BRITISH POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 29, 3 August 1939, Page 11

BRITISH POLICY

LABOUR ATTACKS

"LIP SERVICE TO PEACE"

Criticism by "some of the Avouldbe authorities" in New Zealand of the actions and decisions of Britain's leading statesmen in international matters was deprecated by the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. A. Hamilton) during his speech in the Financial Debate in the House, of Representatives last night. Members of the Government, and some Cabinet Ministers, had recently developed the habit of severely attacking the decision of British statesmen, especially the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, said Mr. Hamilton. Indeed, it Avas evident from the various outbursts of different responsible members, of the Government that they did not entertain a very friendly feeling for the British Empire and those Avho were guiding her destiny. Although they gave lip service to the advocacy of peace in preference to Avar, -on the two occasions when the British foreign policy, led by Mr. Chamberlain, had got Britain out of very awkward and dangerous situations which, if not diplomatically handled, had. all the appearance of resulting in war, the Labour Party had never ceased to join in the attack. "VERY TOUCHY." Members of the Labour Government were very touchy about other people criticising their decisions, but they were ever ready themselves to attack the decisions of their superiors. Who in New Zealand, even including the Prime Minister, knew all the circumstances of the various points at issue, that led the British statesmen to their decisions at such places as Munich and Tokio? | In all such circumstances, Mr. Ham- | ilton contended, those who criticised the decision made should be prepared to state and advocate an alternative. What was the, alternative? On each occasion the alternative appeared to i the ordinary layman to be a mighty risk of war. It did appear to him to |be bordering on presumption for some of the would-be authorities in New Zealand- to attack the decisions and actions of Britain's leading statesmen, especially while they themselves were I doing not a tithe as much to strengthen the Empire against foreign dangers, but, on the contrary, Avere on their ! knees seeking financial aid from Briti am, embarrassing instead of helping j her Avith her burdens. MINISTER'S REPLY. Replying to Mr. Hamilton, the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) asked whether jMr. Hamilton was laying it down that there should be no criticism of British statesmen from anyone in New Zealand. New Zealand surely was deeply interested in the Avelfare of the Empire and.of the United Kingdom. He had no recollection of. any member of the present Government having indulged in the criticism of which Mr. Hamilton had complained.

Throughout the whole period of the Labour Government's term of office its relations with the British Government had been of the most friendly nature. They had not hesitated to express their honest opinions when asked for them, but to say that nobody in the Dominion should be permitted to differ from British statesmen was carrying things too far altogether and was reminiscent of the position in the totalitarian States.

Mr. Hamilton: Nobody" . suggested that.