Aug. 18.
THE attitude of Labour at the present time of European crisis calls for the gravest attention. It is many months now since Labour intimated to the British Government its opposition to all assistance to the anti-Bolshevik forces in Russia, and in the intervening time this attitude has been further emphasized. To-day we seem to approach the danger point—at least it would be the danger point if the extremists were certain of unswerving support from those they now lead—and Labour pledges itself to a general strike, if need be, to prevent the Government aiding either Poland or General Wrangel. In telegrams from Home the interpretation of this announcement has been given in no uncertain terms; it is a threat to smash the constitution, revolution in fact; a very serious mani-testation of defiance to the will of the country. We must accept the theory that the Government represents the people, although in practice it frequently does not, and once this theory is upset there is an end to all our conceptions of democracy. The choice has been before Labour on more than one occasion during these past months, whether it is to work constitutionally, taking the orthodox measures to achieve power in the State, or whether it is to make an attempt for immediate authority by wrecking the constitution. Tt has been satisfactory to note that at recent gatherings of Labour organizations the views of the sane element, have triumphed, as they will always do when the British working man gives himself time to think. But on the present occasion Labour has undoubtedly been once more captured by extremists, invariably under the spell of Jenin and Trotsky, as they seem to be, and has allowed itself to utter threats against the peace of the country.
Additional importance is given to this attitude on the part of Labour by the resolution of the International Seamen's Conference at Brussels. This proposes to prevent future wars by a refusal to transport troops and munitions, and the decision is applicable to the present European situation. We do not know if the conference really represents the seagoing peoples of the world, but in any event it is a resolution comparable in force ' with that passed by the Trade Union-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.