SAVE DEMOCRACY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 96, 6 April 1934, Page 6

SAVE DEMOCRACY

Plea of Party Leaders INCREASE IN DICTATORSHIPS The rapid sweep of dictatorships throughout Europe, culminating in virtual civil war in Austria, has focussed numerous movements in Britain upon reassessment of the entire democratic system of government, says a London correspondent. All British political parties have become involved. Mr. Stanley Baldwin and Mr. Walter Elliot for the Conservatives, Mr. George Lansbury, leader of the parliamentary Labour opposition, and Mr. W. M. Citrine, secretary of the Trade Union Congress, have all issued declarations from their respective viewpoints. A manifesto emanating from Ruskin College, Oxford, and signed by leading educationalists and politicians of all shades of opinion, including Sir Herbert Samuel, leader of the opposition Liberals in the Commons, sums up the general feeling that a break with the past is imminent and that vigorous action is necessary to prevent its becoming eataelysmal. Referring to activities of Fascists nt ene extereme and Communists at the ether, the manifesto calls for definite aetion from the middle. LEADERSHIP IS WANTED. “We believe,” it says, ‘‘there is an increasing number of men and women in this country °f all parties, or of none, who are prepared to see the parliamentary machine used for swift and far rciicbinjj measures both of internationa and economic reorganisation, if • programme for such measures were [ submitted to them on merits with a view to meeting the scientifically de f monsirable needs of the situation, i They are alienated by threats of revo- I lutionary action or arbitrary repression, but they are ready to respond to bold leadership, in which they arc asft- 1 od for intelligent co-operation and not ' browlteaten into submission.” This view is largely shared iu Gov- - •rn merit circles. It is true that Mr. : Baldwin, in his capacity as Conservative leader, has been toning it down materially. But even Mr. Baldwin, re- ' ferring at Preston yesterday to the ur- : gency of defending the Democracy, said: “If we once lose our Democratic liberties, for which our forefathers fought and suffered, we lose our character —we lose our souls.” Britain, however, Mr. Baldwin argued, eould not make changes so rapidly as have been done in the United Btates and Russia. “Whatever changes you have,” he said, “we cannot move at the same pace as thev do la those countries in economic experiments. We must make certain of the ground whereon we are going to put our feet.” Mr. Walter Elliot, speaking as Minister of Agriculture, went much further. “Unless Ministers,” he said, “give a dear and vigorous lead, there will be a landslide to any party which will give that capable leader for which the nation is crying.” TO AID AUSTRIAN SOCIALISTS. Mr. Citrine, secretary 6f the Trade Union Congress, is in Paris promoting an attempt to raise funds internationally to help Austrian Socialists. This movement is protested against by the Conservatives. Mr. Henry A. Proctor, member of Parliament, asked the question in tho Commons referring to it as “incitement to eivil war and interference ;n the affairs of a friendly nation.” Nevertheless the Trade Union Congress claims that subscriptions are “pouring in.” Mr. Lansbury also said: “If this ■•actionary movement in Austria succeeds, I hope our Government and the French Government will let Dollfuss •nd his friends know there will be no more monev or support.” go completely does this controversy ©vershadow all others at the moment that only 231 votes out of a possible 615 were cast in the Commons upon a a Labour motion to prohibit private manufacture of armaments in Britain Government speakers held the time for this is inopportune. Sir Austen Chamberlirin also pointed out it would not be helpful for any one nation to prohibit private arms manufacture unless I other states did the same. The motion ; was thus defeated, 173 votes to 56.