Evening star., 1944-12-08
Nv the Associated Press.


The value of Sir Richard Acland's
speech (Acland rose just before
ChurchilD was that 1t showed how
extremely complex these Greek
politics are. He made very large
number of assertions. some OF which
were accurate and some of which
according to my information, are
the reverse.
1 address myself to the amend
ment as a whole.
I must point out that it does not
only deal with Greece, but with
other parts of Europe and with the
suppression of these popular move
ments which have valorously as
sisted the defeat of the enemy ir
other countries besides Greece.
The House will, therefore, l an
sure, permit me to deal with the
whole of this question of our inter.
vention in Europe-the tone, tn,
character, the temper, the object O
our Intervention where we have Il
intervene by dealing with otheI
countries besides this one B" =.
Before I come to particular
countries and cases, let me presen
to the House the charge which i
made against us.
Repeats Opposition Charge.
1t is that we are using His Maj.
eSty'S forces to disarm the friend.
of democracy in Greece and in othel
parts of Europe and to suppress
these popular movements which
have valorously assisted in the de.
feat of the enemy. Here is a pretty
direct issue and one on which the
House will have to pronounce before
We separate this evening.
I Certainly the British government
would be unworthy of confidence il
His Majesty's forces were being used
by them to disarm the friends OF
democracy in Greece and other
parts of Europe
The question, however. arises and
/ one may be permitted to dwell on it
for a moment: Who are the friends
of democracy and also how is the
word democracy to be interpreted?
My idea of it is that the plain,
humble common man-just the
ordinary man who keeps a wife and
family, who goes off to fight for his
country when it is in trouble and
goes to the poll at the appropriate
time and puts his cross on the ballot
paper showing the candidate he
wishes to be elected to Parliament
that is the foundation of democracy
If that is democracy, salute
and work for it. -
Emanuel Shinwell, Laborite,
| lnterjeCted a reference to Spain.)
Not Afraid of Spanish Issue.
l am not at all afraid to 20 into
| that discussion, but l have a great
deal of ground to cover. 1t is one
OF those great Misrepresentation
that I have said pleasant words
about Franco. All l said was that
Spanish politics did not really con-
slst in drawing rude cartoons about
it. 1t is really no use for nv hon
orable friend to screw his face up
as If he was taking a nasty dose
of medicine.
tShinwell - That is precisely
what and many people in the
country are doing.)
Every one can have their opinion
about that, but SO far as the hon
orable gentleman is concerned, 1
expect there are some other nasty
gulpS to follow.
We stand upon the foundation of
fair, free elections based on uni
Versal service and suffrage. That is
what We consider the foundation of
democracy, feel quite different
about swindle democracy-a de-
mocracy which calls itself a democ-
racy because it is left-wing.
1t takes all sorts to make democ-
racy, not only left-wing or even
Communists.
The last thing that resembles
democracy is mob law with bands OF
gangsters armed with deadly weap-
ons forcing their way into Greek
cities, seizing police stations and key
points of government, and endeav-
oring to introduce totalitarian
regime.
Protests Against Purges.
The last thing that represents
democracy is mob law that attempts
to introduce a totalitarian regime
and clamors to shoot every one who
Is politically inconvenient as part
of a purge of those who are very
often said to be-but often have not
been-collabofato with the Ger
mans during the occupation.
Do not let us rate democracy SO
low as if it were merely grabbing
power and shooting those who do not
agree with us. That is not democ-
racy. That is the antithesis of
democracy.
William GALLAGHER. Commun-
ist: That is what happened)
Mr.. GALLAGHER must not get so ex-
cited, because he is going to have
much the worse of the argument
and much the worse of the divis-
ion.
Democracy is not based on vio-
lence or terrorism. but on reason, on
fair play, on freedom, on respecting
other peoples rights as we'll as your
own ambition.
Democracy is not a harlot to be
picked up in the street by a man
with a tommygun. We have trusted
the mass of the people in almost
every country. but We would like
to make sure that it was the people
and not gang of bandits from the
mountains or countryside who
thought that by violence they could
overturn state authority.
Will Not Give Up Honor.
That is a general description of
the foundation upon which we
should approach the various Incl
dents on which 1 am going to dwell.
During the war, of course, we
have had to arm any one who
could shoot a Hun. We accepted
them as friends and tried to enable
them to fulfill their healthy in
stincts. We are paying for it in
having this debate todav which