The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-08-08
Mentdlity Of the British Government

was pldycu ny tIS LdpouT TdTIy. IL
took the lead in the decisive debate;
assumed the responsibility of refusing
to serve under Mr.. Chamberlain, when
the latter at last realized the necessity
for reconstructed Cabinet; and raj
lied the Labour Party Conference to
the support of Government with Mr..
Churchill at it's head. 1t now has two
seats in the War Cabinet; in addition,
leading members Of it are in charge
Of three key Offices, the Ministries
of Supply, Labour, and Economic War
fare. Speaking broadly, it may be
said that the organizing of the war
effort on the military fronts are under
the direction of Mr.. Churchill and
those around him, and that the or
ganizing of the war effort on the do
mestic and economic fronts is in the
hands of Labour. The two spheres
necessarily overlap at every point, and
such statement must not be read
as implying any formal division of
responsibilities. That, or something
like that, however, appears at present
to be the situation.
We must not shout till we are out
of the woods, which we are far from
being. But the, efsts, so far, have
been electrical. The country feels
that at last it has got a Government
to it's mind-a Government which is
single-minded in the prosecution of
the war; which will tell it plainly
brutal facts, however unpleasant, and
not gloss over failures; which will
tolerate no obstruction, from whatever
quarter it may be threatened Mr.
Churchill's predecessor was a master
of soothing words. Mr.. Churchill
states bluntly-what is obviously true
that the events which eliminated in
the evacuation of Dunkirk were "a
colossal military disaster" The public
so far from being depressed by his
statement, is invigorated and inspired
by it. The Labour Movement has
throughout been behind the war,
knowing only too we'll that, whatever
else might survive German victory,
the liberties Of common men would
not. But, till recently, it was behind
it rather than a responsible partner
in it. Under the late Government it
supported the war-so to say-from
outside, which was all it could then do
Rightly or wrongly it felt grave
doubts as to the sincerity of its rulers;
while they, on their side, either did
not know how to put the country on
its mettle or did not dare to do
so. Possibly they underestimated the
full dimensions of the job before them;
possibly they were conscious that
their hold on the public was not too
secure. Whatever the reason, they
failed to demand full measure of
sacrifie which victory requires.
One of the striking lessons of the
last month is a lesson which it should
not have been necessary for events
to teach. 1t is the weakness of de-
mocracy when it feels doubts as to
its leaders and the strength of de-
mocracy when it has a Government
which it trusts. Events of course
the disaster in Belgium, the emergence
behind the German wolf of the Italian
jackal, the collapse in France-have
raised the national spirit to new
heights. But the fact that the in
dustrial population of the country, on
whose efforts, not less than on those
of the soldiers, victory depends, know
that leading members of the Govern
ment are men with the same expert
ence as themselves, is an enormous
asset. The Minister of Supply, Mr..
Morrison, gives catalogue of the
deficiencies to be made up, and ends,
"Go to it." The only comment heard
is, "Thank Heaven for a man who
knows his own mind and tells us what
he wants" The Minister of Labour,
Mr.. Bevin, has the immense task of
creating the machinery by which man.
power is to be organized, including a
National Labour Supply Board, Area
Boards, and Local Supply Committees;
Training Sentres to reft for industrial
life workers previously unemployed;
National Arbitration Tribunal to
deal with disputes which cannot be
settled between employers associa-
tions and unions; the quick transfer
ence of workers to the industries most