LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
[Correspondents are requested to keep their letters as brief as is reasonably possible. The most suita5le length is that of one of our " News of the Week " paragraphs. Signed letters are given a preference over those bearing a pseudonym, and the latter must be accompanied by the name and address of -the author, which will be treated as confidential.—Ed. THE SPECTATOR.]
LIBERALISM AND LABOUR
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—If Mr. Ross Williamson represents accurately the dominant trend in Labour policy, an effective alliance of the progressive forces in this country would seem to be outside the range of present possibilities. The most important question of the moment cannot find the right answer, because Labour is pledged to nationalisation the moment it gains power, and because Liberals will not co-operate in the fulfilment of that pledge.
Why is an alliance of progressive forces desirable and important ? Primarily because the rehabilitation of the League as the instrument of peaceful change and as a barrier to forcible aggression is an urgent necessity, and secondarily because the rehabilitation of the derelict areas in this country is likewise an urgent necessity. We want a national government which will pursue a more consistent and more courageous policy in regard both to international co-operation and to social recon- struction at home.
The Labour Party, or rather the Socialists who have captured the Labour Party without, I suspect, convincing the majority of its supporters, say that nothing can be done for peace and social justice until the first and fundamental step be taken in comprehensive measures of nationalisation. Until control of the nation's resources has thus been put into the hands of the nation's representatives, Labour will not co-operate with any non-Socialist progressives either to build up the machinery of international peace or to relieve the distress of the untouched core of unemployment. Mr. Ross Williamson means this or he means nothing.
I believe this is the present attitude of Labour, but I cannot believe that it is the right attitude. Socialists in France and in Sweden have realised the duty of co-operating with non- Socialists. Labour in England must face the same necessity and respond to the same call. One main reason why Labour makes no progress electorally is that it refuses to compromise on the absolute necessity of wholesale nationalisation. The majority of electors know that much can be done and ought to be done without putting wholesale nationalisation first. Liberals cannot give Mr. Ross Williamson the unequivocal assurance for which he asks; but this matters little, since Labour in its present mood will not be entrusted with power in this country.
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