THE INCITEMENT TO DISAFFECTION BILL
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—May I say in extension of the Council for Civil Liberties' letter concerning the Incitement to Disaffection Bill that serious dangers are to be seen in the Bill from a Christian standpoint ?
For myself, I believe that the very idea of organizing a body of men for the purpose of opposing and if necessary killing other men is evil. But to go a step further and close the minds of such individuals against " unwelcome " views --virtually making them the mercenaries of the Government —is an abominable thing. We have responsibilities to our fellow-men for our actions, and above all, we are responsible to God. How are we to fulfil these obligations unless we arc given the liberty to consult every point of view ? How are the troops to be sure that their course of action is the proper one when they are cut off from a wide section of public opinion ?
I feel very strongly that this attempt of the Government's to take away the mental freedom of many thousands of soldiers, and to penalize others who feel it their duty to express their opinion on the subject of war, should be resisted to the utmost.—I am, Sir, &e.,
Previous page
