LABOUR'S CHARGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22976, 2 March 1938, Page 13

LABOUR'S CHARGE

"ELECTORS BETRAYED"' MR. ATTLEE'S OUTBURST LABOUR AND REARMAMENT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, LONDON. Feb. 28 Speaking in the Kingsway Hall, the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. C. R. Attlee, arraigned the Government for its "progressive betrayal of the electors, Britain's security and the cause of democracy." Mr. Attlee added that the age of international anarchy had returned. Apparently an alliance was being prepared with Mussolini—"no, there will be a general strike first." Mr. Attlee said lie believed that the Italian regime was tottering, but British policy was riveting the yoke more firmly on the Italians' necks. Mr. Alfred Watt, speaking as secretary of the London Trades Council, warned Mr. Chamberlain to ponder that the trades union movement had supported rearmament upon the Government's pledgo that it was solely directed to the resistance of aggression. Nevertheless, the trades union movement, if the Government tore up that pledge, as Mr. Chamberlain's speeches seemed to indicate, might be compelled to reconsider its previous decision. "The Government must not gull itself that the people would pay taxes, and continue to trust it, merely because the Government said it was necessary," he added.

ITALIAN METHOD "CORKSCREW DIPLOMACY" LARGE LOAN SUGGESTED LONDON, Feb. 23 " Corkscrew diplomacy " is liow a National Labour member of the House of Commons describes the Italian method. This is Mr. Harold Nicholson, officially a supporter of the Government. Mr. Nicholson says that, first, the lip of. the corkscrew is placed gently, charmingly and sweetly on the top of the cork. Nothing happens. Then the bottle is placed in the right position. This is called " good relations " or "ending the vendetta." Suddenly the corkscrew is given a twist, and the cork begins to squeak. The Italians, he says, have a perfect system of inventing something they do not want and clamouring for it, saying: "We will die if we do not get it." When they get it, they ask for something more. They pretend that you are menacing them, or that something you want is vitally important to them. They surrender it with a tremendous gesture, and say: " What will you give in return?" They never let you know their maximum demands. They let you suppose the scope of negotiations is very modest, but at every point the corkscrew enters a little farther. It is asserted, he adds, that a trade agreement is intended to lead to a large loan to Italy. Italy has never made a vitally important political treaty which she did not break.