The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-02-20
COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS

action of the British Government in
suppressing the Daily Worker, London
Communist organ, following many
months of deliberate opposition by the
paper to Britain's war effort. The
Governments action, after long pro-
vocation that would have speedily
brought drastic action in any totali-
tartan country, was cited as an eX-
ample of British patience and devotion
to constitutional liberties.
Another striking example of the
same British devotion to liberty was
given by the toleration of the "Peo-
pies Convention" in London, which
enjoyed itself hugely by lambasting
the government.
The peoples Convention" is an
alyzed by Harold J. Laski, famous
British economist, in The Nation of
February Is. The convention, Laski
says, was essentially Communist in
spired. That was plain to anyone
reading the reports of the meeting
in the American press.
X X x
The chief demand of the "People's
Convention" for peoples govern
ment," Prof. Laski points out, is in
direct line with the British Communist
Party's aim to "turn the imperialist
war into a civil war;" while he does
not believe the Communist party real
ly desires a Hitler victory, he en-
phasizes that civil war would destroy
Britain's national unity and necessar-
ly result in Nazi victory.
Laski feels that the explanation Of
the Communist attitude lies in two
factors: /, the need for defending the
Soviet Union in this war; 2, the
chance for third party to emerge in
the difficult period of postwar re-
construction.
However, the leaders of the Labor
Party, he indicates, are equally aware
of the dangers ahead and are one with
the British people in their determin-
alton that large-scale experiment in
solving social problems shall take
place.
X X X
Inc DIlLlSH HONcIIIllellC NATURALLY
didn't like the "People's Convention"
but did not interfere with it and there
was no resort to mob violence. The
British, no matter what the stress or
provocation, very seldom do resort to
mob violence. Which is lesson for
America-a lesson that in these jit-
terry times should never be forgotten.
Mob violence is not sign of
strength but a sign Of weakness, as
Paul V. McNutt, Federal Security Ad-
ministrator pointed out effectively in
recent discussion of civil liberties in
the colleges. Declaring that the natl
onal interest lies in having college
policies for the protection of the civil
liberties of teachers and students Wig
orously and clearly stated as an eX-
ample to the community, McNutt re-
marked:
"If the studios and reflective men,
bers of a college, the leaders of aca-
demic thought, cannot keep their
heads what chance is there for the
butcher, the baker, and other work
ers to temper their patriotism with
cool effectiveness"
X X K
"For we must never forget"
McNutt added, "that mob persecution,
such as marred our record in the last
war, is just as much a break in morale
as is terror; collapse and irrespOn-
sibe vigilantism are but two aspects
of hysteria. Either represents loss
of that seIf-cOntrOl without which no
man or nation can be strong.
"Tyranny and terror may be neces-
sary in some nations. They are not
tolerable here. Democracy has a story
that can stand the light of honest
mems discussion"