Labour Discovers the Empire.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18409, 16 June 1925, Page 8

Labour Discovers the Empire.

The sensation of tho Preference debate in the House of Commons on Friday was what Mr Churchill described (and welcomed) as "the extraordinary manifestation from the Labour benches." In this article we are not concerned, except indirectly, with, the fiscal aspects of that manifestation, but it is certainly remarkable to find the leader of the Clydcsidcrs preaching the "ccment"ing of the Empire." It is the first time anyone has heard, or been given reason to suspect, that Labour is "all!' for the Empire, and if Mr Kirkwood had said two or three years ago that cementing the Empire is "the best way "of accomplishing universal pence" his political career might have lasted another week. He may, of course, still find that "Imperialism" is explosive, though it is probable that Mr Churchill is right in attributing the 'lmperial as well as the fiscal change to "serious " private discussions," and that Labour is learning the futility of a vague internationalism. It is true that there havo always been leaders of the Labour Party opposed to disrupting the Empire, while so far. as aggression from outside is concerned the rank and file of the Party have proved themselves as steadfast and loyal-as Conservatives and Liberals. But Labour has lievcr before declared in the House of Commons that holding the Empire together is essential to the peace of tho world, while militant Labour has never allowed the. Empire any kind of justification at all. Cynics will of course say that the Devil can quote Scripture when it suits him—that Labour leaders were anti-Imperialist when the task was to rally the revolutionaries, and that they aro Imperialist now when their goal is tho support of the moderates. It is undeniable that the Party is well shot through with opportunism, and that many whose opinions have not changed have ceased giving violent expression to them. But it is on the whole fairer to regard Mr Kirkwood as a convert to a new gospel' ia the Labour Party, and to accept him without suspicion or fear as a recruit to that vast army of men and women who support the Empire because tlioy believe in its traditions and aims. The "Spectator," which is very generous to Labour, believes that Mr Ramsay Mac Donald was so successful in the Foreign Office because he had travelled, and was supported by a Party many of whose leading members had frequently visited Europe as delegates to Conferences and Conventions. There is probably a good deal in that suggestion, and since Labour's foreign policy was in the main stoutly national, it weans that the more Labour sees of the world the. more it B thinks of Britain. But travel in the Dominions is even more important than travel in the Old AYorld as a corrective to loose international j thinking, and it is to.be hoped that the Labour Party Avill not in future restrict its wanderings to the Ruhr and Moscow. Tho "Spectator" says very soundly that the international alternatives for British people arc "a real Pax "Britannica, supporting a League of "Nations, and class warfare, -dis"guised as a system of universal " peace." The world has seen something of that system for the last seven years in Russia—a country that maintains a nominal peace with the world and makes war without ceasing on its neighbours; that condemns militarism and keeps eight hundred thousand men in arms; that calls Imperialism a tyranny, and refuses the most elementary rights and liberties to its own citizens. It is a happy sign that a man has stood up in the extreme wing of revolutionary Labour and declared his faith in "thinking Imperially." Although ( we see very clearly that Labour in v cvery Dominion will reach its goal faster if its "path to power "is paved with Imperial intentions," we shall not worry about that if the intentions are sinoere.