Evening star., 1940-12-15
British Labor Spurred by Hope
Victory Will Bring New Order
Workers Pictured as Believing Defeat of Dictators
Will Assure Equality in Europe and
Security of Employment
Bv Harold J. Lask
By Harold J. Laski.

Harold J. Ldski. professor of polit-
ical science in the London School of
Economics, distinguished British pub
licist and author, is tUeH knotpn In the
United States as Driter and lecturer.
For many years he has been one OF
the most influential spokesmen for
the British Labor party.
LONDON.-From the advent of Hitler
to power in 1888, British labor has seen
in him and his regime the worst enemy
the working class has known in modern
times. For wherever he has put his heel,
there the historic institutions built by
the working class for their defense, the
trade unions, the cooperative move
ment, the Socialist party, have been de-
stroyed-their trusted leaders have been
murdered or u sent to concentration
camps. Government by the sestapo and
the jackboot has replaced the procedures
of free democracy. International ag-
gression has replaced international law
as the basis of state relationships.
British labor, therefore, opposed the
policy of "appeasement" which Mr..
Chamberlain so long symbolized; it took
the view that the inevitable end of zap
peasement" was war When, at long last,
Mr.. Chamberlain took his stand against
the attack on Poland, the representative
bodies Of the labor movement in Great
Britain were unanimous in their view
that there was no alternative They
supported the war on the ground that
surrender to Hitler would only mean
postponement of the central issue. They
were prepared to fight to preserve the
democratic way of life. Without de-
mocracy. as they conceived it, expe-
rience showed, above all the experience
Of NaA rule, that the emancipation OF
the working class was impossible
Churchill Is Symbol
British labor refused to enter the
Chamberlain government in September
1889. because it had no confidence in the
policy Of the then prime minister II
entered the Churchill government in
May, 1910, "as q full partner" because
it believed (as it believes today that Mr.
Churchill symbolizes the determination
of the British people. above all of its
workers, to 60 on fighting until the threat
of the Fascist dictators to democracy is
finally removed. 1t does not believe that
this is simply an imperialist or capi-
talist war, though it does believe that
the capitalist form of society is mainly
responsible for its outbreak. But it is
convinced that the way to the socialism
1t breaches lies through democracy and
that so long as the Fascist dictators
stand in the path. socialism is unattain-
able. The fate of France in defeat has
Of course. strengthened this conviction.
This war depends upon production
and production depends upon the trade
unions. To intensity production the
trade unions have agreed during the
war (D to suspend all regulations which
hinder the productive effort Their con-
sent to the suspension OF any particular
regulation is, of course. necessary.
tbD To suspend all strikes during the
war period. All disputes which cannot
be settled by the normal machinery of
trade union negotiation are referred to
a national arbitration tribunal on which
the trade unions and the employers are
equally represented. The trade unions
have also full representation on all
ministerial bodies concerned with the
productive effort. AS is we'll known,
Ernest Bevin. the outstanding British
trade-union leader. is the minister of
labor and national service and q member
of the war cabinet.
Have Faith in Cause.
The Churchill government has radi-
cally transformed the political scene in
Great Britain. Mr.. Churchills own
leadership has been superb; but it is not
too much to say that his achievement
would not have been possible had moi
millions Of workers had new confidence
in government because of their trust in
their own leaders. The increase in out
put, the heroism with which they have
stood up to bombardment from the air,
the achievements of the air raid
protection services go per cent stated
by the common people,, bear testimony
to the fullness of the workers faith in
the British cause.
The British worker thinks that VIC
tory is 4 matter Of life and death for