ATTACKING THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2899, 20 June 1925, Page 4

ATTACKING THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

THE BOLSHEVIST MENACE. When the leader* of the New Zealand Labour Party, talk in praise of British liberty, the “Magna Charla” and the sacred rights of individual freedom, which Britain has established over many parts of the earth, we are entitled to ask what are they doing to preserve the Empire which conserves such liberties for the people. In the war with Prussian Autocracy, which sought to break our Empire and established a rule of bondage, where was this party —as a. party? It declared its attitude to be one of “'dignified neutrality.' Once more our Empire is faced with a. gigantic movement for world domination which declares that “personal freedom is a bourgeois superstition.” In place of the Junker we have the Bolshevist — equally as treacherous, as tyrannical, as devilish in its cunning and brutality, and as ready to adopt the most vile methods of terrorism as any that were ever employed by an implacable foe. If, as Lloyd George said, the Junkers were “the Road Hogs of Europe” the Bolshevists, with their centre at Moscow, are the serpents and crocodiles of our whole civilisation, bent on destruction by subtlety and ready to wallow in carnage in order to effect their end of world domination by force and treachery. The strongest bulwark which the bolshevists recognise against their designs of world conquest, is the British Empire. This power does not scruple to declare its enmity to Britain. It sets in the very forefront of its programme the purpose of smashing the British Empire. Instead of seeking an open attack, however, its method is that of the serpent, cunning poisonous and deceptive. As showing something of wlmt the designs are we quote the following delivered at the Congress of the Communist. International.

“The separation of the colonies, together with the proletarian revolution at home, will overthrow the capitalist regime in Europe. Consequently the Communist International must extend the sphere of its activities. . . must be in close

touch with those revolutionary forces which are at the present moment taking part in the overthrow of Imperialism in politically and economically subordinated countries. In most colonies there exist now organised revolutionary parties working in close contact with the working masses. The Communist parties must, get in touch with the revolutionary movement in the colonies through those parties and groups representing the advanced posts of the working class. At first the revolution in the colonies will not be communist in its character, but if from the start il will be led by the Communist vanguard, the revolutionary masses will find themselves oil the right way to their goal. These words are unfortunately true —“In most colonies there exist now organised revolutionary parties.” Here in New Zealand the party calling itself “Labour* is pronounced by its own leaders to be a. revolutionary party, though they seek at the same time to persuade us that there is nothing dangerous in revolution; about which plea there are very grave reasons for disbelief. Instead of academic reasoning it will be safer for our people to deal with plain facts. The outstanding fuel is that the Bolshevist power and the British Empire are at deadly grips with each other. It is not an open war that is declared against our. Empire. The Red menace of to-day is primarily not a- military one and can best be summed up in the word “infiltration.” They are not attacking our Empire from without but within—even at the very heart of the Empire we find these foes most active.

It. is said, that New Zealanders arc very loyail to the Empire. r J hat in general is no doubt true.j Where however, does the socialist revolutionary party which calls itself the

“New Zealand Labour l’arty” really stand ! In the contest between Bolshevism and Britishism is it for our Empire or against it ? Are we to take it. that in this war also (a real war though as yet bloodless) this party; is again neutral? Those who rise to no greater height of patriotism; tlmn to he indifferent to all attacks on the Empire but anxiously only to get all tbe benefits of British liberty, show a meanness of disposition that calls for no respect. To take all the freedom and give nothing in defence is plainly a contemptible stand to Lake. The British Empire to-day is having to struggle as it never had before and we may say that “those who are not for it are against, it.” Tlie attacks being made by the enemies without and within call for strong defence. It is not time for mere playing with political terms. When the attack is on those who i eally love their country will rally to its support, not merely shelter under its liberties in neutral regard ol' its trials and difficulties.

(Contributed by the New Zealand Welfare League).

Thu journey across the Libyan Desert from Cairo to the Oasis of •Suva and back, a distance of 1200 miles, has been performed on mo-tor-cycles by T. I\L Moore and A. Whitaker in fourteen days. They ami their arms were badly swollen witli the strain of holding up tlieir machines in the sand.