MR RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26589, 11 October 1947, Page 9

MR RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

Sir, —The visit of Mr Randolph Churchill and his outspoken remarks on world iff airs should do much to teach New Zealanders that, although the war is over, the peace is not yet won. The Communist danger to world peace is very real, and yet all New Zealand and Australia seem to think about is celebrating and disarming. Stalin and his advisers seem bent on achieving the domination of the European Continent by the agency of Communists and fellow travellers. Randolph Churchill is helping to tear the veil aside, and the nation should say, “ More cower to his elbow.” The difference between Communism as practised in a police State like Russia and the Fascism of Hitler's Germany is very slight, according to the best accredited travellers. In both freedom of speech and personal liberty are restricted, to put it mildly. Russia apparently is out to imitate, but her propagandists are the tame Communists and. fellow travellers such as are found in this country. It is easy to preach goodwill to all men, but much harder to ensure that one’s country will not fall under the power of a merciless dictatorship. That demands preparedness for war in peace and unremitting vigilance on the part of the democratic Governments. —1 am, etc., D. G .A. Balclutha, October 8.

Sir,—To read your columns, in recent issues and find out just how many people there are condemning the utterances of Mr Randolph Churchill makes it quite clear how Communism is getting a hold in this democratic country. This argument people put forward about world peace being hampered by this supposed-to-be “ war-monger ” is all bosh. If those people read in a recent previous issue of the Daily Times an article that Russia has an army which could overrun Western Europe in 48 hours, they can see that their argument is crushed. Russia would set her army going tomorrow if it were not that democracy holds the secret of the atom. Do we ot New Zealand want to see people starved into submission, as were 45.000,000 in Russia? The answer is definitely no! 1 for one, as well as every other democrat in this country, agree with Mr Churchill and his opinions. The sooner Communism, as well as its followers, are crushed here, the sooner we will have peace. Why don’t people wake up?—l am, etc., R- M. C. October 10.

Sir,—l wonder If your correspondent " Matilda ” would admit that the Bank of England’s credit of a billion sterling to rearm Hitler’s Germany was unlikely to inspire confidence in a Communist or anyone else. 'Would ” Matilda ” admit that a notable absentee at the Munich betrayal of Czechoslovakia was J, V. Stalin? Does *’ Matilda ” know that when Molotov suggested a mutual assistance pact betjveen Britain. France, and Russia to curb the lunatic Hitler. Mr Chamber-

lain’s reply was, ” The occasion is premature ”? The result was the RussoGerman non-aggression pact, which was signed after Poland’s refusal to accept Soviet assistance. _ The great fact of the Russo-German war is that Russia was not the aggressor. To me, Russia’s watchfulness over the activities of the pro-Nazi elements in Hungary and Rumania is a wonderfully good sign; after all, these countries fought alongside the Nazis and created havoc in Russia. —I am, etc.. Whizz. October 10.

[This letter has been abridged by the omission of allegations concerning the activities of armament firms. Ed., O.D.T.]