SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 32, 23 March 1942, Page 5

SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS

BRIEF POLITICAL REVIEW

EXPULSION & JiEINSTATEMENT

(By Thales)

Our staid British character has undergone tAvo seA'ere trials beside which Dunkirk and the fall of Singapore fade into insignificance. The first was Avlien, having condescended to accept Russia as an ally, Ave AA'ere faced with the shocking prospect of referring to the So\ rfet leader as "Comrade Stalin." Noav, df it had only been plain "Mr Stalin" all Avould haA'e gone avcll, but in England Avhere blue blooded respectability has to be placated,, this fra r ternal and friendly little Avord "Comrade" is ahvaj T s associated Avith such horrors as baby-eating and mass, murder. (There Avas of course no" objection to calling Hitler the "Fuehrer").

HoAvever this impasse Avas linally solved by Stalin himself. With a touch of the same subtle humour which had impelled him to slioav the world only the more obsolete models of his tank park in 1940, the Russian leader suggested to Mr Churchill that in future he "wished to be referred to, as. "'Prime Minister Stalin."

It will be recollected that in one of his broadcasts, Mr Churchill told us of Stalin's* wish in this connection. Unfortunatelj r no sooner had ive settled down in rapt contemplation of the strategic lessons to be learned from the Crimean Avar, than "bang"! and our second shock is personified in Sir Stafford Cripps. Most people, knowing little of his political history accept his inclusion in the Cabinet in much the ■same way as they accept a slit trench, or an air raid warden—if he can't do much good he can't do much harm. Others, having heard •dark and sinister rumours that Cripps. was expelled from .the British Labour P'arty for being a "Bolshie" are vaguely disturbed.

The people most worried are the Germans and Italians, who at the moment are competing with one another over their broadcasting stations in abuse of Cripps.

Tt is probable that he, having sung the praises of Russia's Social System, when to do so was unpopular, has often been the recipient of the stock argument used against all people interested in Russia I.C. "If you think so much of Russia why don't you go there"? Anyway, Sir Stafford Cripps did go there and we ■all are very pleased with the result.

When he was expelled from the Labour Party for advocating a United front of all parties against Fascism, he issued a letter and memorandum to the Labour Party Executive outlining the urgent necessity of getting rid of Chamberlain,. and the appeasers, and replacing' them with a--Government comprised of- all progressives. The memorandum and letter, and the reply from the Labour Party executive, were issued: as a supplement to the "Tribune" a paper printed by Sir Stafford with a very limited circulation. The writer has in his possession the supplement, and as it is very rare, probably the only one in New Zealand, intends to quote the more salient features in this article. The original will be left with the Editor although it is essential to have, some knowledge'of political trends in the Old Country in 1938-39, to fully appreciate it. Some inkling of his political and social background Avill also assist anyone not conversant with the subject. He" is the nephew of Lord and Lady R'osefield (Sydney and Beatrice Webb), whose work on the social and political life of the Soviet Union is the most comprehensive in the English language, so it is not

surprising that Sir Stafford should openly and unashamedly be the friend and advocate of Russia. In fact hidden beneath all the excuses • of the Labour Party Executive in expelling him, lies the question of Sir Stafford's uncompromising attitude on Soviet communism or socialism. They, too busy counting imaginary voters at the next election, to be able accurately to gauge the rapidly developing workl. situation, decided that Sir Stafford's desire, for a realistic attitude to Rus sia, and his preparedness to associate himself with anyone, even communists, and left wingers, against the appeasers, was not respectable enough for them, used the well-oiled machinery of the Labour Party's • constitution to kick him out; with him went Mr Pritt K.C. Sir Stafford's popular front did not necessarily exclude Conservative

members, provided they were prepared to place their country before the interests of Mr Montague Norman, and he definitely had in mind the dissatisfied group led by Mr Churchill and Mr Anthony Eden.

The extraordinary feature of this episode is that Avithin two years the Labour Party Avere quite cheerfully participating in the very form of Government, Avhich they had expelled Cripps i'or suggesting to I hem.

It is certain that those avlio attempted the political assassination of this brilliant man, are biting their lips Avith rage and mortification as they see him rise to power. Some idea of his political and social programme may be obtained from the programme submitted to the Labour Party, and which ay as too radical for them. Headed by Cripps, address 3 Elm Court Temple E.C. 4, January !). I!K>9, and addressed to Mr Middleton, secretary of the Labour Party, the memo is preceded by a letter outlining the need for a united front against Fascism, the I'olloAving policy is part of the memo. 1. The efYectiA'e protection of the democratic rights, liberties and freedom of the Brtiish people from In-j tcrnal and external attack. I

2. A positive policy of peace by collective action with France, Russia, the United States of America and other democratic countries for the strengthening of demncracy against aggression and a world economic reconstruction based upon justice to the people fo all classes and nations. H. Co-operation with the Trade Unions for advances in wages, bettering of working conditions, shortening of hours, raising of workmen's compensation, and increase of holiday with pay.

4. Higher standards of nutrition cspeciallj' for children and mothers. 5. Improvements in the conditions and standards of the unemployed, including the removal of the family Means Test. G. Improved pensions for old-age pensioners and those older workers who should be encouraged to retire from industry. 7. Increased educational facilities freely open to all children irrespective of their parents' income, including an effective raising of the school leaving age with grants to parents where necessary, and the expansion of nursery schools, secondary and university education.

8. An immediate and serious tackling of the problem of unemployment, particularly in such districts as the distressed areas and Lancashire by the national planning of industrial development, and of the investment of new capital in industry and by rapidly increased public works to improve bousing, education and other essential jsocial services.

9. The full utilisation of the productive resources of the land by giving planned assistanc to agricultural development on the basis of a fair wage to the agricultural worker, a just return to the farmer and an equitable price to the consumer.

10. The national control and. coordination of all transport services with fair wages for those working in the various industries.

11. National and controlled planning of the mining and allied industries so as to enable fair wages to be paid to the workers and fair terms to be given to the consumers.

12. Control over the financial resources of the Nation through control of the Bank of England and the increase of direct taxation if necessary to enable the above programme to be carried through. Point two of the above anticipates both the Russian and American entry into the war, and also> the Atlantic charter, while the last clause evidently designed to clip the wings of Mr Montague Norman. It remains to be seen how far Sir Stafford's present colleagues will allow him to go, in placing the Atlantic charter into the field of practical! politics. British diplomacy is notable for only three successes in the i

last ten years. The first, Cripps mission to Moscow; the second, the splendid stand at the League of Nations by the present New Zealand Labour Government on the question of collective security; and last but by no means least, the stand taken by the New Zealand Waterside Workers against the export of scrap metal to Japan. The Farmers' Union and others should forward letters of thanks to the waterside workers for having saved us the pain of receiving our own plough shares back in more insidious form.