j Sovemnber 17, 1939. sey THE ADVOCATE Page Thres By PHELT et the stage for a recruiting iggest rank and file revolt in the ‘arty durine the last quarter of a : CG. R. Attiee, speaking in ‘ehalf of the executive to the Labor arty members of parliament, can- idates and representatives of the > eneral Trade Union Congress, put s2e case for the imperialist war as ell as Lord Halifax the night be- =e! The speech, official statement of 1e party's policy on the war, was ‘terrupted by protests and inter- ) ctions, but the party chairman d not allow questions or discus- "on. FPeelins of the meeting was a Sire sign of what will happen in ie country, if the war proceeds. — Attiee not only supported the var, which may kill millions of the Dorkins class, but he also attacked e Soviet Union in a more open 7anner than the government ever red. He said: “It is not doubted that -e overwhelming majority of the sople im the belligerent countries ; They are longing for “ace and are seeking some way p hereby even now the massacre of illions of people and the destruc- fon of much material wealth, hich might be used for increasing e happiness of mankind, can be -erted.”’ x Attlee declared that the British ople have been forced, despite -eir desires to preserve peace, to =e up arms in defence of their sion of Poland but the challenge " civilization. The fact that Polanu ‘is ben overrun 2nd that the Soviet ‘nion after years of denunciation a fascist aseression has new turned und and made friends with the ‘svessor and shared the spoils, sakes no difference to the essential tue facings Europe and the world day. If civilization is to survive \eression must be ended. Life be- mes intolerable under the con- ant threat of war.” Aittiee said Hitler was a danger » Civilization, but throughout his speech made no criticism of the emi-fascist forces here, nor did 2 speak seriously of Secialism. ARROTS GOVT. Using trems almost identical ‘ith those employed by govern- 'ent leaders, he said that before ere can be a settlement there ust be a “government which car trusted — a government which 2s abandoned WHitlerism and is “epared to negotiate a peace on e basis of repudiation of the jicy of aggression. He said nothing of the govern- “ent which the British imperial- f Labor Party Support Jf Government Stirs ‘Rank-and-File Revolt BOLSOVER LONDON, Eng. (PEE by British Censor)._Making the paest disgraceful statement of policy in the history of the work- ‘ag class movement, the Labor party executive this week had drive, with drums, bugles and janners behind the national government. But they set the stage also for the? Ger- Ger- goyv- ists would try to set up in Many, but declared that the man people must set up the ernment described by him. “When there is such a govern- ment in Germany, the way to peace is clear,’ he declared. “It rests with the German people toa open that way.” War support was garnished, as in the speech of Lord Halifax, by talk of a “new world order,’ the “recognition of the rights of all nations.” This is all monstrously remi- miscent of 1914, and it is seen as such by 2 large section 6f the Labor party. The Labor leaders are thus backing a government which throughout its existence has a long and continuous rec- erd against democracy. Apparently it has forgotten the resolution passed by the Tabor partys national conference at the beginnine of this year, which said the party “sternly condemns the Shameful record of the so-called national fovernment, which, dur- ing the past seven and one-half years, has condoned aggression, betrayed democracy in Spain, Czechoslovakia and elsewhere and has gravely imperilled the security ef our own country.” Even while Major Attlee was speakins, William Holmes, chair- man of the Trade Union Congress, was talking with the King at Buckingham Palace on the work oz the trade unions in the war. Even 1914 saw nothing more dis- Sraceful than this double betrayal of the working class. TORY APPROVAL. Tory approval of Major Cc. R. Attlee’s speech officially settings forth the Labor partys war aims was voiced by the London Times, which stated: “It matches well though it was the speech of the leader of the opposition, with the declara- tion of the foreign secretary the day before. In no essential par- ticular is there any divergence of opinion.” But the local Labor party in Glasgow, with a membership of 50,000, passed by a large majority a resolution calling for peace and demanding the end of the Labor party cooperation with the sovern- ment The trades council and the La- bor party in Edinburgh, also with a membership of 50,000, denounced government claims of a ‘war to de- fend democracy’ as ‘hollow shams designed to mask the true nature of the policy which is designed to Shackle the workers more secure— ly to the imperialist war machine.” A 4aldane Says Shelters Are Not Bombproof LONDON, Eng.—(Passed by British Censor).—Public air ‘uid shelters in Britain’s teeming metropolis are virually worth- 'ss and the first air bombing will result in wholesale slaughter — at least 500 non-combatants, Professor J. B. S. Haldane, -orld-renowned scientist had asserted this week. |} London’s state of unprepared- *€SS in this respect will only be feMedied after mass destruction — civilian centres has occurred, ne scientist declared, since the de- 2cts are already wellknown to uthorities who have refused io lake the necessary expenditures or truly safe shelters. A gingle S-pounag air jbomb Trould penetrate and splinter the 1ajority of the shelters, he said, nd 2 500-pound missile would de- islish any of them. “There is not a public bomb- reof shelter in London. A mini- ‘um of safety is provided by six 2et of conerete covered with arth, yet the Iondon public shel- 2Ts have only about six inches of Snecrete,” Haldane said. No One eouncils and other public bodies were informed of the mnmecessities for safety, they had absolutely re- fused to authorize the increased expenditures to their construction. The Air Raid Protection Co- ordinations committee of doc- tors, architects, scientists and engineers, of which Haldane is a member, has insisted without “success upon the construction of better built, deeper shelters, he declared. The eminent scientist cited per- Sonal observation of bombing of Madrid and Barcelona as proof of what he described as negligence on the part of British war authorities. if He revealed that although town Should Miss .. .- The Grand Bi-Annual Press Drive ok Drawing of Handsome Prizes EMBASSY BALLROOM { . 1022 Davie Street British Press Urges Consideration Of India’s oe GENERAL MANUEL CA- MACHO, former minister of national defense, named by the Party of the Mexican Revolution (PRM) as its can- didate in Mexico’s 1940 presi- dential elections. Designa- tion by the powerful people’s front organization ‘virtually assures victory for Camacho next July. Australians Rap Censor SYDNEY, Australia — (ICN) — Warning Australians that unless -they were vigilant, “we shall see in this country the same type of tyrannous system we are being asked to fight against,’ J. Ward (Labor, New South Wales), in a recent speech in the House of Rep- resentatives, charged the Menzies sovernment with using the powers conferred by the National Security Act te prevent full expression of Tabor opinion. Such abuse of pow- re, he warned, might well be the beginning of a “campaign of sup- pression in this country.’ “The government has already _ taken steps to suppress comment in newspapers politically opposed to it,’ declared Ward. Common Cause, official organ of the Miners’ Federation; came into conflict with the censor, not because of any viclent language, but because it contained a state ment that the Menzies govern- ment was a2 minority govern- ment and that trade unions and the labor movement generally should organize to defeat it at the earliest opportunity. The pa- per also urged the labor move- ment to resist operation of re pressive regulations. Next year, or sooner, there would be an election, said Ward, and Labor members would be pointing out through various journals and by other means that the Menzies government was in a minority. They would be urging electors not to return that government. Labor, Ward pointed out, cannot yield the right to criticism of the govern- ment. NQUIRY FORCED. “The government first asked La- bor to join the national povern- ment, hoping in that way to pre- vent criticism,” said Ward. “When thi sfailed, the Menzies government used the powers con- ferred by the National Security Act to prevent the free expression of Labor opinion. , “T ask members of the opposi- tion to realize what will happen if the censor is allowed to get away with this. “This is a principle for which the Australian Labor party is pre- pared to fight—is prepared to take whatever risks are coming to maintain, even in the face of dras- tic regulations, the right of free speech, which Australians have in- herited,’ said Mr. Ward. The eriticism directed against the censorship forced Prime Min- ister Menzies to order an inquiry into the censorship of Common Cause. > lB ritish Liberties Menaced Emergency Powers Act Described As ‘Outline of Fascism’ LONDON, Eng. — (Passed by British Censor). — The Chamberlain government is patently seeking face-saving methods of retreat before the rapidly srowing popular re- sentment against WNazi-like repression on the part of a government which declares itself to be fighting an anti- Wazi war. Members of parliament of all parties recently participated in a heated debate against the Emergency Powers Act and re- pressive practises instituted un- Ger the guise of war regulations. The whole country is now awakening to the danger of the government offensive against democracy, conducted behind its acqquisition of extraordinary powers. Government attempts to smear the resentment of infringement on Civil rights as Nazi propagan-— da, have met with but little suc- cess. Ms Liberal party opposition in a recent House of Commons de- bate moved for annulment of the two-months old Defense Act, with Dingle Foot, MD, declaring that Britain was confronted With a two-fold danger: ‘Nazi aggression and Nazi tendencies at home.” Political meetings can be ban- ned, citizens ecan- be arrested without warrant and detained without Charges being placed and without access to the courts. All forms of political propagan-— da can be suppressed, curfew can be imposed in any area se- lected. The widest possible action can be taken under the regula- tion declaring it to be an of- fénse to influence public opin- ion “in a manner likely to be prejudicial to the defense of the realm or the efficiency of the prosecution of the war or te do any act or ahve any art icle im one’s possession with a view to making such an en- deavor.” The regulations can be used to stop strikes, and to prevent pick-— eting in all industrial action by the workers. “An outline of the fascist State” is the description of these regulations according to the secretary of the National Coun- ceil of Civil Liberties. “An im- mense body of emergency, fasc- ist legislation has been passed,” he said. A strong protest has been sent to Chamberlain by the labor group of the labor-controlled Glasgow city council. “Wei are convinced, whatever the purpose of the proposed de- fense regulations is, its effect will be to suspend practically resolution passed by the labor group. “We protest vigorously against any further encroachment upon the rights of free speech, free press. Legal detention without trial is not only incompatible with recognized principles of freedom and justice, but is very Similar to the methods of the country against which the pres- ent war is being waged. “We, the labor group of the Glaszow town council, which has the responsibility of admin- isteringe the affairs of the city, demand the withdrawal of these objectionable measures.” Many of such resolutions are being passed elsewhere. Throughout the country Com- munist party meetings are be- ing suppressed, it is reported, while the anti-war meetings of the Peace Pledge Union, are al- SO encountering police interfer- ference. I.ocal police are acting with unanimity, indicating cen- tral instructions from the govy- ernment. Local Communist par- ty organizations are defying the police ban and carrying on. ¥e Refreshments ADMISSION — 2Sc Demands indicated here this week. cant was the fact that The London Wews-Chronicle organ of the Lib- eral party, printed a signed article addressed to the British people by Webru. NWehru stated: “If this war is for democracy and self determmation and against Nazi aggression, it cannot be for annexation, indemnities, repara- tions, for keeping colonial peoples in subjection and maintaining the system. “India can take no part in de- fending imperialism. “The Indian National Congress has invited the British Govern- iment to state its war and peace aims clearly. “India’s resources are vast, but even of greater value is her good will and her moral support to a worthy cause. “This is no small offer that In- dia makes. “Tt means the ending of a hun- dred years of hostility between India and England, a great turn- ing point in history, beginning of the new order we fight for. Regarded as particularly ane e IN ews-Chronicle Publishes Nehru’s Message To Britain LONDON, Eng.— (Passed by British Censor). —The growing upsurge of the Indian people for freedom from British imperial- ism, is beginning to bring results as powerful sections of the British people swing toward immediate and favorable considera- tion of the demands of the Indian Nationalists as voiced by Mahatma M. K. Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, it was “Only a free and equal India an cooperate of her free will in this task. “Till that vital change is made none of us have the power to make the people of India enthusiastic for a war not theirs.’ The London Times continues to uphold the official atttiude ex pressed by Lord Zetland, the Secre— tary of State for India, refusing to commit Britain to the granting of dominion status to India after the war. However, unexpectedly, The Man- chester Guardian and The London Wews-Chronicle have become sud- denly sympathetic to the Indian Nationalists. The Manchester Guardian urged Britain to “trust India.’’ Writing in They Daily Herald, Labor party organ, H. N. Brailsford stated: “Some positive statement of our war aims is now indispensable. It is not enough to oppose Hitlerism and aggression. ... By provoking a rebellion in India, we might lose the war and deserve to lose it.” Urge India’s only to the Indian and British The government, having refused to declare its war aims to the In- dian people whom they drageed into war, or to grant them free democratie rule, is now threaten-— ing to use emergency powers in the provinces where the Congress ministries have resigned. The gov- ernment is also attempting to stir up differences between the Hindus and Moslems who are represented in the Wational Congress party and the Moslem League. “The Communist party sends Warmest greetings and assurance of active support to the Indian people in the struggle now open- ing for national freedom and British Communists Freedom LONDON, Eng.—(Passed by British Censor).—All British friends of democracy were ursed by the Communist party ina resolution issued last week to support the Indian demand for democracy and freedom. The resolution comes at a time when the Indian question is assuming ever greater importance not eopie but to the whole world for it reveals the real truth about the government’s pretensions that this is a war for democracy. % democratic rights,’ says the reso- lution of the Communist party. “The interests of the British working class are bound up with victory for the Indian people agaisnt the common enemy — the capitalist rulers of Britain. 3 “The Communist party declares its full support for the struggle of the Indian people for full in- dependence. We call for an im- mediate summoning of the con- stituent assembly -in India, in accordance with the program of the National Congress, elected by universal suffrage to enable the Indian people freely to choose their own constitution.” Mohandas K. Gandhi. The idly leading to a crisis in India’s ish pretext that freedom cannot be granted India because it a not achieved national unity. He | replied that once his people gain “freedom from bondage,” they will solve their internal problems. | In actuality, Indian liberation leaders have been very bitter at the | British demand for national unity | as 2 pre-condition for gone status because they believe that the British have incited the discord | and fanned the flames of the Hindu-| Moslem warfare. “Once a declaration to free In- dia, not in easy stages, but at once, is made,” said Gandhi, “an interim solution will be found easy. The protection of the rights of min- orities will then become simple.’ He added that “if the time has mot come for the acceptance of the fundamental truth, T would sug- Gandhi took issue with the Brit-¢ gest htat a further effort to reach India Can Solve Own Problems, Says Gandhi BOMBAY, India. ie new demand for India’s political free- dom from British imperial domination was voiced last week by 70-year-old nationalist declaration was the latest of a series of incidents that are rap- leader’s demand for national liberation. a solution be suspended.” While Gandhi has stepped for- ward as the spokesman of the In- dian liberation movement in con- versations with Tord MTinlithzow, the British viceroy, more militant sections of the dominant All-India Congress party are pressing for a sharper struggle against British domination. in protest against the British declaration, Congress leaders con- vinced seven provincial assemblies to resign. Britain countered this movement with an announcement that it would suspend the very limited selfsovernment granted the In- dian people in the form of these assemblies. Should an attempt to enforce this intention be made, trouble is likely to ensue with the possibility of British military ppunitive action. The ADVOCATE In Aid of te Good Popular Music WEDNESDAY, NOV. 22nd [F Dancing ail AS A.N Mi.