THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION SIR, —As another rank-and-file Labour supporter,
I am sorry that Mr. Hugh Ross Williamson should consider our leaders' attitude towards foreign policy "war-mongering." If he had been led to believe this whilst the Government were advocating the so-called policy of appeasement, and when their supporters were accusing indiscriminately all opponents of this policy of "war-mongering," I should not have been so sur- prised. But when the Government are at last avowedly following a policy which we have for so long advocated, I find his attitude difficult to understand.
It is obvious now, even to the supporters of appeasement, that a policy of surrender to threats will not bring "peace in our time." Our first task is to convince the Nazi regime that it has no chance of achieving its ends by threats of violence. With their past record of laissez-faire, this is a more difficult task for the Government than it would be for the Opposition. Any concessions must be granted from collective strength rather than isolated weakness. At the moment, any further attempts to conciliate Germany would be construed by Nazis as weakness, and by Russia as reluctance to form an effective "Peace Front."
But it is noi true to say that Labour leaders are opposed to considering legitimate grievances, or incapable of seeing further than the Peace Bloc. For a long time they have been advocating the calling of a World Conference to consider economic problems. They supported, probably more warmly than the Government, President Roosevelt's invitation to such a Conference, as an alternative to war. Also it must be remembered that many of the most ardent supporters of " appeasement " amongst the Government were the very men who, years before, had refused to listen to any of the far more legitimate demands of Germany, when that country was unarmed—and democratic.
Concerning the apathy which Mr. Williamson notices at by-elections, I suggest that it is caused by the disillusionment of " National," not Opposition supporters. After all, in nearly every case it has been the Conservative, not the Opposition
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