GOVERNMENT MUST RENDER ACCOUNT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 188, 6 May 1940, Page 9

GOVERNMENT MUST RENDER ACCOUNT

Value Of Democratic Rule

CONTRAST WITH NAZI REGIME (British Official Wireless.) (Received May 5, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, May 4. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Attlee, speaking at Ipswich, said the events of the week in Norway inevitably caused a good deal of anxiety. It must be acknowledged that the Allies at present had been unable to prevent southern Norway passing into the hands of Herr Hitler. That was a setback. They would, in the House of Commons next week, discuss the matter fully. It would be the duty of the Government to satisfy the nation that everything possible was done. The fact that the Government must render account of their actions to representatives of the people marked the difference between democracy and dictatorship. Herr Hitler lost the greater part of 'the -German fleet and very many German lives in an unprovoked attack on a peaceful neutral country, but there was'no one in Germany who could call him to account.

The fate of Denmark and Norway, ought to bring home to everyone the issues at stake in this contest. The Allies were lighting to make a world in which small, peaceful peoples would be able to live their lives in security free from the menace of attack from predatory neighbours. Collective Security. They of the Labour Party had always realized that this could not be achieved in an anarchic world. He claimed it had boon the object of the Labour movement from its inception to build up collective security for ordinary men and women. The trade union, the friendly society aud co-oper-ative society were all forms of collective defence, designed to bring about greater security. The political Labour movement had sought by legislative action to protect those unable to protect themselves. Children, the sick and aged had all received some degree of help from society. These things were good, but they were not enough. The Red Cross was a flne institution, but it did not relieve the necessity of abolishing war. The unemployment benefit was a great advance, but it did not abolish unemployment. He declared, in conclusion, that the Labour Party, in its foreign policy, stood for getting rid of the causes of war and In its home policy for getting rid of the causes of poverty. The keynote of Labour’s home policy, issued by the Labour Party as a pamphlet, is contained in the sentence: “Today we plan for the destructive tasks of war. The party insists that it is not less urgent to plan for the creative tasks of peace.” Tlie pamphlet declares that the Socialism of the Labour Party is' built upon profound faith in the people of Britain and determination fo press for necessary social changes upon the basis of democracy and justice. Tho party rejects all demands for dictatorship, whether from the Left or the Right. If the war is to be won with the least suffering and hardship Socialist principles must be applied, it states. After the war the national effort must be turned to the building of a new Britain. Key industries and services upon which the' wellbeing of tlie nation depends must bo transferred to public ownership.