“SILENT COLUMN”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1940, Page 5

“SILENT COLUMN”

NOT WANTED IN BRITAIN. MR CHURCHILL’S CHEERFUL COMMENTS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 24. The Press expresses general approval at the passing of the “silent column.” In the House of Commons yesterday Mr Churchill played the part of the witty first grave-digger and on all sides is recognised to have treated the subject in a perfectly appropriate manner. Mr Churchill said: “The movement of forming ‘silent columns’ was well meant in an endeavour to discourage loose and ill-digested talks of a depressing character about the war. However, ’when the idea was put down in black and -white, it did not look by any means so attractive and seemed to suggest that reasonable and intellient discussion about the war between loyal and well-disposed people ought not to take place. On the contrary, the Government is glad that the general aspects of the war should be understood and discussed, provided there is not a breach, however, inadvertent, of official secrecy.” “The Times” applauding a remark by Mr Churchill that the “silent column” has passed into “innocuous dissolution,” says: “It perished lightly enough under this jocund pomp, and now that it is done with there will be a review of prosecutions which at the instance of the ‘silent column’ have too often been ridiculous.” “The Times” also praises the Government for retracting the second measure “with frankness and dignity which has been at variance with the English temper and sense of justice and fair play”—that of the wholesale internment of enemies of alien origin. The “Daily Telegraph” says that no doubt a very large number of the men interned are heart and soul antagonistic to Nazidom. “Many of them,” it says, “have hardly escaped from its cruelty, and are able and eager to render useful service to the country which is their home. Not only was hardship being inflicted and good feeling strained, but a possible source of much-needed manpower was being wasted. The reforms which Sir John Anderson is making will set free those who should have been exempt and provide for the release of individuals and groups who will join in our war effort.”