PEACE AND DISUNITY

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 19942, 20 July 1936, Page 6

PEACE AND DISUNITY

Major C. R. Attlee, the leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party in the House of Commons, a few days ago declared that should the Government become embroiled in conflict it would not receive the support of his party if it were not following the League of Nations. He expressed disapproval of the National Administration’s foreign policy and also its armament programme, and declared that he and his party would not assist in a. campaign for recruits for the fighting forces. This declaration was no doubt made by Major Attlee with a, due sense of the responsibility resting upon him as the spokesman of an important section in the House of Commons, but it may have serious repercussions.

It is conceded that Empire statesmen are confronted with difli~ cult problems. They are anxious to avert an international upheaval and are strenuously striving to preserve the peace. Europe, it is said, is looking to Britain for a strong lead and it cannot be gainsaid that by precept and example she has endeavoured to induce the nations to follow the paths of goodwill. But this they have resolutely refused to do. The result is that British statesmen, in the interests of national safety, have had to extend the armaments programme which Major Attlee and his followers openly oppose, despite the knowledge that on a comparative basis Britain’s defensive forces are weak. In present circumstances the cause of peace would surely be better served by the evidence of national unity than by declarations of dissension. It is essential that British spokesmen in the councils of the nations should speak with confidence born of conviction that they speak for the whole nation.