MR MAXTON CRITICISED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23648, 4 November 1938, Page 16

MR MAXTON CRITICISED

TRIBUTE TO PRIME MINISTER INDEPENDENT LABOUR’S DISSENT FLAGRANT BREACH' OF PARTY POLICY ‘From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON. Oct. 10. When the Independent Labour Party consultative committee, which consists of Messrs J. Maxton, M.P., Fenner Brockway, John Aplin, Campbell Stephen. M.P., and J. McGovern, M.P, met, Mr Brockway and Mr Aplin stated that they felt compelled publicly to dissent from the “unreserved praise given to Mr Chamberlain’s actions last week ” by Mr Maxton and Mr McGovern. the spokesmen of the I.L.P. Parliamentary Group. This committee agreed that no obstacle should be put in their way. . , . Mr Brockway, in a statement later, said they were relieved that war had not taken place . . but the present truce could be made a permanent peace only by overthrowing all imperialisms, whether German, Italian. French or British, and that task would not be assisted by any endorsement of Mr Chamberlain, the representative of British Imperialism. The London and Southern Counties Divisional Council had stated that the action of the two M.P.’s was "a flagrant breach of party policy.” MR ATTLEE’S FEARS “The present time is a momentary armistice due to surrender," said Mr C R. Attlee, leader of the Socialist Party, speaking at Hanley. "You are back into a world of armed anarchy. The rule of law is openly flouted, international relations are worse than in 1914.” Herr Hitler had a greater domination over Europe than Napoleon had at the height of his power. Mussolini was only a very junior partner. FIFTY MILLION MIGHT HAVE DIED During the debate in the House of Commons. Mr Maxton in a striking tribute to the British Prime Minister, had said: “A war on the scale envisaged by this crisis would have lasted twice as long as that of 1914, having regard to the disparity between the weapons of then and now. Is it foolish to assume that 50,000.000 people would lose their lives? . “Is there anything in life for which Uis worth facing that? We were going to live underground like rats. Human beings would have rushed into trenches and tunnels like vermir. to escape from foul death from the skies. “ What sort of a new world is going to come out of that? What sort of a democracy? (Government cheers.) “Any effort made for peace is an effort which will receive my support. I said so in the House last Wednesday when the danger was great, and I repeat it now when the danger is somewhat eased. The Prime Minister in that limited period of time did something that the mass of the common people of the world wanted done (Government cheers.) “The greatest thing of the Prime Minister’s visit to Germany was the fact that it gave ordinary German people the opportunity to demonstrate under conditions which were not illegal their desire for peace That desire for peace demonstrated by the German people is the most hopeful sign in the world to-day. a point on which everything should be built.” One who was at Westminster during those debates lasting over four day? ■ says: “The most moving effort of all was that of Mr Maxton who looks like the spirit of the barricades, but has a heart incapable of hatred. His picture of Mr Chamberlain as the spokesman of the common people of all nations was beautifully and sincerely dona”