THE LISTENERS’ LEAGUE.

Evening Star, Issue 22685, 26 June 1937, Page 19

THE LISTENERS’ LEAGUE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—lt is alleged that the new committee of this league is composed largely of noted supporters of the Labour Government. This, if correct, explains the contemptuous apathy of the authorities to the protests by this league. No matter how emphatic these protests appear to be the fact remains that they are not supported by any potential change in political support. Freedom is not divisible. ‘ Freedom of the Air,’ the motto of the league, inevitably means a similar degree of freedom for the Press. At present this freedom exists, but, judging by the statements of Mr Savage and of Mr Scrimgeour, together with the opinions expressed by the ‘ Standard,’ the official Labour organ, this freedom of the Press is at present upon sufferance only. A censorship of the Press has been threatened, and indeed is only to be expected from this Government, so determined to deprive the individual of that freedom to which he or she is properly entitled. No Government, elected upon a 4S per cent, minority vote, and pursuing a policy of Socialism far exceeding its pre-elec-tion promises, may hope to escape criticism, and, since a censorship of the Press has been threatened, it is absolutely futile to expect this Government to extend any consideration to the independent B stations. They are too dangerous as potential distributors of subversive propaganda. No advocate of freedom may with any sincerity be a supporter _ of this Government, which is definitely and decisively aiming at the repression and restriction of individual initiative. Under these circumstances it is impossible for any member of any Labour organisation tc be simultaneously loyal to both the Listeners’ League and the Labour Government. The position is; Support this Government, or any organisation pledged to support this Government, and you inevitably subscribe to the active principle of repression of freedom; support the Listeners’ League and you demand freedom. This paradox would appear to demand further elucidation, if the impression that this League is now an unofficial subsidiary of the Labour Party to divert and diminish any criticisms of the acts of this Government is not to be confirmed. —I am, etc., June 26. Fiat Lux.,