TELLING THE PEOPLE
Sm,—We believe in democracy; we claim to be a democracy; we declare that we are fighting for democracy. At the same time we are continually belying our professions. In war time, administrative orders, incubated in secret by Controllers and promulgated authoritatively by Ministers, are inevitable and sometimes excusable; but in the wider sphere of Government policy at home and abroad the autocratic method is un- necessary and dangerous. We hear reports of Ministers preparing blue prints of the future of Britain, but the public will presumably see nothing of them until they are completed. Similarly, undertakings with regard to our future policy in world affairs, our relations with our allies and our treatment of the defeated aggressors are being given and made known, either diplomatically to other Governments, or by aerial pamphlet and by polyglot wireless to the peoples of other lands, while the people of this country are left to guess what is happening. Should not the common people be consulted, or at least taken into the confidence of their rulers, when their future is being planned and when undertakings are being given in their name?
Why are we so treated? Partly, no doubt, from an inclination to copy methods appropriate to the military sphere, where secrecy is essen- tial to success; partly from a natural desire to proceed with difficult and delicate tasks in an atmosphere undisturbed by inconvenient criticism. But it may also be that the Government is anxious to avoid public con- troversy. If so, their timidity is dangerous. Obviously ,any far-sighted and liberal policy will arouse resentment and criticism among those whose minds are incommoded by suggestions of change; such criticism is bound to emerge, sooner or later, when the policy is revealed; and the question that has to be answered is whether such criticism will be more or less dangerous now, when the nation is moved by the generous inspiration of national danger, or later, when the danger and the inspiration are in part removed, and when individuals and classes become more conscious of their personal and sectional interests than of The common cause. If, too, it were to be found that the policies which the Government is in process of adopting ran counter to public opinion, would it not be better that they should be modified before they are fixed, than that a conflict should arise between the pledged word of the Government and the wishes of the people?
Statesmen should remember that no bold policy can be pursued with- out the support of the people, and that such support can be obtained more readily, in this country at least, if the people are associated with it while it is being formed, than if they have it presented to them for their acceptance in its final form.—Yours, &c.,
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