A CHALLENGE TO DEMOCRACY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2031, 18 August 1920, Page 11

A CHALLENGE TO DEMOCRACY.

LABOUR FORMULATES NEW CONSTITUTION THE COUNCIL OF ACTION DENOUNCED. A WARNING AGAINST REPEATING THE EXPERIMENT.By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. (Renter.) (Bee. August 18, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, August 17. Replying to Mr J. R. Clynes, in defence of the Supreme Council's action, Mr Lloyd George said that Mr Clynes claimed to be a democrat and a constitutionalist. Mr Clynes argued that the Constitution was an unwritten one. That was an incorrect doctrine, and when a neAv body was established and substituted for Parliament it was a dangerous one. Labour suddenly establish a body of men who said: We will formulate a part of the Constitution for ourselves. We will not submit to Parliament, because the elected representatives do not count. Therefore we are going to declare, by a resolution carried after from two to three hours' discussion, that henceforth the Constitution shall include a Council of Action representing one section of the community. That was one of the most formidable challenges ever given to democracy, and, without hesitation, every Government must accept the challenge. The Labour Party knew perfectly what was the policy of the Government, and its action, when there was no issue involving peril to the community, and when the Government had taken responsibility in full accord with public opinion, was the most unjustifiable action ever undertaken by a responsible body in Great Britain. It was done to impress the people with the idea that, without this dire threat, the country would be plunged into war. Every responsible Labour member knew that the Government was striving strenuously and consistently for peace. He hoped soon to be able to publish the Government's dispatches to Poland. They would show that Great Britain had deprecated the Polish invasion of Russia, and had solemnly warned the Poles that if the invasion were undertaken they could not count on the support of British opinion. The Government had not deviated a hairbreadth from that policy throughout. Concluding. Mr Lloyd George emphasised the need for preserving the unity of the nation as it w;as preserved in the face. of a greater danger, but resolutions like that of the Council of Actionwould not help the cause of peace. Such an action roused a deep fear and anxiety in the minds of millions as to what it all meant, and the fear of most was that it would cause Avar. There was also the fear that the democratic institutions of the country were to be subverted to some tyrannical idea imposed by force of arms. He added: I ask them not to repeat that experiment. If they do, it will be difficult to preserve that atmosphere of calm judgment which is essential to the peace of the world. Mr Clynes 'a speech in the House of Commons on the Polish situation ■will be found in the cable news on page 9.^