DIREST ACTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10610, 8 June 1920, Page 4

DIREST ACTION

(Mr Lloyd 'George has promptly taken a stand against direct action in the political field. Tho action is the outcome of the troubles in Ireland. But the stand of the Prime Minister against it is in no way connected with the Irish question.- It goes far deeper than any question of that kind. It has its root in the foundations, of government. Tho action of the Irish railwaymen, sustained* by tho English railwaymen, is virtually an order by a section of the people to tho Government to do its bidding. It is a plain claim on tho part of tho railwaymen to govern the country. IVo pointed this out when the finst notice of direct action was given against the transport of munitions to Poland and Ireland. Mr Lloyd George declared to a deputation of workers—from a special British and Irish Trades Union Congress—that the issue is meet serious. “Trades Unionism,’’ ho pointed out, “now sought to influence political decisions, not by using the ordinary machinery of the State, but by threats to disorganise the industries of the country.’’ To countenance that demand, ho said, would be “a complete abdication by the Government.” A similar stand was taken in France tho other day on tho same ground, and successfully. That success staved off tho attempt of anarchy, for tho usurpation of the functions of government by a section of the people is anarchy; not a step towards anarchy, but anarchy itself, being government without authority. That touches the crux of the whole business. Those workers are interfering with government in Ireland.’, No Government could submit to such a thing for a moment. The object of the Government in Ireland is entirely beside the question. That object may be good, bad, indifferent —what you please. Palpably, there is disorder, and there arc murders. Certainly it i« wrong to refuse to carry .soldiers and revolvers to protect the servants of the Crown and at the same time to carf-y murderers and their weapons about tho country. Mr Lloyd George goes into that aspect’ of the matter, because he wishes to add to the force of his fundamental principle that tho Government must govern. ‘But the fundamental conclusion is amply sufficient. Mr Thomas, on the railwaymen’s side, admits as much when ho says that “support of tho strikers in Ireland by the trapes unions meant a declaration of war on the Government.” AVlien direct action comes to that it is time to draw the line firmly, with the whole power of tho State behind it.