interpretation of the social conditions of our communities. \Yith its centre in Moscow tho dynamic power of Bolshevism has been able to spread a net work of Communist parties, groups, and agencies all over the British Empire. This movement has grown and increased its activities from the supineuoss and excessive tolerance of tho British people. Wo havo seen it at work in the Home Land harassing and stultifying the Government; corrupting and degrading tho great trades union movement, and boclouding the vision of many politicians so as to lead them to pronounce doctrines and commit acts entirely at variance with tho constiutional principles on which British liberties are founded.

Even Labour leaders usually deemed moderate have been drawn into endorsement of self-constituted "Councils of Action" and strikes whicli challenged not the employers but the unity of the State. The general strike. The unofficial attack on British transport affecting the whole Empire. Tho revolt on the Band, taking the character of. actual war and bloodshed. Tho wild industrial attacks on tho State's authority. All theso and many other events of disruption have been duo to the inter-penetration of Communism in industry, politics, scholastic institution, and social societies of many kinds. The disease of Bolshevism has spread like an epidemic until Governments, the constitutional Labour movement, and public bodies have been forced to recognise its existence as a very grave social danger. British people aro proverbially patient and slow to take offence. It seems now that they have awakened to tho evil in. our midst. Instoad of toying- with the Red menace they havo taken to throwing it out of doors. Our only hope is that they will throw it far enough and not allow it to crawl back. It is no insidious that drastic treatment is ; the only effective safeguard against it. After many trials and insults the British Government, following the Arcos raid, broke off diplomatic relations with those who showed they would not respect friendly relations but uso them for treacherous and destructive ends. This, action of Mr.. Baldwin's Government was denounced by Labour politicians and industrialists as unwise. They had not yet fathomed the depths for themsolves. The extent of tho Bolshevists' meanness and blackguardism was still to bo felt by them. At the British Trades Union Congress in Edinburgh the truth came out. In spite of all academic leanings of Socialism and political or industrial revolution the British common-sense prevailed. It was decided to revoke the Anglo-Russian agreement which they had previously entered into. This was a triumph of reason. It could not help tho British trades union 'a cause to bo the tool and plaything of the Communist dictators of Moscow. Ino outburst of coarse abuse poured out on tho British Labour leaders and insult to the congress' was more than tho great body of workers' representatives could stand. Had they done otherwise than decide as they did these leaders could not havo faced the blunt common-sense of the millions of the rank and file.

Let us not be deceived into thinking tho trouble is all over. British com-mon-sense has won in tho Old Land. It has also boon victorious in Queensland, where the State's authority was attacked. There is no foar o£ revolution in these countries. Still they have paid very dearly and the poison is still in circulation:

Vigilance and constant activity against this destructive disease is accessary all tho time. Common-sense should carry us to the stage of being constantly alive to this danger and rea_dv_ to deal with it at every stage,