SAVING TRUE FREEDOM

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 22, 26 January 1940, Page 6

SAVING TRUE FREEDOM

There have been loose unofficial references to subversive propaganda, and even one or two official references which have been so vague as to admit of interpretations that would be disturbing to those who recognise the value of free discussion. The Attorney-General has now made a timely statement which clarifies the official view. With that statement we can entirely agree. It does not threaten in any way to stifle or hinder legitimate expression of opinion, or criticism of the Government's policy and administration. It specifically states that the Government "is tolerant and will remain tolerant of all legitimate comment or criticism on public affairs from whatever quarter it come." But it is made equally clear that the Government and people "will not tolerate that freedom be perverted to impede the cause of freedom." The examples given by the AttorneyGeneral indicate the official view of what constitutes subversive propaganda. We do not think anyone can honestly question the definition based on such examples. The plain purpose of the statements, cited is obviously to hinder the prosecution of the war and to persuade others to take part in that hindrance. This is entirely different from criticism of the Government's peacetime policy or criticism of its wartime plans based. upon that policy. It was when the official organ-of the Labour Party cited such legitimate criticism and called for its official suppression, that we protested and urged that the Government should disavow any intention of using the war to stifle such reasonable expression of opinion. The AttorneyGeneral's statement does not include a direct disavowal. of the Labour newspaper's view, but it does submit a positive- interpretation which excludes the type of suppression called for. We believe that the most vigilant guardians of freedom of speech will accept this interpretation, for they know that nothing can be more dangerous to freedom" than its perversion "to impede the cause of freedom:" Liberty can be destroyed if. it is allowed to degenerate into licence.

The Government, as the AttorneyGeneral explains, has allowed time for people of differing opinions to recognise the new situation confronting the British Commonwealth of Nations, and to realise that "there was now only one thing for loyal men to do, to stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of the Commonwealth." It relied, the AttorneyGeneral states, on the good sense and strong instinct iof solidarity'of our people to consolidate opinion in support of a truly worthy war effort. "But the Government is now convinced that ample time for the adjustment of reasonable and loyal "minds to the new realities has been allowed." This is a warning which cannot be misunderstood. Those who choose to disregard it (and persist in subversive propaganda of the type which the Attorney-General has quoted, must take the consequences. Having given time and a fair warning, the Government will be supoorted by all loyal people of ihe Dominion in taking firm action to stoo disruptive and disloyal tactics.