CHALLENGING PLANS

Evening Star, Issue 23496, 9 February 1940, Page 7

CHALLENGING PLANS

LABOUR’S' PEACE AIMS JUST TREATMENT FOR GERMANY "NO HUMILIATION OR REVENGE" BUT HITLERISM MUST ERD (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 8. (Received February 9, at 1 p.m.) Labour’s peace aims are contained in a declaration of policy issued by the Labour Party Executive reaffirming loyalty to the Socialist and democratic faith. While declaring ' its continued opposition to Mr Chamberlain’s Government, it calls on the British people to contribute their utmost effort to overthrow the Hitler system in Germany, stating that, though loathing war, the party regards it as a lesser evil than the destruction of parliamentary democracy and civil freedom, which is the only alternative to resistance to Nazi aggression. WRONGS MUST BE RIGHTED. Although victory is the immediate task, the Labour Party states that the issue of its peace aims before people are still further estranged by suffering and hatred may bring a lasting yeace nearer, and declares: “ The Allies’ war purpose must be to defeat Hitlerism and undo the wrongs resulting from Nazi aggression without creating new wrongs. It must be shown beyond all doubt that we will not allow aggression to succeed. Feeling that the experience of recent years has shown that no trust can be placed on the Nazi Government’s word, Labour is convinced that the Allies ought nob to enter into peace negotiations with a German Government which has not performed certain acts of restitution, including the withdrawal of German forces and police from Polish and Czecho-Slovakian soil. The Austrian people must be truly free to decide whether or not they wish to remain within the Reich. Britain has stated that no material advantage is sought for Britaiu, and Labour demands that undertakings should be given to the German peoples that their interests will be respected equally with the just interests of others. “ Whatever else may he contained in the peace treaty,” the declaration continues, “ tnis assuredly will not be the last war in Europe unless, when the war ends, we succeed in reconciling the French claim to security with the German claim to equality. If Britain is either inattentive or impatient towards either of these claims it will already incur a share of responsibility for the next war. The French people must be assured against menace and the Germans given acceptable and peaceful outlets for their energy and ambition. Labour suggests that the answer to the French claims to security lies in the British and French peoples not being merely Allies for a season. but brothers for all time. ASSURANCES TO GERMANY. “To Germany, Labour says ‘We are opposed to any attempt from the outside to break up Germany. Wo do not seek the humiliation or dismemberment of your country. While desiring to welcome her into peaceful collaboration, Labour reminds Germany that the Hitler system prepared and started the , war. Hitler could not continue it if you ceased to support him. # ‘ Until the accursed Nazi regime is overthrown there can be no hope of peace between, us, but if you establish a Government sincerely willing that Germany shall be a good neighbour and State, there shall be no humiliation or revenge.’ ” WORLD COMMONWEALTH. •Speaking on Russia, the declaration states: “We hoped that the Soviet would join the democracies for the collective organisation of peace and resistance to aggression. We should regard the extinction of a free Finnish democracy as an intolerable disaster to civilisation.” Turning more to the general issues which should be included in the peace settlement, the declaration states that the establishment of a co-operative world commonwealth, in which national sovereignty will be subordinate to world obligations is still Laboflr’s aim, and declares that such an association must be and given such economic and military power as will enable it to enforce peaceful behaviour between its members. Regarding colonial questions, the declaration pledges Labour against Imperialist exploitation, whether Capitalist or otherwise, and demands a speedy move forward to colonial self-govern-ment. Where populations are not ready for self-government the native interest must be paramount, being safeguarded through an enlarged mandate system. MEETING INEVITABLE CRISIS. Recognising the gravity of the economic crisis which will confront the world at the end of the war, the Labour Party proposes that—“ International public works conferring benefits on more than one nation, and covering the comprehensive development of the great colonial Powers, must be undertaken through an international authority with budget powers far greater than the League of Nations ever had.” It concludes; “Victory must come to the arms of Britain and France—peace must be won for humanity.” .DECIMATION OF POLISH VILLAGE TWO AMERICANS AMONG VICTIMS WARSAW, February 8. (Received February 9, at noon). The victims in the decimation of the village of Wawel are reported to have included two Americans named Szcygiel, father and son..