THE OXFORD GROUP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26199, 9 July 1946, Page 5

THE OXFORD GROUP

LABOUR ALLEGATION “REMARKABLE DUPLICITY” LONDON, July 5. Attacking the transport priorities from the United States to Britain granted to followers of Dr Frank Buchman, Mr Tom Driberg (Labour) said in the House of Commons that many Oxford Group members were doing good work, but the group’s public expressions were marked by- remarkable duplicity. Dr Buckman had said: "Thank God for a man like Hitier,” which was not denied until Hitler was defeated. He had also described Himmler as a “ great lad.” Mr Driberg alleged that the group was backed financially by Mr Henry Ford, and its industrial efforts were spiritual strike-breaking. The group also attempted to apply advertising pressure on the newspapers, which, however, was staunchly resisted. Mr Quinton Hogg (Conservative) asked if we were to prevent people coming to Britain on tittle-tattle which was not a credit to a girls’ school.

The Home Secretary, Mr J. Chuter Ede, said: “I am not prepared to apply political or religious tests, unless it is established that people desire to come here for subversive propaganda. I am unable to guarantee that some admitted are not charlatans or false prophets on occasion.”