Demands By Labour "Rebels"

Chronicle (Levin), 18 November 1946, Page 5

Demands By Labour "Rebels"

Press Assn.-

LETTER TO MR. ATOEE |

By Telegraph

-CopyrigM !

Received- Sunday,. 7 pmr. LONDON,. Nov. 17. The Ai.auchester Guardian publislies a "private aud conlidential " 5000 word better which 21 of tlie Ua b our "rebels' in the Commons seut to Alr. Attlee olfering " constructi ve eriticism" oi tlie Government 's foreign policy. The Guardian 's London correspondent likens the letter to that which Alr. Wai - 1 lace sent, President Truman. The sig natories included Alr. R. W. G. Alclvay, Mr. R. 11. S. Crossman, Aliss .lennie Lee, (Mrs. Aueurin Beva.n), Mr. Alichaeil Eoot and Alr. Sydney Silverman.. The letter was divided into li\'e sections,. each. of which is supported with specilic arguments. Tlie letter claims that the Go\ernment must act positiyely if socialist pidnciples are to provide an impetus to democratic socialisni on which alone the signatories believe en during peacc can be based. Tlie signatories lirstly affirm tlie be lief tliai British social democracy has an historic role in proving to the world by leadership and example, that demo cratic socialisni is the only linal basis for ^world Government and can there fore provide the genuine middle way be tween the extremes of American fre» enter.prise and Russian totalitarian

sociopoliticai life. The signatories recognise the Govern ment 's linancial and other difficultio but allege that it appeared to act more in reaction to what other countries luul done and had lost that initiative which democrats expected lrom it. Tliey argue that the Government w'ns most preoccupied with Russian "secuiitv" measures but had shown no i.oii cern over United States' e.xpansion from Greenland to the Earoe Islands, in Japau, tlie Pacilic lslauds and Atediterranean,. or her monopolv of the atomic liomb, her intLated military budget, oi her capitalist expansion economv. Tlie GOiVernmeut too often gave the impression. that it was iiifocted with an anti-

Red virus. The signatories also attack the Government 's policy as regards Spain Gveece and Germany on the grounds oi the Government 's rea'-tionary measures The signatories next express the con viction tliat British Gommonwealth safety must depeml on Uno but a con tiuuance of the Anglo-American com- ] bined Chiefs of St.alf and Alontgomerv 's speeches in America, tended to exacerbate Russian-American dift'er-em-es which were partlv responsible for Soviet intransigence. The signatories complain that the Government is using obsolete Imperial dcfence policies which are imposing linancial burdens crippling to the socialist reconstruction programme. Palestine and Aliddle East ■ pleclges had been sacrificed to Imperial

defence needs as seen by Alontgomerv. Britain had given tlie world the impression that she aceepted American niono poiy of the atomic bonib. | The signatories thirdlv consider that despite Russian-American scepticism, disbelief and liostilit.v regarding the | basie social democratic creed, the Government should foilow it boldly, cour ageously and uniformly. Tliey argue tliat British eriticism of the Russian and American political, econoniic and social policies is only valid when British ])olicies are in conformity with the standards by which Britain judges others, and criticisms of Puland aiul other easterri states, though perhaps justitied, are inconsistent when the grosimperfections of other states sucli as Greece, Spain and United States itself, evoke little if any eriticism. The signatories fourthly consider Britain, by example, can bridge Russian American antagonism by vigorously pursuing socialist policies at honie and abroad, and by showing tliat Britain can live on terms of ainity with both. Tliey point out that Britain telided to allv' herself too niuch with American capitalism, forgetting America 's inde jiendeuCe on the rest of the world, aud tffius weakeijiiig the position of Anierica 's . pro'gfeskrve forces^ .., 1 jL . The' Govdrnnieiif W (fellsftiVeitessM tp ! tlie m'enace of-C'omiwunisiii:" appeared ' a profoundly mistaken altitude. This fear of conimunism caused the Govern ment to support tlie worst species of

collaborators aud political adventurers not only in countries where Conimunism was tlie only alternative to Uascism but also in those in which the chances oi Gomniunism establishiug itself were slight. The democratic forces in many countries required political and moral j sujiport from Britain as well as mone j tarv assistance aud food supplies, some j of which had been used shamefully for political purposes. The signatories lastly express the opinion that the Government 's present policy will deniolish opportunities for the establislunent of social democratic policies in countries suitable for tliein., They conchide: " M'e believe tlie futj are of Britain and hunianity is at stake. I We cannot. continue to reniain silent. "