BRITISH SPIRIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23878, 31 January 1941, Page 7

BRITISH SPIRIT

WILLKIE IMPRESSED VISITS TO RAID SHELTERS "PEOPLE JUST WONDERFUL" By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received January 30, H.io p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 30 Mr. Wendell Willkie admitted that he was "almost spilling over" i as he stood last night in London I air raid shelters, of which he visited several during his tour. "I never saw such spirit among a crowd anywhere," he said. "It was one of the most stimulating experiences of my life. Your people are just wonderful. The conditions are much better than I expected." Mr. Willkie is devoting much time to studying the industrial angle of the war effort, says a- British official wireless message. After discussing war production and other matters with the Minister of Supply, Sir Andrew Duncan, yesterday, he visited Transport House, where he heard the Trade Union Congress discussing Mr. Bevin's industrial organisation and manpower plans. Unanimity o! Labour Mr. Willkie spent three-quarters of j an hour with the Trade Union Congress. "No meeting I have been to in Britain has been more stimulating than this," he said on leaving—with a copy of "The Tolpnddle Martyrs," autographed by all members of the Trade Union Congress present. He continued a busy day with many engagements, including a talk to representatives of the press. "What struck me most forcibly," he said, "was the unanimous attitude of British labour toward the war. I heard no dissenting voice and was assured that in the trade union movement there was none. The British working man looks on this war as a war for liberation of the working people everywhere. He does not regard it as an Imperialistic war." The Midlands Next Week Mr. Willkie found complete unanimity toward the war. He said: "All have taken the resolute view, 'We are going to beat the Germans.' " He also had conversations with General Sikorski, Polish Prime Minister, with the Polish and Chinese Ambassadors, and Sir Robert Kinderslev, president of the National Savings Committee. With General Sikorski lie discussed : conditions in Poland under the German yoke, and assured the Premier of the universal sympathy felt tor Poland by the people of the United States. Next week Mr. Willkie is going to the industrial Midlands. He said: "I made a special request that when 1 go into a factory I shall be free to talk to the men on the job—as many as I can.'' WAR EFFORT CRITICS AUSTRALIAN LEADER'S VIEW SYDNEY, Jan. 30 Attacking critics of the Government's war effort, the Federal Treasurer, Senator A. W. Fadden, who is also acting-Prime Minister, declared at the Country Party conference that "if there are people in our midst who think they would be better off under either the swastika or the sickle and hammer, and if their hearts are in those countries, all I can say is their hides should be there, too." Senator Fadden condemned those with fantastic ideas as to how the Government could get money. He claimed that the Government had used sensible methods of finance. ".In the interests of a united war effort and of the nation, let us banish snipers from our midst," he said.