THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1933. LABOUR AND DICTATORSHIPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22054, 9 September 1933, Page 9

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1933. LABOUR AND DICTATORSHIPS

The circumstances in which the Trades Union Congress in Great Britain is now assembled at Brighton are fraught with a rather peculiar interest. The suggestion that a crucial stage has been reached in the history of organised labour is based partly on what has been happening in European countries, and partly, no doubt, on the fact that the Labour Party in Great Britain is divided within itself over the question of its political programme. The party aspires to power, of course, but there is some disagreement over the manner in which, given the opportunity, a Socialist Government should proceed to deal with the problems that would confront it. One fact clearly emerges. British trade unionism will have no parley with'dictatorships. The denunciation of such forms of government, as arc manifested in Europe, by speakers at the Trades Union Congress seems to have been most whole-hearted. The President, Mr A. G. Walkden, spoke forcibly in defence of democracy, which he declared was being assailed. He appealed to the younger generation not to be led away by “ flashy new movements” (ho goal of which was political dictatorship, with a denial to free and voluntary organisations of the right to exist. This warning, so far as it had reference to stirrings within the British Labour Party, was no doubt directed against the acceptance of such opinions as those proclaimed by Sir Stafford Cripps, one of the most prominent members of (ho Parliamentary Labour group, who in various utterances has envisaged the possibility of a dictatorship—and even of civil war —after the assumption of power by a Socialist Government.

The first stop in that direction, he recently said, would be the passing of an Emergency Powers Bill which would enable the Cabinet to establish Socialism without any effective opposition from Parliament.

Over the European epidemic of dictatorships, of which Hitlerism is the latest and in some respects the most astounding example, (hat have followed upon a war that was, in President Wilson’s words, waged to make the world safe for democracy, British Labour has found cause to ponder. Its representatives have had to face the question of how they would act if the reins of power should come into their hands, and to decide in their own minds whether they would proceed in the manner advocated by Sir Stafford Cripps, by leaps and bounds, through a great acceleration of the “ tempo ” of legislation, or by gradual stages on constitutional lines, as enjoined, for example, by Mr Arthur Henderson, with due regard for the preservation of democracy. The official Labour view is no doubt indicated in the attitude of the Trades Union Congress, which spells adherence to the belief that liberty is a very real and precious thing, and not, as Herr Hitler has declared, a mere fantasy, and that parliamentary government is a very useful institution, despite anything that Signor Mussolini may say to the contrary. Possibly no representative of British Labour is better qualified to set forth the trade union position than Mr Wglter Citrine, who, in addition to being Secretary to the Trades Union Congress, is President of the International Federation of Trade Unions. Addressing the delegates to the triennial congress of the federation last month Mr Citrine spoke very strongly on the subject of the menace of dictatorship. On behalf of international Labour he said:

We must not rest until Hitlerism and Fascism are overthrown. The movement is spreading to other countries. . . , We must present a united front to the enemy, but it must be based on the principles of democracy and freedom. We cannot ally ourselves with those who deny these principles. We remain ruthlessly opposed to dictatorship. whether of the Right or the Left. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. Let us take warning from the fate that has overtaken the German workers. . . . We must bring home to the peoples in all the countries we represent that Fascism, if it is not checked, will bring about war.

There is a Fascist movement in Great Britain, with which a former member of the Labour Party in the person of Sir Oswald Mosley is identified, and an amusing description was cabled a few days ago of its “ fortress ” at Chelsea. But as the British ideal has always been towards liberty, so to the average Briton all forms of dictatorship are repugnant. They will not be rendered the less so by the drawing of pictures of a Socialist dictatorship and civil war by those who are in agreement with Sir Stafford Cripps. Some people, in New Zealand ns elsewhere, find a curious attraction in new forms of government, and some people seem never to be able to appreciate the privileges which have been won for them and which they enjoy.