BRITISH ELECTIONS

Grey River Argus, 29 June 1945, Page 7

BRITISH ELECTIONS

LEADERS’ STATEMENTS The Coal Mines LONDQN, June 27. Mr Dalton- (Labour) addressing the National Union of Mine Workers’ conference, said there is only one way out of the coal-mining difficulties —the mines should become an efficient public service owned by the people, with the miners taking a full share of the responsibility. He ad’ded that the nationalisation of mines was one issue of the present election. There must either be a Tory or a Labour Government. There was no third choice. Fancy titles had no significance. He looked forward to the day when there would be a Labour Government with power. Labour members tried to do more in the late Government than they were able to achieve. Their colleagues were not prepared to accept the proposals that were put forward. Those. proposals were now part of Labour’s election programme. SOCIAL SECURITY Sir W. Beveridge. (Liberal) in an address issued to his constituents at Berwick-on-Tweed, stated that he was fighting the election as a Liberal not as a Labourite. “I have many friends in the Labour Party and sympathise with many of its aims.. I am prepared for public ownership or public control for special reasons, particularly in the coal mining industry, but I am opposed to the main principle of the Labour Party, of socialising, all industry and ultimately getting rid of private enterprise. I am also not prepared to accept the discipline which the Labour F'arty imposes on its members.” Sir W. Beveridge said he puts first social security, in’full jobs, for all without regimentation or Socialism, lasting peace through justice between nations, and preservation and improvement of country life.

FOREIGN POLICY. Mr Eden, making his -first broadcast . since 1941, said an autumn election would have meant continuous manoeuvring for position, with devastating results on the authority of the Government at home and abroad. He said: “It has been suggested by Sir Stafford Cripps and others that to have good relations with the Soviet Union we should have a Socialist Government in this country because —so the argument runs—■ British Socialists are more sympathetic to Russian objectives than are Conservatives and Liberals. Such argument is not merely false, it is dangerous. International relations are governed by the policy of. any given foreign country on main international issues. To attempt to align your international friendship primarily with governments who share the same domestic political, creeds—whatever their foreign policy may be ■ —is just crazy.” Mr Eden said! “The new Parliament’s first duties will be to win the war against Japan, and make and keep peace in Europe. Both are . immensely formidable tasks. When I was in Washington a few' weeks ago I found no inclination there to regard the Japanese war as any less formidable than the German war. In many ways, it is a heavier task. A.nd surely there can be no doubt, who is the man who should lead us in that war. Through all these years I have sat in the Defence Committee with the Prime Minister, as one of his civilian colleagues. Every one of us who watched him there whatever his party politics, will agree he is above all others the man for that job. He is a master builder —unmatched for such task.” Mr Eden, answering an’ allegation that the Conservative Party would divert Mr Churchill and himself from the foreign policy which the Coalition Government had pursued, said: “The foreign policy in the past five years not only had the approval of the Liberal Party but the greater part of the Socialist Party. We will continue to pursue that policy if returned.” ° - The National Government stood for free enterprise and for the encouragement of individual initiative, but these tendencies must not be allowed to develop in a way conflicting with public interest. “Don’t imagine the choice before you lies between complete State Socialism and the anarchy of unrestricted private enterprises, for which it should be for Parliament to decide whether they can be managed singly locally, under private or State control. But there is a far larger category which, by the variety and diversity of their character call for special initiative, individuality and imagination, which are just the qualities we most need in the post-war years. The National Government’s policy is to find a middle way between the extremes of uncontrolled free enterprise and bureaucratic tyranny.” MR CHURCHILL. Speaking at Blackburn, Mr Churchill said: “I had over-much kindness. I had a feeling of deep love going through these Yorkshire and Lancashire towns. I received tributes which filled my heart and eyes Never for a moment did England flinch. She stood firm like a rock. You must stand firm like a rock now.” , ~ ■, Mr Churchill at Bradford recalled terrible disasters of 1940, when people throughout the world expected Britain to give in, but in England there was no thought of giving in. “I am often praised for the part taken in that moment, but nothing could be easier. All I did Was to express the heart, feeling and resolve of the British people to see the war through.” .The British had found, that if they waited long enough, the enemy would make some fatal mistake. Hitler in • 1941 made a fatal mistake in attacking Russia. A great many military judges and experts throughout Europe and America thought Russia would be easily overrun, but Britain did not hesitate, and immediately sent a message: “Here we go in with you. We fight it out together.” . , He did not agree with the view that Britain was nearly finished when America entered the war in 1941. She was getting stronger daily. She had got time by her firm, unflinching attitude and also gained time for the mighty Russian and American forces to be gathered with the result that Germany was defeated as no other civilised scientific power has been defeated before. Crowds began to assemble at Bradford at 8 a.m., before Mr Churchill appeared at the meeting place for the third day of his tour. He was greeted with “Land of Hope and. Glory.’ Mr Churchill ended a triumphant tour of England at Preston to-night. He; te-morroy, will go to Glasgow and Edinburgh where a tremendous reception awaits him, but nothing could surpass the. warmth with which Yorkshire and Lancashire re- , ceived him.