Evening star., 1940-10-20

of its understanding that the democratic
way of life is alone compatible with
peace, and that form of government is
bound to influence the destiny of the
United States and Great Britain. 1t is
no use saying when a peace treaty is
signed that they are not matters with
which We need concern ourselves. We
have to concern ourselves with them
because the implications of policy they
involve set the framework and pattern
to which our own policies must neces-
sarily be adjusted. Either we learn that
from this war or we learn nothing. And
learning it means that the sooner we
begin to apply the lesson, the better.
There was real truth in the claim of the
ChlneSe Ambassador the other dav in
London that defeat of Japan in China
is the high road to defeat of the die
tators in Europe
Postwar Problems.
But if the Churchill government Is to
apply the lesson, there are in it domestic
as well as international implications.
The domestic implications are the urgent
AANNN " PiCPdIC IlOW 1OT Ifle immense
social and economic reconstruction after
the war. This will require time and
not the least heartening aspect of the
present situation is that the Nation is
now ready for great changes 1t is net
merely that they are demanded with the
growing force of the labor movement.
1t IS also that the social experience of
tho hos
business men and, no less significant,
among the armed forces, the realization
that irrational privilege is in democracy
the most fatal barrier to national unity.
The workers of this country give Mr..
Churchill all the weapons he can ask
Tor from them in the sure KNOWLEDGE
that the overwhelming defeat of the
olctators is necessary to their own future.
But IN war weapons are the servant of
strategy, and strategy needs to be in
formed by great idea.
1t is indeed growingly felt here that
this is policy of wisdom from the
international angle also. Part of our
need is to destroy the hold of Hitler
and MusSolini upon their own countries
and those they have subjugated. We
need TO prove to them that the kind of
world our victory will shape is better
no less for them than it is for ourselves.
The way to that proof is to proffer. con-
vlnclng evidence of our own faith in
democracy, and the most convincing
evidence We can offer surely is to make
democracy more real in Britain as a
prelude TO its re-establshment abroad.
diet OF great reforms here in war;
time would do more to undermine the
legend OF the dlctators than anything
except military defeat: it is. indeed. a
necessary Psychological preparation for
that defeat. 1t steels our own, resolution
on the one hand and creates expecta-
tlons the dictators cannot rival among
their victims on the other.
Revolution by Consent.
EVIDENCE accumulates that this is the
line the Churchill government is likely
to follow this winter. His colleagues
see increasingly that victory for the
morale OF democracy is prelude to VIC
tory in the field. The idea is even be-
ginning to have a special vocabulary of
its own. revolution by consent is
to be begun and the fact that we have
made our revolution by consent will
entltle us to take the lead in that Eu-
ropean revolution.
think Mr. Churchill is beginning to
see this and do not think his accession
to leadership of the Conservative party is
barrier to his adoption of the policy.
He is not a traditionalist, even though
he respects tradition. In essence, Mr..
Churchill is a great captain to whom
those measures are essential which VIC
tory requires. Once he sees their ur-
gency, he is likely to put behind them
all the resolution and energy which are
the mainsprings of his temperament.
So far he has hardly had time to think
in terms of the long end. He has been
occupied overwhelmingly with the task
of saving this island from the grim fate
of France. I do not need to dwell upon
the remarkable success he has achieved
in this realm I only say that no states
man in my life has won the same hold
as he upon the imagination of the peo-
pie. But this phase of Mr.. Churchills
career is closing and a more difficult
one is beginning. A very great minister
of defense has got to show he can also
be great prime minister. In some ways,
perhaps, this is bigger task. For hav-
ing organized the possibility of a great
victory, Mr.. Churchill has now to show
he can organize the foundations upon
which enduring peace depends.
(Copyright, 194O)