WAR’S DEMANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1938, Page 7

WAR’S DEMANDS

WHOLE POPULATION INVOLVED. Discussing what he describes as the “paramount question” for Britain Mr J. L. Garvin writes: —We are a democracy. We suffer from some of its notorious and perilous weaknesses in advance of such a supreme crisis as always pulls it together. Weaknesses even in the most vital and urgent matters of common interest, irrespective of the differences of parties, sections and classes on other things. Weaknesses of demur, division and delay by comparison with the compulsory and total organisation of the dictatorships where what is resolved by a Government is undertaken’ at once. How are we to get over this contrast? That is the question which the dictatorships have asked themselves with a dangerous confidence. Only democracy itself can save itself. Then what of industrial man-power as applied to defence? The straightest and frankest Ministerial courage will have to come into play on the issue of united service, whether in peace or war. The Labour Party, who want to stand up to dictators —except in Moscow, Angora and some other quarters —made a ridiculous rumpus because Sir Thomas Inskip touched, in the House of Commons, upon the simplest truth of the situation. War today means “all in” and nothing less. It means totalitarian war, with the entire population involved, whether for industrial and fighting purposes or for mutual protection and aid against overhead attack. In draft a bill exists to allocate all persons in Britain to their duties in case of war. In emergency the bill could only be applied by vote of Parliament. Not to prepare it in advance would be the most criminal neglect or cowardice in face of the plainest necessity. In case of war any Labour Government or Left Coalition in power would have to act in this matter just like any other Government. It would have to apply compulsory organisation to the whole country with the most drastic completeness. Let us hear no more about this bogy of “conscription” in wartime. It would be that or surrender.