Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1942. WAR CRISIS AND CRITICISM.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 February 1942, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1942. WAR CRISIS AND CRITICISM.

$ AT a time when defeat and losses are darkening the immediate X ivar outlook of the Allied nations, a movement ol criticism and political revolt, like that- ol' Mr Jj. llore-Bclisha, a 1 ovmer British Secretary for War, and two of his National .Liberal I arty colleagues in Britain is apt to carry more weight than perhaps it should on its inherent merits. With the great naval base at Singapore destroyed and the loss for the time being of this vital strategic point—the gateway of the East —imminently threatened, there is a danger that some of the energy that should more than ever be concentrated on an intensified and still more resolute war effort may be diverted to a possibly futile hunt for scapegoats. 4 Whatever the merits or demerits of our existing war leadership and of the integration of Allied strategy, it is beyond question, that the seriously critical position that has developed in the South-Western Pacific is in great part the outcome of our national failure, during years of opportunity, to prepare lor the great emergency through which we are now battling oui way. Full account has to be taken, 100, of the tremendous burden the British Empire and its Allies bore until the United States entered the war, little more than two months ago, and of the fact that there has not yet been time for more than a fraction of the enormous resources ol the I nited States to be brought to bear upon the world conflict.

It certainly should be remembered in these dark days that we have as our leader the British statesman, Mr Churchill, who of all others protested against the inaction and delay in preparation of which as a nation we were guilty, and who, on taking over control, had the courage to tell the nation that the wav to victory must be opened by “blood and toil and tears and sweat.” No thinking man or woman will suggest that the Churchill Government should be, or is entitled to be immune from criticism, but the interests and security of the nation in a time of menacing emergency demand that criticism should be directed only against actual weaknesses in organisation and control and that there should be no toleration of any attempt, under the guise of criticism, to fasten upon our present leaders -responsibility for weaknesses and shortcomings which are the outcome, not of their failure, but of earlier apathy and neglect. The. National Liberal members who have taken a critical stand against the British Government have said in part that; — For a year we have taken the strongest action to plead for an Empire Cabinet, effective strategy, reorganisation of production under a single Minister, and reconstruction of the Government. We believe that if this policy for which we have fought had been carried out then, the loss of valuable lives and vital positions and the worst series of events, culminating in the grim situation at Singapore might have been avoided. Today we are facing the gravest situation in the history or the British Empire. Precisely because the situation of the Empire and its Allies is so grave, criticism of this kind should receive attention and should carry weight only in the extent to which it can be established in detail and can be made a means of improving and strengthening the war effort. Denunciations and condemnations in general terms are worse than useless, but there may be room for another debate in the House of Commons at an early date on the conduct of the war—a debate in which Mr llore-Belisha and his associates will have an opportunity of putting their criticisms, if they can, into constructive shape.