The Post-War War
Just as nothing is allowed to stand in our way in the drive to win the war, said Sir Stafford Cripps on Sunday, so nothing must be allowed to hinder us after the war in attacking poverty, ill-health, unemployment and bad housing. He insists that the post-war effort in abolishing these evils must be as total and as ruthless as
that of the war itself. It is most important that all who arc key up to see the country through to victory should habituate themseh to the idea that the cessation of hostilities is only a point half-s to the goal ; that the tension should be maintained until we far on the road of resettlement. Sir Stafford Cripps points out under the war emergency, we have disearded many of the ideas orthodox budgeting, have controlled investment and speculati and done -innumerable things no Government would have done peace time. His plea is, in effect, for a continuance of a state emergency—of an attitude of mind which is ready to take her measures to deal with pressing problems. The non possumus peace time becomes meaningless in war. One can do things th because one must. There should be no non possumus in approrte ing the crisis of peace. Our present impetus must carry us to achieve speedily some essential reforms before the country sli back into ruts. and the pace is slowed down. And, as Mr. Kevn said at Manchester on Wednesday, though the rigours of a w regime must be gradually relaxed, there can and should be no sw return to normal peace-conditions.
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