LABOUR MOVEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1939, Page 7

LABOUR MOVEMENT

ATTITUDE TO THE WAR DECLARATION BY BRITISH ACTING-LEADER. TOLERATION OF HITLER IMPOSSIBLE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright RUGBY. September 20. Dealing in a broadcast with Hie attitude of Hie British Labour movement to Hie war, the Acting-Leader, Air Arthur Greenwood, emphasised the Labour Party’s determination to fight for freedom to the end. They all hated war, he said, but there were some things for which, if need be. they must fight. Freedom was one of those things.

This war was not of British making Herr Hitler had decided on it, and the} must fight him because "we cannot anc will not tolerate the claims of individu als or States to dominate our lives through threat or use of force." Together with the Labour movements in the Dominions and India. British Labour stood for the same end: and had one common goal—freedom, of thought, expression and opportunity irrespective of class, colour, or creed Mr Greenwood remarked.

Addressing particularly those not of the same political opinion as himself Mr Greenwood said that Labour would support all reasonable measures neces sary to bring the war to a speedy, sue cessful conclusion. The whole future of Labour and of all who believed in freedom depended on the successful conclusion of this great and, he hoped final struggle.

“Labour stands four-square. P hates war, but it also hates oppres sion. Its mind is not clouded by evil thoughts against the German people. It hopes to rescue them from subjec tion.” Where Herr Hitler went millions of people were enslaved, Mr Greenwood added. People were put in concentra tion camps merely because they preferred liberty to subjection. “To all who believe in democracy and freedom.” he concluded, “I send the greet ings of British Labour. TRIBUTE TO POLAND. Speaking after Mr Chamberlain in the House of Commons today, Mr Greenwood said: — “Another Power has committed an act of aggression. There can be no doubt as to that fact. There can be no doubt that the justification offered is one which reasonable people who have had, as we have had, knowledge of previous acts of aggression could not accept for one moment. But it is difficult to weigh the reactions and repercussions of Sunday’s events. Speculation is useless.”

Joining in the Prime Minister’s tribute to a magnificent and heroic na • tion, Mr Greenwood went on to express regret that it had not been possible to bring the Allies’ assistance more swiftly to Poland, though per haps no help could have enabled Poland to withstand the joint assaul, of the Germans and the Russians. The fact that Britain was not able to move for her before lay on his conscience. The lesson from this was importantin future the country’s friends should receive certain and general help. Mr Greenwood said that Herr Hitler failed to understand the mind of Britain. “He fails to realise that the fac' of Poland being partially dismembered and disabled does not weaken, bu strengthens, our determination.”

Mr Greenwood expressed concern lest the dislocation of normal trade a' Home in the early days of the wai should result in a big increase in un employment and waste of available labour resources at a time when the service of every men and woman should be co-ordinated into a gigantic national effort to bring the war to successful conclusion —an apprehension which was likewise expressed by Sir Archibald Sinclair.