REALISING THE TRUTH

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 60, Issue 4231, 15 January 1940, Page 6

REALISING THE TRUTH

FREEDOM OF SPEECH. “The British are not sheep. They do not need to be told what they are to believe. They are capable of forming their own judgment in the light of debate and discussion. If we find a political s party which is the paid instrument of a foreign Government with whom this country is at war it it perfectly legitimate to suppress the organisation altogether. That is my view, and I think it is the proper thing to do. And similarly with any other political party. If it is in the pay of a foreign Government, is an agent of a foreign Government, there is a legitimate field for public inquiry. Subject to those considerations, however, it is really better that these people should have the opportunity of putting their point of view, letting public opinion settle what is right and what is wrong. If we try at the beginning of this war to control opinion meticulously we shall be doing wrong, not only acting contrary to the principles upon which the war is supposed to be fought, but bringing ourselves into contempt among many other nations of the world.” Mr Herbert Morrison, in the House of Commons.