Public Opinion

Southland Times, Issue 25747, 10 August 1945, Page 8

Public Opinion

MR CHURCHILL Sir,—For daring to criticize Mr Churchill it would seem that one should be removed from this planet. Why should this man be immune from reproach? Has his political life been so exemplary that it places him above criticism? Does any singular action, however worthy it may be, put a person in the rank of greatness? -Why should all the credit of warning the nation in 1938 of impending disaster be given to Churchill, and why, most of all, did this man, who upbraided the Tory Government of 1938, allow himself to become the willing tool and leader in 1945 of a party of Munichers? Did we hear the voice of Churchill protesting loudly when Italy attacked Abyssinia, when Japan invaded China, when Hitler and Mussolini were perfecting their war machine in the then democratic Spain by establishing Franco and his regime? On the contrary so far as Spain is concerned we find Churchill paying rather warm tributes to Franco as late as ■ August 1944. This action was bitterly resented by the American Press and Mr Cordell Hull. Blood, tears and sweat! How admirable! We recall that when certain legislation was passed which would have been a very minute reward for blood, tears and sweat, Mr Churchill, with his usual dogged resentment of anything pertaining to social reform, immediately whipped his party together for a reversal of such an act. I take it. that this petty action was that of a great man. Because the Beaverbrook Press and the Tory Party have thought fit to elevate Mr Churchill to the rank of a tribal god, it does not necessarily follow that everyone should accept that as Gospel. In conclusion, may I quote from an article by the pigmy mind of H. G. Wells:, “Winston Churchill, the present would-be British Fuhrer, is a person with p range of ideas limited to the adventures and opportunities of British political life. He has never given evidence of thinking extensively or of any scientific or literary capacity. The ignorance of contemporary social and physical science is conspicuous, and so he is naturally a fellow of the profoundly snobbish organization, the Royal Society. His life shows a remarkable series of alternating phases of gallantry and their self-indulgent stupidity; protean changes of habit.” That, sir, I think, sums up Mr Churchill. NOT ASLEEP.