A CHALLENGE TO LIBERALS
Sta,—The replies to my letter: A Challenge to Liberals (The Spectator, August 29th) and the letters headed What Edge Hill Means, focus atten- tion on the failure of Liberalism. I agree with Janus (September 19th) that election results suggest that " the great mass of electors are wedded to the two-party system and take only the Labour and Conservative parties seriously." I submit that we need to distinguish clearly between the Liberal Party and the liberal spirit. The decline of the party does not mean the collapse of the doctrine. But the liberal way of life is seriously threatened by the materialistic spirit, class rancour and totalitarian impli- cations of Socialism. Conservatism, on the other hand, becomes more liberal daily. The high Tory is almost extinct, and the leadership of the party, in the hands of such proved defenders of freedom and human rights as Mr. Churchill and Mr. Eden, will scarcely become less liberal before the Socialist challenge to fundamental liberties. Moreover Conservatives are willing to co-operate with Liberals. The Woolton-Teviot appeal in May showed this as true for England and Wales.
In Scotland, Conservatives and Liberal Nationals have already com- bined to fight the next election. In one constituency I know—East Fife— Conservatives have loyally for many years supported Mr. Henderson Stewart, Liberal National, to keep Labour out. Your correspondent Mr. Edinger (September 5th) is wrong in saying that Liberals would not support "United Party" candidates. By their splitting of the Conserva- tive and not the Socialist vote, Liberals reveal they are nearer the former than the latter, and would on balance in straight fights tend to the Right. The need is not new plans, pamphlets or promises, but leadership— experienced, capable and balanced (in fact liberal) leadership, and we might bealmost sure of having this after the next General Election ifto echo my first challenge—the Independent Liberals were ready to lose their life in order to save it—and the country. The die-hards of today are Liberal, not Tory. Meanwhile, beyond our national crisis, the even graver issues of Europe, Russia and world peace loom darkly. The time is short.—I am, Sir, yours faithfully, IAN S IMPSON. 87 Saville Park Road, Halifax, Yorks.
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