WHAT SHOULD' WE FIGHT FOR ?
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Sia,—Last week you gave space to some very poor stuff from Mr. A. L. Rowse on the grounds that he is " a young man of military age who is also a Labour candidate." As another young man of military age (on the.-Reserve) and a National Conservative candidate I would be grateful .for an opportunity to,reply to your correspondent.
- Mr. Rowse states " . to a Socialist the answer is plain and easy .. , . we are prepared to fight for what advances the cause of socialism." He, goes on to say that the gravest danger to socialism comes from the forces of Fascism, therefore he would fight for ":an overwhelming collective ,organisation ' against ' nationalist Fascist anarchy." . Does not, this bear out the judgement of, I think, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who said, in effect, that the Socialists' bellicose disapprove/ of the Italian aggression in Abyssinia resulted from their dislike of Fascist dictators, and that if. Russia. invaded Afghanistan they would sing a very different tune ? However, Mr. Rowse qualified his statement by adding that " nobody in the Labour Movement would be prepared to fight in a war which was conducted by the present Government as it now stands, for whatever purposes." Not even, presumably,
for the " collective organisation " ! , So much for the Socialist point of view., For my part I have no doubt that the great majority. of the young men of our country, including those " in the Labour Movement," who have not been seduced too far by SocialistAagitators, are prepared to fight in defence of.their country (the frontiers of which, as Mr. Baldwin has said, are on the Rhine) and in defence of the Empire—whatever Government happens to be in office.. In spite of what your correspondent says they are not prepared to: fight in. any . collective organisation against Fascist nationalism merely -.because it is Fascist.
As for the statement that, `t-in the great test of collective security which .came last year over Abyssinia, the Labour Movement took a line which was in accordance • with the interests both.of this country and of-the collective system "- what was their policy ? To close the Suez Canal and involve the country in war, while at the same time discouraging recruiting by every means in their power, stopping O.T.C.s ,in the City, and Secondary schools, by denying facilities to the Territorial Airti-Aircraft units of London, and voting for a reduction of our armed forces by 15,000 men !
' Mr. Rowse concluded his article by stating that the National Government are -" a' collection of crocks and incompetents • . . there has never been-such an incompetent Government, so incapable 'of leadership•-... . apart from that they cannot be trusted:" We cap- all abuse our opponents. He will, I fancy, have to do better than. that tO1 sefinie his:electirin to the House of Commons.—Yours, &c., MARTIN LINDSAY.
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