Evening star., 1943-07-12
Political Truces Workable

Workable
Harry Byrd over an issue like
Government costs would be i'm
possible among Social Democrats
in Sweden or Tories In England.
Over there the government de-
cidess on its attitude, the parties
decide on their attitudes and the
politicians, whatever their per-
sonal feelings, follow the line.
If they don't follow the line,
they get out OF Office, like Mr..
Greenwood.
The British and Swedish gov
ernments have been abk to pro-
vide efficient administrators in
the agencies which touch the
people most directly. Neither
country eats very we'll in these
rationed times, but no English
man criticises Lord Woolton, the
food minister, and any Swede.
will praise the accomplishments
of Minister of Supply Gjoeres in
providing the people of his coun-
try with diet that is calculated
to carry them through the emer-
gency. Sweden used to import
great quantities of food which no
longer are available.
Efficiency Questionable.
The existence of the parlia-
mentary system in Sweden and
England, with it's close balance
between government and legis-
lature, contribute to the success
full operation of the truce. But
parliamentarianism itself is not
enough to make the political
truce workable. Australia Is in
the midst of a trying political
time. and Australia, like all the
British commonwealths, has the
parliamentary system, wherein
the ministers of government are
chosen from members of Parlia-
merit.
The attractivenesS of the po-
litical truce would be overwhelm-
ing II it were possible to escape
the wonder whether the govern
ments operating under the truce
are really as efficient as they
seem. The absence of sound and
fury from governmental opera
ton gives an effect of efficiency.
1t seems certain in Britain that
Ernest Bevin manages the man
power affairs quite well. But it
is questionable in Britain whether
Sir Kingsley Wood Is a capable
chancellor of the exchequer.
1t is questionable, too, in Swe-
den whether the cautious course
in foreign policy the government
has followed has been necessary,
but debate on this question, ex-
cept in newspaper editorials, is
at a minimum. Many Swedes
think privately that the govern
ment could with impunity have
denied the Germans the privi-
lege of sending troops and war
materials to Norway or Swe-
dish railways. None can state
yes" or mo" positively in this
argument of what might have
been.
Stif1es New Leadership.
r The one obvious defect in the
truce is that it smothers the
growth of new politicians. The
Swedish and British governments
are manned in the main by men
far advanced In years. Prime
Minister Churchill is approach
ing 70 and Prime Minister Hans
son. while about 10 years younger,
is veteran of Swedish political
life whose view often seems. to be
backward.
The accomplishments OF the
Social Democratic party during
those 80 years have been many.
But the forward push which
political life in democratics needs
in order to be healthy is absent.
The immediate benefciaries OF
the truce, the prime ministers,
are tempted also to devise rea-
sons why the truce should go on
and on. Both Mr.. Churchill and
Mr.. Hanson have made 1t plain
they want their respective coan-
tions to continue after the war
ceases. In the meantime, the
opposition parties wither. because
they cannot present to the people
their points of view in anything
except a tepid election.
General elections provide the
best arenas for political discus -.
sion. England has had no gen.
eral election cinse 1885, nor Swe-
den since 1898.