University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses

Clement Attlee'S Advocacy Of Democratic Socialism: A Reasonable Rhetoricof Revolution

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Clement Attlee'S Advocacy Of Democratic Socialism: A Reasonable Rhetoricof Revolution

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Content CLEMENT ATTLEE'S ADVOCACY OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM:
A REASONABLE RHETORIC OF REVOLUTION
by
W *
Nancy EY B riggs
A D i s s e r t a t i o n P r e s e n te d to the
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
I n P a r t i a l F u l f i l l m e n t of the
R equirem ents f o r th e Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(Speech)
August 19 70
71-2510
BRIGGS, Nancy Elaine, 1944-
CLEMENT ATTLEE’S ADVOCACY OF DEMOCRATIC
SOCIALISM: A REASONABLE RHETORIC OF
REVOLUTION.
University of Southern California, Ph.D.,
1970
Speech
University Microfilms, A X E R O X Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan
© COPYRIGHT BY
NANCY ELAINE BRIGGS
11971
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY PARK
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 9 0 0 0 7
This dissertation, written by
Nancy E la in e B r i g g s ......................................
under the direction of h .Q D is s e r t a tio n Com
mittee, and approved by all its members, has
been presented to and accepted by The Gradu
ate School, in partial fulfillment of require
ments of the degree of
D O C T O R O F P H I L O S O P H Y
Dean
Date A U Q U ST .....197.0.
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE
C hapter
I .
I I .
I I I .
IV.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION............................................................................ 1
R ise of D em ocratic S o c i a l i s m
S ig n ific a n c e o f the Study
Statem ent of Problem and M ethodology
R h e to r ic a l S e le c tio n s
Review o f L i t e r a t u r e
Preview
THE MAKING OF A REASONABLE REVOLUTIONARY . . 34
Chronology
E arly L if e
Service t o Country
Leader o f the Labour P a r ty
A ttle e as Prime M i n i s t e r
What Manner o f Man
A ttle e a s S o c i a l i s t
CLEMENT ATTLEE’S PRAGMATIC ADAPTATION TO THE
CONSTRAINTS OF THE RHETORICAL SCENE . . . 94
Prelude t o World War II
The E le c tio n 1945
The U nited S ta te s C ong ress 1945
The U n ited N ations 1946
DIRECT PURPOSES AND REASONABLE RHETORIC . . 156
The N ature of R h e to r i c a l A c ts and P urposes
The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e
1945 E le c tio n B ro a d ca st
Address to the U n ite d S t a t e s Congress
Address t o th e U n ite d N a tio n s
Summary
STRATEGIES OF REASONABLE REVOLUTION . . . . 209
The M aster S t r a t e g i e s : E x p la n a tio n and
U n ific a tio n
i i
C hap ter Page
The S t r a t e g i e s o f V i l l a i n i z i n g and
S a n c tif y in g
The S t r a te g y o f R eassu ran ce th ro u g h
E x p la n a tio n
The S t r a t e g i e s o f Warning and I n s p i r i n g
Summary
VI. SUM M ARY AND CONCLUSIONS.............................................. 253
The Study i n Review
I m p lic a tio n s o f th e Study
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................... 2 72
APPENDICES
A. OUTLINE OF THE LABOUR PARTY IN PERSPECTIVE . 2 88
B. "LET US FACE THE NATION".............................................. 295
C. "BRITISH LABOUR P O L I C Y " .............................. . . . 305
D. "OUR C O M M O N ENDEAVOR".................................................... 313
i i i
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
R ise o f D em ocratic S o c ia lism
A p o l i t i c a l th e o r y i s s u c c e s s f u l i n s o f a r as i t s a t
i s f i e s th e a s p i r a t i o n s o f a given s o c i e t y . New p o l i t i c a l
t h e o r i e s seem t o a r i s e d u rin g extended p e rio d s o f c r i s i s ,
when an e x i s t i n g s o c i a l o rd e r comes under a th o ro u g h r e
e x a m in a tio n . ’’D em o cratic s o c i a l is m ” is such a p o l i t i c a l
th e o ry ; th e B r i t i s h s o c i a l and economic u n r e s t from a p p ro x
im a te ly 1880 to 1920 o c c a sio n e d th e advent of d e m o c ra tic
s o c i a l is m . F o llo w in g World War I , dem o cratic s o c i a l i s m was
the o f f i c i a l o b j e c t i v e o f th e Labour p a r t y , and has r e
mained so to t h i s d a t e .
E x am ination o f th e r o l e d e m o cratic s o c i a l is m p la y e d
in s o lv in g th e s o c i a l and economic problem s o f the B r i t i s h
w orking claisses m ust n e c e s s a r i l y b eg in w ith a c o n s i d e r a t i o n
o f the p e r i o d b e fo r e w orkers formed t h e i r own d i s t i n c t
p o l i t i c a l th e o r y o r o r g a n i z a t i o n . As J . H. S te w a rt R eid
s t a t e d :
More th a n t h r e e decades b e fo re th e fo rm a tio n o f th e
Labour R e p r e s e n t a t i o n Committee in 1900, th e w o rk ers o f
E ngland w ere b e g in n in g to e x e r t an o r g a n iz e d i n f lu e n c e
upon th e d i r e c t i o n and purpose of s o c i a l th o u g h t and
s o c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n . This can be e x p la in e d in p a r t , o f
c o u r s e , by the changes in t h e i r own p o l i t i c a l s t a t u s
1
2
b r o u g h t about by th e Reform B i l l s o f 1867 and 1884.
In p a r t , to o , t h i s new in flu e n c e was made p o s s i b l e by
a v e ry obvious change i n what s o c i o l o g i s t s c a l l th e
c li m a t e o f p u b l i c o p in io n in England. C a r l y l e , Matthew
A r n o ld , John R uskin, and Charles Dickens had each c o n
t r i b u t e d to a new aw areness t h a t a l l was n o t w e ll w ith
E n g la n d .
I t was c l e a r a t th e end of the n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu ry t h a t
s o c i a l p r o g r e s s had f a i l e d to keep s te p w ith i n d u s t r i a l d e
v e lo p m e n t, and because of t h a t f a i l u r e a s t a r t l i n g l y l a r g e
p r o p o r t i o n o f E n g la n d 's p o p u la tio n i n h e r i t e d p o v e r t y , d e s
t i t u t i o n , m a l n u t r i t i o n , and d is e a s e . For exam ple, t h e r e
were in E n g la n d , by 1885, fo u r or f i v e m i l l i o n in a s t a t e
e i t h e r o f d e s t i t u t i o n or c h ro n ic p o v e rty . The s i t u a t i o n
s t e a d i l y w orsened as i n d u s t r i a l d e p re s s io n added to th e
number o f unemployed.
The ap p ea l o f dem o cratic s o c ia lis m to B r i t i s h
w o rk ers a t th e end of th e cen tury depended in l a r g e m easure
upon an i n t e n s e i n t e r e s t i n the s o c i a l q u e s t i o n , th e d e s
t i t u t i o n o f th e w orking c l a s s , and a growing se n se o f p o
l i t i c a l power and o r g a n i z a t i o n . I t was no a c c i d e n t o f
tim in g t h a t d u rin g th e e i g h t i e s and n i n e t i e s a new s o c i a l
i s t movement ap p eared .
D em ocratic s o c i a l is m was e s s e n t i a l l y B r i t i s h , f o r
th e c o o p e r a t i v e s o c i a l is m o f Robert Owen, the p o l i t i c a l
s o c i a l i s m o f some C h a r t i s t s , and th e C h r i s t i a n S o c ia lis m o f
C h a rle s K in g sle y and M a u rice , E le c t o r o f Saxony, were a l l
d e s ig n e d f o r E n g lis h d i s c i p l e s and f o r E n g lis h s i t u a t i o n s ,
and w ere o n ly s l i g h t l y in f lu e n c e d by the v i c i s s i t u d e s o f
3
th e C o n t in e n t a l movement.3 I n s te a d of s h a r in g th e a n t i -
r e l i g i o u s tenden cy o f c o n ti n e n t a l Marxism, d e m o c ra tic s o
c i a l i s m was a b u rn in g re se n tm e n t a g a i n s t . t h e s i n f u l n a tu r e
o f modern i n d u s t r i a l c i v i l i z a t i o n which drove men l i k e
Thomas Mann and George Lansbury i n t o the s o c i a l i s t movement.
These men b a se d t h e i r propaganda on the B ib le , n o t on Marx's
Das K a p i t a l . T h e ir gods were n a t i o n a l and " a t t h e i r head
was Je h o v a h , n o t M arx."4 D em ocratic s o c i a l is m , a c c o rd in g
t o A t t l e e , was "a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y B r i t i s h i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
1 15
o f s o c i a l i s m , a way o f l i f e r a t h e r than an econom ic dogma.
Not to be c o n fu sed w ith d e m o c ratic s o c i a l i s m was
th e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f The S o c ia l D em ocratic F e d e r a t io n ,
founded in 1881. This group was th e only c o n s i s t e n t exp o
n e n t o f th e M a rx is t d o c tr in e o f s c i e n t i f i c s o c i a l i s m . The
most s e r i o u s inadequacy o f th e S.D .F. was i t s f a i l u r e to
p r o v id e a t r a n s i t i o n a l program to a s o c i a l i s t s t a t e , a f t e r
th e c a ta c ly s m o f c a p i t a l i s m 's overthrow . The S.D .F. made
i t s " a p p e a l to the head b u t n o t to the h e a r t o f th e B r i t i s h
w o r k e r . I t t r i e d " to convince him o f th e l o g i c and i n
e v i t a b i l i t y o f the s o c i a l i s t commonwealth, b u t d id n o t an
sw er h i s q u e s tio n s about fo o d , s h e l t e r , and work f o r t o
day.
The F abian S o c ie ty was an im p o rta n t e v e n t in th e
developm ent o f d e m o c ratic s o c ia lis m as a th e o ry and an o r
g a n i z a t i o n . From the b e g in n in g o f i t s e x i s t e n c e , th e So-
c i e t y a t t r a c t e d some o f th e most b r i l l i a n t minds i n England:
4
B ernard Shaw, Sidney and B e a tric e Webb, Graham W a lla s,
Sidney O l i v i e r , Annie B e sa n t, R. C. K. E n so r, H. G. W ells,
G. D. H. C ole, and Clement A ttlee.**
The F abian p h ilo so p h y was b a se d on a c o n c e p tio n of
s o c i e t y as a l i v i n g and growing org an ism . To th e F a b ia n , a
s o c i a l i s t s o c i e t y was o n ly a t one s ta g e o f i t s l i f e and
grow th. His o b j e c t was t o se c u re re fo rm s i n th e e x i s t i n g
s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e which would e v e n t u a l l y s e rv e to e s t a b l i s h
th e s o c i a l i s t s t a t e . F abians were c o n s id e r e d r a d i c a l s by
many. As Sidney Webb s a i d , ’’There w i l l n e v e r come a moment
when we can s a y , ’Now l e t us r e s t , f o r s o c i a l i s m i s e s t a b
l i s h e d . -” '9
To a t t a i n t h e i r e n d s, the F a b ia n s u sed the famous
p o l ic y o f " p e rm e a tio n ," o f c a p tu r in g o r m a n ip u la tin g the
e x i s t i n g p o l i t i c a l m achinery r a t h e r th a n a tte m p tin g to s e t
up new. The s t r a t e g y o f the F ab ian S o c ie ty was to b r in g
p r e s s u r e to b e a r upon v o t e r s th ro u g h p ro p a g a n d a , upon c an
d i d a t e s th ro u g h p r i n t e d q u e s tio n s and p u b l i c s p e e c h e s , upon
l e g i s l a t o r s thro u g h p e r s o n a l c o n ta c t s and re a so n e d p e r s u a
s i o n , and upon a d m i n i s t r a t o r s th ro u g h th e m assing o f f a c t s
and s u g g e s tio n s o f ' s o c i a l i s t s o l u t i o n s . F r i e d r i c h E ngels
o b se rv ed t h a t :
T h e ir [Fabian] t a c t i c s a re to f i g h t th e L i b e r a l s , n o t
as d e c id e d o p p o n en ts, b u t to d r iv e them on to s o c i a l
i s t i c consequences; t h e r e f o r e to t r i c k them, to p e r
meate L ib e ra lis m w ith S o c ia lis m , and n o t to oppose
S o c i a l i s t i c c a n d id a te s to L ib e r a l o n e s , b u t to palm
them o f f , to t h r u s t them on u n d er some p r e t e x t . 10
E ngels p ro b ab ly o v e r s t a t e d h i s p o i n t ; n e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e r e
was l i t t l e doubt t h a t thro u g h th e n i n e t i e s a t l e a s t , the
Fabian p o l i c y o f perm eation had some m easure o f s u c c e s s .
To a very la rg e e x t e n t , F a b ia n s s u p p lie d the doc
t r i n e and p h ilo so p h y o f the new In d e p e n d e n t Labour P a r ty
founded a t B radford in 1 8 9 3 .12 The F a b ia n s d e l i v e r e d t h e i r
message in a language p e c u l i a r l y s u i t e d to ap p ea l to a
working c l a s s a u d ie n ce . They t o l d w o rk e rs what s o c i a l is m
was i n term s they r e a d i ly u n d e rs to o d ; a F ab ian T ract
s t a t e d :
What we want in o rd e r to make t r u e p r o g r e s s is more
b a k e r s , more s c h o o lm a s te rs , more w ool-w eavers and
t a i l o r s , and more b u i l d e r s ; w hat we g e t i n s te a d i s
more foo tm ent, more game k e e p e r s , more jockeys and
more p r o s t i t u t e s . T hat i s w hat o u r new spapers c a l l
"sound p o l i t i c a l econom y."13
D em ocratic s o c ia lis m o f f i c i a l l y e n t e r e d E n g lis h
p o l i t i c s in 1893 as the d o c tr i n e o f t h e Independent Labour
p a r t y . Of c o u r s e , on th e l i p s o f th e I . L . P . o r a t o r s , th e
d o c tr in e was expounded w ith h e a t as w e l l as l i g h t , w ith an
eye to v o te s as w e ll as to e n lig h te n m e n t o f p r i n c i p l e s o f
d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m , and was couched i n th e term in o lo g y of
th e w orker r a t h e r than o f th e i n t e l l e c t u a l . The I . L . P .
/
went one ste p beyond the " l i g h t b u t no h e a t" d o c tr i n e o f
the F a b ia n s; p r a c t i c a l r e s u l t s w ere s o u g h t.
Im m ediately fo llo w in g i t s c r e a t i o n in 1900, the
B r i t i s h Labour p a r t y in c lu d e d a wide v a r i e t y o f o p in io n ,
ra n g in g from orthodox Marxism on th e l e f t , through F ab ian
6
e v o lu tio n a r y s o c ia lis m , to p r a c t i c a l n o n d o c t r i n a i r e tra d e
unionism on th e r i g h t . One c o n v ic tio n was s h a r e d by a l l
i t s f a c t i o n s , however: the n e c e s s i t y o f im proving the
s o c ia l-e c o n o m ic c o n d itio n s o f B r i t i s h w o rk e rs . For the
f i r s t two decades of i t s e x i s t e n c e , th e Labour p a r t y was
alm ost e x c l u s i v e l y a p a r t y o f s o c i a l refo rm .
A ccording to Clement A t t l e e , b e fo r e 1914, the La
b our p a r t y was e s s e n t i a l l y a p r a c t i c a l , n o n d o c tr i n a i r e
Trade Union body, and th e I .L .P . was th e o n ly l o c a l o r g a n i
z a tio n of th e p a r t y . I 5 World War I was a t u r n i n g p o i n t in
the h i s t o r y o f d em o c ratic s o c i a l i s m p r i m a r i l y because the
v a rio u s p a r t y f a c tio n s were u n i t e d in th e war e f f o r t . The
e r a was marked by two im p o rta n t chan g es: (1) th e p a r t y b e
came f u l l y o rg a n iz e d on a t e r r i t o r i a l b a s i s , and (2) an im
p o r t a n t i d e o l o g i c a l tr a n s fo r m a tio n too k p l a c e : an o f f i c i a l
s o c i a l i s t p la tf o r m was a d o p ted f o r th e f i r s t t i m e . 16
The Labour p a r t y made s e v e r a l f a r - r e a c h i n g d e c i
s io n s th e l a s t y e a r of the w ar. The p a r t y d e c id e d to end
th e e l e c t o r a l tr u c e and to w ithd raw from th e c o a l i t i o n w ith
th e Lloyd George L ib e r a l s . By 1918, th e p a r t y d eveloped a
f o r e i g n p o l ic y and adopted a new p a r t y c o n s t i t u t i o n . P e r
haps th e most im p o rtan t d e c is io n was to a d o p t a form al
s o c i a l i s t b a s i s f o r the new p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n . In i t s
form al s ta te m e n t, Labour and the New S o c ia l O rd e r, the
p a r t y was comm itted to a s o c i a l i s t commonwealth based upon
fo u r p i l l a r s : th e u n iv e r s a l en fo rc em e n t o f the n a t i o n a l
7
minimum wage, th e d e m o c ra tic c o n t r o l o f i n d u s t r y , a r e v o l u
t i o n in n a ti o n a l f i n a n c e , and th e use o f s u r p lu s w ealth f o r
th e common g o o d .l? S o c i a l i s t d o c t r i n e , now o f f i c i a l l y t h a t
o f th e Labour p a r t y , was f o r th e most p a r t the d o c trin e
e v o lv e d by the F a b ia n s and p r o c la im e d by th e I .L . P . fo r a
q u a r t e r - c e n t u r y . To t h a t e x te n t, i t was n o t new..
Of men who made d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m a v ia b le a p
p ro a c h to government d u rin g th e f i r s t h a l f o f th e tw e n tie th
c e n tu r y , none was more i n f l u e n t i a l and p e r s u a s iv e than
Clement R. A t t l e e . O r i g i n a l l y a member of th e u pper middle
c l a s s , A t t le e became a s o c i a l i s t by j o i n i n g the Fabian S o
c i e t y in 1907. He knew B ern ard Shaw, H. G. W ells, Aylmer
Maude, W illiam S a u n d e rs , Sidney and B e a tr ic e Webb. L a te r
1 8
he knew K eir H a rd ie , Ramsay MacDonald, and P h i l i p Snowden.
In 1909, A ttle e became th e l e c t u r e - s e c r e t a r y o f th e Webb's
campaign f o r p o p u l a r i z a t i o n o f th e p r o p o s a ls o f th e M inor
i t y R eport o f th e Royal Commission on the Poor Law. 19 From
t h a t p o i n t on, he was an a c t i v e advocate o f dem ocratic
s o c ia lis m .
A t t l e e 's advocacy o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m was a
c r e a t i v e s t r a t e g y to g a in a f f i r m a t i o n and a c tio n on s o c i a l
i s t i c p r i n c i p l e s . He esp o u se d th e id ea s o f dem ocratic s o
c i a l i s m th ro u g h o u t h i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f th e Limehouse c o n
s t i t u e n c y , from 1922 to 1950. He le d the Labour p a r ty from
1935 to 1955. He was e l e c t e d prim e m i n i s t e r o v e r the g r e a t
8
s p e a k e r , Winston C h u r c h i l l , to s e rv e from 1945 to 1951.
A t t l e e was th e f i r s t L a b o u r ite t o be e l e c t e d w ith a m ajo r
i t y of Labour v o te s in th e House o f Commons. Moreover, he
s e rv e d as prim e m i n i s t e r f o r th e lo n g e s t c o n tin u o u s p e rio d
o f any man s in c e H e r b e r t Henry A s q u ith .
A ccording to A t t l e e , d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m sought to
s a t i s f y the a s p i r a t i o n s o f th e w orking c l a s s e s . I t u n ite d
th e concept o f th e w e lfa re s t a t e w ith d e m o c ra tic i d e a l s .
I t su p p o rte d p o l i t i c a l freedom as a means of a c h iev in g
economic r i g h t s and s o c i a l j u s t i c e , and o f p r e s e r v in g them
once th ey had been won. The b a s i c g oal o f d em o cratic s o
c ia li s m was the p r o v i s i o n o f a good l i f e , f o r in d iv i d u a l
freedom from o p p re s s io n by th e governm ent or v e s te d i n t e r
e s t s . This goal was t o be a c h ie v e d th ro u g h broad measures
o f s o c i a l s e c u r i t y and n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f b a s i c i n d u s t r i e s
such as c o a l, e l e c t r i c i t y , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , and banking.
D em ocratic s o c i a l is m was n o t b a se d on c l a s s i n e q u a l i t y , or
p r i v a t e ownership o f th e means o f l i f e , o r th e supremacy of
th e p r o f i t m o tiv e .
A t t l e e was a s u c c e s s f u l p e rs u a d e r of dem ocratic
s o c ia lis m d u rin g th e r e m a r k a b l e ' growth p e r i o d o f i t s h i s
to r y . C ontrary t o th e manner and method o f o th e r s who have
so u g h t to a l t e r r a d i c a l l y a s o c i e t y ' s p o l i t i c a l o rd e r,
A t t l e e ' s approach was calm , q u i e t , l o g i c a l , and c o n s t i t u -
t u t i o n a l . He s e n s i b l y , m o d e ra te ly , and t a c t f u l l y led a
dynamic r e v o l u t io n in G re a t B r i t a i n . His a b i l i t y to________
9
compromise, m ed iate , and combine v a rio u s v ie w p o in ts h e lp e d
d e m o c ratic s o c ia lis m to s u r v i v e a t u r b u l e n t storm of p o l i t
i c a l and s o c i a l e v e n ts . A t t l e e u se d th e spoken and w r i t t e n
word e x p e r t ly n o t only to p e rs u a d e o th e r s to a f f ir m the
p r i n c i p l e s o f d e m o c ratic s o c i a l i s m , b u t a ls o to j o i n the
ran k s o f th e Labour r e v o l u t i o n . A t t l e e ' s p o l i t i c a l su c c e ss
in 1945 proved th e a c c e p ta n c e o f d e m o c ratic s o c ia lis m , and
" A ttle e as the spokesman f o r L abour.
S i g n i f ic a n c e o f th e Study
Clement A t t l e e ' s a d a p t a t i o n o f the id e a s o f demo
c r a t i c s o c ia lis m to th e B r i t i s h w orking c l a s s e s was n o t
only in fo rm a tiv e of th e s t r a t e g i e s and t a c t i c s employed i n
th e sp re a d of d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m , b u t i t a ls o re v e a le d
h i s r h e t o r i c a l p h ilo so p h y and program . This stu d y a n aly ze d
t h a t r a r e commodity: th e advocacy of a r e a s o n a b le , law-
a b id in g , and s u c c e s s f u l r e v o l u t i o n a r y .
Clement A t t l e e ' s a p p e a ls were o f te n th o u g h t to be
i n e f f e c t i v e , because h i s a p p ro a c h was alm o st t a c i t u r n . His
powers of r e c o n c i l i a t i o n have b een u n d e re s tim a te d . What
laymen g e n e r a lly c o n s id e re d r h e t o r i c a l f a u l t s , w ere, in
t h i s c a se , v i r t u e s . For exam ple, A t t l e e ' s use o f u n d e r
s ta te m e n t, even w ith th e m ost im p o r ta n t i d e a s , was s k i l l
f u l l y employed to redu ce th e em otion and te n s io n of a mo
ment. A t t le e g a in e d th e r e p u t a t i o n f o r s t a t i n g only what
was most r e l e v a n t f o r any g iv e n c a s e , and n e v e r e la b o r a t i n g
10
beyond t h a t p o i n t . Modesty and b r e v i t y were components of
h is g i f t as an advo cate o f an a l i e n view o f p o l i t i c s .
T his stu d y a ls o added t o th e growing l i t e r a t u r e of
B r i t i s h p u b l i c a d d re ss o f th e t w e n t i e t h c e n tu ry . That t h i s
l i t e r a t u r e was i n need o f ex p an sio n was d em o n stra te d by th e
la c k o f any e x te n d ed stu d y o f Clement A t t l e e ’ s a d d re s s e s .
A b r i e f d e s c r i p t i o n o f A t t l e e ' s speech a t Los Angeles S ta te
C olleg e in 1960 was d i s c o v e r e d . 22 Also a d i s s e r t a t i o n
t i t l e d , "The 1945 B r i t i s h G eneral E le c t i o n : A R h e to r ic a l
Judgm ent," by Leonard R alph Hennings a t the U n iv e r s ity o f
Oregon in 1968 was f o u n d .2^ However, the p r e s e n t stu d y
c o n tr i b u te d to an u n d e rs ta n d in g of A t t l e e on a b ro a d e r b a
s i s th an one a d d re ss in 1945. T his stu d y was o f A t t le e the
p o l i t i c i a n and p e r s u a d e r o f d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m from h is
f i r s t re c o rd e d sp e ec h es and e ssa y s u n t i l h i s d e ath in 1967.
R ic h a rd Murphy i n d i c a t e d t h a t A t t l e e ' s advocacy d eserved
s tu d y , f o r he was the t i t u l a r head o f the B r i t i s h Labour
movement in th e most rem a rk ab le p e r i o d o f i t s h i s t o r y , and
A t t l e e e x p re s s e d the Labour mind w ith i n t e g r i t y as one who
s e r v e s . 2^
S ta te m e n t of Problem and Methodology
The p r i n c i p a l purp o se o f t h i s stu d y i s to analyze
Clement A t t l e e ' s advocacy o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m . I t f o l
lows a p a t t e r n o f e x a m in a tio n s u g g e s te d by Kenneth B ru k e's
th e o ry o f r h e t o r i c ; i t does n o t , how ever, p u r p o r t to be a
11
B urkeian a n a l y s i s . T his stu d y seek s to answer the f o llo w
ing q u e s tio n s :
1. Who was A t t l e e as the adv ocate of d em ocratic
s o c ia lis m ?
2. What c h i e f r h e t o r i c a l problem s d id A t t le e con
f r o n t in a d v o c a tin g d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m ?
3. What was th e p u r p o s e , c h i e f c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ,
and e f f e c t o f A t t l e e ' s advocacy o f d em o c ratic so c ia lis m ?
4. What were th e means by which A t t le e a ttem p ted
to p e rsu ad e o th e r s to a c c e p t d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m ?
5. What c o n c lu s io n s c o n c e rn in g A t t l e e ' s advocacy
o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m may be drawn from the i n t e r r e l a
t io n s h ip o f above f a c t o r s ?
Kenneth B u rk e 's d ra m a tis t i c p e n ta d p ro v id e s a p e r
s p e c tiv e f o r the d isc e rn m e n t o f th e su b sta n c e o f r h e t o r i c a l
a c t s . I t s f iv e p a r t s - - a g e n t , sc e n e , a c t , p u rp o se , and
agency--m ay be a p p li e d to any i n s t a n c e o f r h e t o r i c a l d i s
c o u rse. Agent r e f e r s to the p e rs o n or p e rso n s who com
m itte d the a c t ; scen e concern s th e background or s i t u a t i o n
under which the a c t o c c u r r e d ; a c t names what took p l a c e ;
p u rp o se r e l a t e s to th e re a s o n f o r which he a c te d ; and
agency d e s ig n a te s th e in s tr u m e n t o r in s tru m e n ts he used to
perform the a c t . These term s may be used in any combina-
? ^
t i o n o r r a t i o , and any one term may be emphasized.
S e v e ra l p r i n c i p l e s drawn from the w r itin g s o f Ken-
n e th Burke u n d e rla y th e use o f th e p e n ta d . F i r s t , the r o l e
12
o f language i s c e n t r a l to r h e t o r i c . Burke s t a t e s :
For r h e t o r i c . . . i s r o o te d in an e s s e n t i a l f u n c tio n
o f language i t s e l f , a f u n c t i o n t h a t is w holly r e a l i s
t i c , and i s c o n t i n u a l l y born anew; th e use o f language
as a sym b olic means o f in d u c in g c o o p e ra tio n in b ein g s
t h a t by n a t u r e re s p o n d to s y m b o l s . 26
Close e x a m in a tio n i s g iv en to A t t l e e ' s use o f language as a
means o f in d u c in g c o o p e r a tio n .
Burke sa y s w h e rev e r t h e r e is m eaning, th e r e i s p e r
s u a s io n ; and w h e rev e r t h e r e i s p e r s u a s io n , th e r e i s r h e t
o r i c . 27 A s p e a k e r p e rs u a d e s men by th e use o f s t y l i s t i c
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s w hich draw on m en's i n t e r e s t so t h a t con-
s u b s t a n t i a l i t y i s e s t a b l i s h e d . Thus, th e r e i s no way to
keep the m eanings o f p e r s u a s i o n , i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , and com
m un ication c o m p le te ly s e p a r a t e when a p p lie d to r h e t o r i c . 2 * *
Second, Burke view s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n as a means as
w e ll as the end o f r h e t o r i c a l com m unication. He d e fin e s
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n as " th e changing o f a th in g . . . th e s t a t e
ment o f the t h i n g ' s n a t u r e b e fo re and a f t e r th e change is
an i d e n t i f y i n g o f i t . " 2^ He e x p la in s t h a t th e need f o r
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n im p lie d the d i v i s i o n o f men:
I d e n t i f i c a t i o n i s a ffir m e d w ith e a r n e s t n e s s p r e
c i s e l y b e c a u se t h e r e is d i v i s i o n . I d e n t i f i c a t i o n i s
com pensatory to d i v i s i o n . I f men were n o t a p a r t from
one a n o th e r , t h e r e would be no need f o r th e r h e t o r i c i a n
to p ro c la im t h e i r u n i t y . I f men were w holly and t r u l y
o f one s u b s ta n c e , a b s o lu te communication would be m an's
very e s s e n c e . I t would n o t be an i d e a l , as i t now is .30
Burke e x p la in s f u r t h e r how p e rs o n s j o i n i n t e r e s t s
w h eth er im a g in ary common i n t e r e s t s , or a c t u a l :
13
A i s n o t i d e n t i c a l w ith h i s c o lle a g u e B. But
i n s o f a r as t h e i r i n t e r e s t s a re j o i n e d , A i s i d e n t i f i e d
w ith B. Or he may i d e n t i f y h im s e lf even when t h e i r
i n t e r e s t s are n o t j o i n e d , i f he assumes t h a t th ey a r e ,
o r i s p e rs u a d e d to b e li e v e s o . 31
I d e n t i f i c a t i o n s a re made th ro u g h s ig n s o f consub-
s t a n t i a l i t y . Communication i s an a tte m p t to make A consub-
s t a n t i a l w ith B. The term , " c o n s u b s t a n t i a l ," was b e t t e r to
d e s c r ib e common i n t e r e s t s in modern tim es th a n " s u b s ta n c e "
w hich has so many c o n n o ta tio n s from i t s p a s t u s a g e . ^2
Burke comments:
A d o c tr i n e of c o n s u b s t a n t i a l i t y . . . may be n e c e s
s a r y to any way o f l i f e . For s u b s ta n c e , in th e o ld
p h i l o s o p h i e s , was an a c t ; and a way o f l i f e i s a c t in g -
t o g e t h e r ; and in a c t in g t o g e t h e r , men have common s e n
s a t i o n s , c o n c e p ts , im ages, i d e a s , and a t t i t u d e s t h a t
make them c o n s u b s t a n t i a l .33
These p r i n c i p l e s o f p e r s u a s io n a re keys to an un
d e r s ta n d in g o f A t t l e e ' s advocacy, because th e th eo ry o f
d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m in v o lv e s a way o f l i f e or a c t in g t o
g e th e r . A t t l e e se e k s to make t h i s way o f l i f e t h a t o f h i s
a u d ie n c e s ; he employs s ig n s o f c o n s u b s t a n t i a l i t y o f t h i s
way o f l i f e w ith th e i n t e r e s t s and v a lu e s o f th o se whom he
hopes to p e rs u a d e .
The v a l i d i t y and u s e f u l n e s s o f fo llo w in g a B urkeian
approach i s s u g g e s te d by a v a r i e t y o f t h e o r i s t s and s c h o l
a r s . Marie Hochmuth N ic h o ls , f o r i n s t a n c e , recommends th e
B urkeian approach f o r the stu d y o f p u b l i c d is c o u r s e . She
a lo n g w ith W. H. Auden, C h a rle s M o rris , and o th e rs c l a s s i f y
Burke as th e most p e r c e p t i v e c r i t i c in A m e r i c a . ^
14
Numerous d i s s e r t a t i o n s and t h e s e s , as c i t e d in th e
Review o f L i t e r a t u r e in t h i s c h a p te r , d em o n strate th e u s e
f u ln e s s o f p r i n c i p l e s o f B urkeian c r i t i c i s m . His c r i t i c a l
co n cepts are d is c u s s e d as b e in g b ro a d , f l e x i b l e , p sy c h o
l o g i c a l l y sound, and conducive to the stu d y o f d iv e r s e a c ts
of r h e t o r i c . B u rk e 's p e n ta d p r o v id e s a u s e f u l approach f o r
th e p r e s e n t s tu d y , b e ca u se i t i s a f l e x i b l e form at which
allow s the a u th o r to em phasize m a t e r i a l which w a rra n ts a t
t e n t i o n . A lso th e p e n ta d i s a d a p ta b le to th e a n a l y s i s o f a
theme in a p a r t i c u l a r sp e ec h and sp eeches and w r i t i n g s
r e p r e s e n t i n g a r h e t o r i c a l campaign which o c c u rre d ov er a
p e r i o d o f y e a r s .
M oreover, A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c e x e m p lifie s B u rk e's
d e f i n i t i o n o f l i t e r a t u r e as m an's resp o n se to s o c i a l con
d i t i o n s . 25 A t t l e e ' s advocacy o f d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m is
h i s s o l u t i o n to th e e x ig e n cy of d e p riv e d w orking c la s s e s in
G reat B r i t a i n . His e n d e a v o r is to indu ce h i s countrymen to
adopt p r i n c i p l e s r e c o n c i l i n g a u t h o r i t y and l i b e r t y , freedom
and j u s t i c e f o r a good l i f e f o r e v ery i n d i v i d u a l .^6
F i n a l l y , B u rk e 's appro ach to c r i t i c i s m len d s i t s e l f
to s o c i a l c r i t i c i s m . A t t l e e ' s a p p e a ls a re c r i t i c i s m o f h is
s o c i e t y , i t s i n j u s t i c e and i n e q u a l i t y . In t h i s s tu d y , th e
m a t e r i a l and th e method o f c r i t i c i s m a r i s e from th e same
v ie w p o in t, an a b id in g s o c i a l c o n cern . B u rk e 's c r i t i c i s m
le a d s to more th a n h i s t o r i c a l , b i o g r a p h i c a l , or p s y c h o lo g i-
15
c a l a n a l y s i s . A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c i s n o t s t r i c t l y p o l i t i c a l ,
p s y c h o lo g ic a l, o r h i s t o r i c a l ; i t i s a l l of th e s e . B u rk e's
s o c i a l c r i t i c i s m allow s a com plem entary, i n c l u s i v e , and
f l e x i b l e form at w ith w hich to d is c o v e r and e v a lu a te A t t l e e 's
a p p e a ls to and f o r s o c i e t y .
R h e t o r i c a l S e le c tio n s
Having c o n s u l t e d a l l o f A t t l e e ' s w r i t in g s on demo
c r a t i c s o c i a l is m , th e a u th o r s e l e c t e d f o u r s p e c i f i c works
as r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f h i s a d d re s s e s to c o n c e n tr a te on f o r
the p r e s e n t s tu d y .
The f o u r works w ere s e l e c t e d on th e b a s i s o f two
g e n e r a l p r o p o s i t i o n s . F i r s t , th ey were A t t l e e ' s most r e
membered and famous w orks; th ey were p r e s e n t e d w hile he was
a le a d e r of th e Labour p a r t y from 1935 to 1955. Second,
th e s e s e l e c t i o n s were h i s m ost p e r s u a s iv e e f f o r t s and hence,
were most r e v e a l i n g o f h i s e f f o r t s on b e h a l f o f d e m o cratic
s o c ia lis m .
The s e l e c t i o n s u t i l i z e d in t h i s stu d y were: f i r s t ,
A t t l e e ' s book, The Labour P a r t y in P e r s p e c t i v e . In compari
so n , Kenneth Burke i n s t u d y i n g H i t l e r ' s r h e t o r i c chose the
book, Mein Kampf. Both books were the p rim a ry p o l i t i c a l
te s ta m e n ts o f t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e a u th o r s . Both t r e a t i s e s
d e s c r ib e d a way o f l i v i n g and had c o n s id e r a b le e f f e c t .
W ritte n in 1937, The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c tiv e was A t t
l e e ' s most com prehensive w r i t t e n s ta te m e n t on p a r t y p r i n -
16
c i p l e s and m ethods. A t t l e e had done a good d e a l of s p e a k
ing and w r i t i n g by 1937. He even had a s y n d ic a te d column
in a number o f f o r e i g n n e w s p a p e rs . ^ C oncerning t h i s t e x t ,
A t t l e e s a i d , "In 1937 I u n d e rto o k a more c o n s id e r a b le ta s k
. . . I welcomed the o p p o r tu n ity . . . o f w r i t i n g a book
t h a t would t r y to s e t o u t th e g e n e ra l p o s i t i o n o f the La
b our p a r t y . . . The book had c o n s id e r a b le s a l e . " ^ When
th e book was i n i t i a l l y a v a i l a b l e , over f i f t y th o u san d
c o p ie s were sold.^® Hugh D a lto n in h i s Memoirs remarked
t h a t A t t l e e ' s book p ro v ed a b e s t - s e l l e r . L a b o u r i t e s b e
l i e v e d t h a t d e s p i te f a c t i o n s in th e p a r t y , A t t l e e succeed ed
in s t a t i n g g e n e ra l p r i n c i p l e s , re v ie w in g h i s t o r y , and
s t e e r i n g a m iddle co u rse in agreem ent w ith every m ajor La
b o u r group. M oreover, t h i s t e x t o u t l i n e d th e m ajor p o l i c y
t h a t A t t l e e u n d e rto o k as prim e m i n i s t e r . I t was re p u b
l i s h e d in 1949, and s o l d immensely w e ll a g a i n . 41
Second, th e sp e e c h , "L et Us Face the F u t u r e ," was
s e l e c t e d f o r a n a l y s i s . A t t l e e ' s e l e c t i o n b r o a d c a s t o f
June 5 th , 1945, was b r i l l i a n t l y co n ce iv e d and e x e c u te d . In
l i g h t of p o l i t i c a l c irc u m s ta n c e s and h i s r h e t o r i c a l l y -
s k i l l e d o pp o n en t, A t t l e e may have d e l i v e r e d h i s b e s t speech
on t h i s o c c a s io n . A ccording to A rth u r J e n k i n s , t h i s ad
d r e s s was "inco m p arab ly th e most e f f e c t i v e b r o a d c a s t speech
w hich he has e v e r m a d e . " ^ A t t l e e s t a t e d in h i s a u t o
b io g rap h y :
17
I had p r e p a r e d a sp eech t h a t was in te n d e d to be a
c a r e f u l e x p o s i t i o n o f th e Labour programme, w ith very-
l i t t l e p a r t y p o le m ic s in i t . . . . 1 have been t o l d
t h a t t h i s b r o a d c a s t had a c o n s id e r a b le e f f e c t on the
campaign. I n s t e a d o f an e l e c t i o n m a n ife s to my a r t i c l e ,
"An Appeal to th e N a t io n ," [Let Us Face th e F u tu re ]
was i s s u e d t o a l l o u r c a n d i d a t e s .43
R. B. Readman and A lis o n McCallum s t u d i e d the 1945 campaign
in d e p th , and a ls o co n clu d ed t h a t the b r o a d c a s t had c o n s id
e ra b le e f f e c t :
Mr. C h u r c h i l l 's f i r s t b r o a d c a s t , and Mr. A t t l e e ' s
r e p ly th e f o llo w in g n i g h t were p i v o t a l e v e n ts in the
h i s t o r y o f th e e l e c t i o n . They e x e r c i s e d a pro fo u n d
i n f lu e n c e on th e s u b s e q u e n t developm ent o f the campaign,
and p e rh a p s on th e f i n a l v e r d i c t o f the e l e c t i o n . 44
A t t l e e ' s s y n o p s is o f th e p r i n c i p l e s o f d e m o cratic s o c i a l is m
became th e "Labour P a r t y 's i d e a l m o d e l " ^ of e x p re s s in g i t s
p r i n c i p l e s f o r th e cam paign. S u b s e q u e n tly , he was e l e c t e d
prim e m i n i s t e r .
T h ir d , A t t l e e ' s sp e e c h , " B r i t i s h Labour P a r ty
I d e a l s , " was s e l e c t e d , becau se i t was a m ajor a tte m p t to
d i s s i p a t e th e f e a r o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m h e ld by A m eri
can s, and to r e g a i n th e c o n fid e n ce and f r i e n d s h i p o f th o se
A l l i e s in an opposed economic system . A t t le e d e li v e r e d
t h i s im p o rta n t a d d re s s to Congress in W ashington, D .C ., on
November 13, 1945. By th e end o f 1945, th e tim e was c r u
c i a l to r e p a i r th e A nglo-A m erican r e l a t i o n s h i p . ^ P o l i t i
c a l a n a l y s t s a g re e d in 1945 t h a t A t t l e e ' s f i r s t v i s i t as
Prime M i n i s t e r was n e c e s s a r y becau se a p ath y , m i s t r u s t , and
4 7
c o n fu s io n hung o v e r the A l l i e d pow ers. A ccording to
A t t l e e :
18
An agreem ent f o r p a r t n e r s h i p in the atom ic f i e l d b e
tween th e U n ite d S t a t e s , Canada, and B r i t a i n had been
re a c h e d a t th e Quebec Conference in 1943. . . . The
agreem ent in i t s e l f was lo o s e ly worded, and i t was
c l e a r t h a t th e p o s i t i o n would need to be c l a r i f i e d .
. . . On Tuesday I had the p r i v i l e g e o f a d d r e s s in g b o th
Houses o f C on g ress. . . . W e had re a c h e d w hat S i r John
[Anderson] and I b o th thou ght was a s a t i s f a c t o r y a g r e e
ment f o r f u t u r e c o o p e ra tio n in the f i e l d o f ato m ic
e n e r g y .48
In e f f e c t , A t t l e e had two prim ary c o n c e rn s. The most im
m ed iate was th e q u e s t io n o f atom ic energy c o n t r o l , and th e
second con cern was American c o o p e ra tio n w ith th e B r i t i s h ,
p a r t i c u l a r l y th e Labour governm ent.
The e f f e c t o f A t t l e e ' s speech was e x p e r t l y a n a ly z e d
a t th e tim e by Edward R. Murrow in h is M em oirs; Murrow s a i d ,
"The s e m i- p a n ic in more C o n se rv ativ e American c i r c l e s when
a Labour Governemnt was e l e c t e d only began to s u b s id e a f t e r
A t t l e e ' s v i s i t . . ."49 G e n e ra lly , th e Prime M i n i s t e r ' s
speech was c o n s id e r e d a s u c c e s s f u l m ajor pronouncem ent, by
Am ericans and B r ito n s a l i k e . Thus, th e tim e , s u b j e c t ,
a p p e a ls , a u d ie n c e , s p e a k e r , and e f f e c t o f t h i s sp e ec h were
v i t a l to w o rld a f f a i r s .
F o u r th , A t t l e e ' s a d d ress to th e U n ite d N a tio n s on
J a n u a ry 1 0 th , 1946, was chosen b ecause i t r e p r e s e n t e d an
i n t e r n a t i o n a l e x te n s io n o f A t t l e e ' s p o l i t i c a l th e o r y o f
d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m , and because i t o c c u rre d on an im por
t a n t o c c a s io n w ith an a t t e n t i v e w orld-w ide a u d ie n c e . The
sp e ec h was t i t l e d "Our Common E n d ea v o r." Clem ent A t t l e e
p l a i n l y s t a t e d in 1940 t h a t ". . . th e w o rld t h a t m ust
19
emerge from t h i s war w i l l be a w orld a tt u n e d to o u r i d e
a l s . " 5! A t t l e e p la y e d the r o l e s o f h o s t and g r e e t e r ; he
rem inded h i s audience t h a t the U n ite d N atio n s must become
" th e o v e r r i d i n g f a c t o r in f o r e i g n p o l i c y . " 5^ A ccording to
A t t l e e , in h i s M emoirs:
In the co u rse o f a b r i e f speech o f welcome I so u g h t to
s t r e s s th e im portance o f the n a ti o n s n o t making the
m ista k e t h a t le d to the breakdown o f th e League of
N a tio n s . . . .
I con cluded my a d d re ss w ith r e f e r e n c e to o u r u l t i
mate aim as 'N ot j u s t th e n e g a t io n o f war b u t th e
c r e a t i o n of a w o rld w hich o f s e c u r i t y and freedom , o f
a w o rld which i s governed by j u s t i c e and th e m oral
1 aw. ' 5 3
A t t l e e c l e a r l y a d v o ca te d human r i g h t s and freedom s as demo
c r a t i c s o c i a l i s t s had p ro p o sed them f o r many y e a r s . E sse n
t i a l l y , he w anted to " s o c i a l i z e " th e w o rld . M oreover,
sin c e th e b e g in n in g o f the c e n tu r y , and b e f o r e , Labour had
argued t h a t war was due to c a p i t a l i s m and t o t a l i t a r i a n i s m ,
and t h a t hope f o r a p e a c e f u l w o rld o r d e r was i d e n t i c a l w ith
th e hope f o r a s o c i a l i s t w o rld o r d e r .
Review o f L i t e r a t u r e
A t t l e e w ro te two a u to b io g r a p h ie s in h i s l i f e t i m e ,
As I t Happened and T w ilig h t o f E m p ire . Both books were
u sed in t h i s s tu d y . O ther books by A t t l e e such as S o c ia l
W orker, Empire i n t o Commonwealth, L a b o u r's Aims in War and
P e a c e , The Town C o u n c i l l o r , and The W ill and th e Way to
S o c ia lis m were c o n s u lte d a ls o .
Many b io g r a p h ie s were a ls o u se d ; p a r t i c u l a r l y
20
h e l p f u l were Roy J e n k i n s ’ Mr. A t t l e e , V in c en t Brome's
Clement A t t l e e , C y r il Clemens' The Man from Lim ehouse:
Clement R ich a rd A t t l e e , and John M urphy's L a b o u r's Big
T h r e e .
Numerous a u to b io g r a p h ie s o f A t t l e e ' s c o lle a g u e s and
c o n te m p o ra rie s were c o n s u lte d . F o r i n s t a n c e , A neurin
B ev an 's In P la ce o f F e a r , S t a f f o r d C r ip p s ' Toward C h r i s t i a n
Democracy, Hugh D a l to n 's C a ll Back Y e ste rd a y and The F a t e
f u l Y e a r s , th e E a rl o f W o o lto n 's M em oirs, Anthony E d en 's
Days f o r D e c i s i o n , F a c in g th e D i c t a t o r s , and F u l l C i r c l e .
Only two a n th o lo g ie s o f A t t l e e ' s sp e ech es were l o c a te d :
Roy J e n k i n s ' Purpose and P o lic y : S e l e c te d Speeches by
C. R. A t t l e e , and E ssays and S p e e c h e s.
H i s t o r i c a l w r i t i n g s were a ls o u sed in t h i s s tu d y ,
such as M ild red Adams and W illia m W ade's B r i t a i n ' s Road to
R e c o v e ry , F r a n c is B oyd's B r i t i s h P o l i t i c s in T r a n s i t i o n ,
C a rl B ra n d 's The B r i t i s h Labour P a r t y , Iv o r Bulmer-Thomas'
The P a r ty System in G re a t B r i t a i n , Byrum C a r t e r 's The Of
f i c e of th e Prime M i n i s t e r , C. F. 0. C l a r k e 's B r i t a i n Today,
M a rg are t C o le 's The S to ry o f F ab ian S o c i a l i s m , B e rtra n d
D e Jo u v e n e l's Problems o f S o c i a l i s t E n g la n d , P e t e r G ay's
The Dilemma o f D em ocratic S o c i a l i s m , S i r Iv o r J e n n in g s '
P a r t y P o l i t i c s , John F. K ennedy's While England S l e p t .
H aro ld L a s k i 's The Dilemma o f Our T im es, and R. B. Readman
and A liso n McCallum's The B r i t i s h G en eral E l e c t i o n o f 1945.
21
M oreover, numerous new spapers and m agazines were
c o n s u lte d : The New York Times M ag azin e, Commonweal, V i t a l
Speeches , The L i s t e n e r , L i t e r a r y D i g e s t , The London T im es,
The New R e p u b lic , The New Y o rk e r, The S a tu rd a y R eview , The
E co n o m ist, The D aily H e r a ld , M an ch ester G u a rd ia n , N a tio n a l
R eview , New S tatesm an and N a t io n , S p e c t a t o r , The P o l i t i c a l
Q u a r t e r l y , C u rre n t H i s t o r y , and P u b lic O pinion Q u a r t e r l y .
A b r i e f review o f the l i t e r a t u r e on Clement A t t l e e ’s
r h e t o r i c in c lu d e d the e s s a y , M A Stop on A t t l e e ' s F a re w e ll
T o u r," w hich was th o ro u g h ly d is c u s s e d in C h ap ter I I .
L eonard Ralph Hennings com pleted th e o nly o t h e r stu d y t h a t
c o v ered A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c in th e 1945 E l e c t i o n B ro a d c a st.
H ennings' m ajor c o n c lu sio n c o n ce rn in g A t t l e e ' s sp e a k in g was
t h a t h i s f o r e n s i c e f f o r t overcame C h u r c h i l l 's immense po p u
l a r i t y . A t t l e e ' s s t r a t e g y of s e p a r a t i n g C h u r c h i l l , the
g r e a t war l e a d e r , from C h u r c h il l , th e n arro w p a r t y p o l i t i
c ia n , was v ery e f f e c t i v e . But H ennings' work was p r i m a r i l y
co n cerned w ith Labour and C o n se rv a tiv e r h e t o r i c in g e n e ra l
d u rin g th e 1945 c a m p a ig n .^
The l i t e r a t u r e o f B urkeian a n a ly s e s may be d iv id e d
i n t o c l a s s e s : s t u d i e s w r i t t e n by s t u d e n t s and t e a c h e r s o f
sp e ec h , and th o se w r i t t e n by Kenneth Burke h i m s e l f . Nu-
r z r
merous s t u d i e s were c o n s u lte d ; how ever, o nly th o s e s tu d ie s
r e l e v a n t to the p r e s e n t a n a l y s i s o f A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c s h a l l
be d is c u s s e d h e r e . ^ ?
__________B efore th e s e B urkeian a n a ly s e s are d i s c u s s e d .________
22
s e v e r a l c o n c lu s io n s drawn from th o se a n a ly se s w i l l be e x
amined:
1. These s t u d i e s d e m o n stra te d th e u s e f u l n e s s o f a
B u rk eian a n a l y s i s as a m ethodology.
2. The d r a m a t i s t i c p e n ta d was p a r t i c u l a r l y a p p l i
c a b le to th e stu d y o f p o l i t i c a l sp e a k e rs such as A t t l e e .
Kenneth Burke rem arked, " P o l i t i c s above a l l i s d ra m a ."5 8
3. Many a u th o rs chose t o a n a ly z e s e v e r a l sp eech es
as opposed to one p a r t i c u l a r speech.
4. P e n tad r a t i o s must be c o n s id e r e d , in a d d it i o n
t o d e t a i l e d stu d y o f eac h p a r t o f th e p e n ta d . Kenneth
Burke c l e a r l y s t a t e d t h i s o p in io n in h i s " C o n ta in e r and
Thing C o n ta in e d ."59 S e v e ra l a u th o rs ig n o re d t h i s a s p e c t o f
th e d r a m a t i s t i c p e n ta d , which was to t h e i r d is a d v a n ta g e
when s e a r c h in g f o r r e l e v a n t c o n c lu s io n s on th e " s u b s ta n c e "
o r e sse n c e o f t h e i r c r i t i c a l work. The p r e s e n t stu d y
s o u g h t r a t i o s in C h a p te r VI.
5. S e v e ra l a u th o r s f r e e l y combined p r i n c i p l e s from
o t h e r t h e o r i s t s w ith B u rk e 's th e o r y , e i t h e r b e cau se th e s e
a u th o rs assumed t h a t Burke was t r a d i t i o n a l and th e s e a d d i
t i o n s d id n o t d i s t o r t , b u t supplem ented h is t h e o r y ; o r ,
b e cau se th e y b ro a d ly i n t e r p r e t e d t h e i r t i t l e s , "A B urkeian
Approach . . ." The p r e s e n t stu d y o f A t t l e e ' s advocacy
s h a l l n o t in c o r p o r a te o t h e r r h e t o r i c a l t h e o r i e s .
6. Some a u th o rs e x p la in e d , some t e s t e d , and some
m erely u t i l i z e d B u rk e 's t h e o r i e s . Those w r i t e r s who only
23
a p p li e d B u rk e 's p r i n i c p l e s , assumed th e r e a d e r ' s f a m i l i a r
i t y w ith B urkeian c r i t i c i s m , and a c c e p te d h is p r i n c i p l e s
p e r se w ith o u t n e c e s s a r y j u s t i f i c a t i o n . These same w r i t e r s
b e l i e v e d B u rk e 's t h e o r i e s were t e s t e d o r employed numerous
tim e s p r e v i o u s ly w ith s u c c e s s ; t h e r e f o r e , i t was a p p r o p r i
a te to a n aly ze a n o th e r co m m u nication 's work w ith em phasis
on th e a c t i t s e l f . The p r e s e n t stu d y p a r t l y e x p la in e d
B u rk e 's t h e o r i e s , j u s t i f i e d t h e i r u s e , and c e r t a i n l y t u i -
l i z e d them.
7, D is c u s s io n o f "p u rp o se " was most o f t e n combined
w ith e i t h e r " a c t " o r " a g e n c y ." R a re ly was p u rp o se d is c u s s e d
e x c l u s i v e l y in a c h a p te r o f i t s own. The p r e s e n t stu d y
combined p urp o se and a c t in C h a p te r IV.
8. B u rk e 's own works s t r e s s e d m o tiv a tio n o f a c t o r .
The p r e s e n t s tu d y e x p lo re d A t t l e e ' s m o tiv a tio n in h i s
r h e t o r i c .
To c i t e th e s p e c i f i c s t u d i e s , f i r s t , J a c k D. Armold's
a n a l y s i s o f th e Compromise o f 1850 s h a l l be c o n s i d e r e d . ^
He d e v o te d one c h a p te r to each o f th e term s o f th e p e n ta d .
Like th e p r e s e n t stu d y o f A t t l e e , Armold u sed th e p e n ta d as
a p a t t e r n o f o r g a n i z a t i o n . But he o f f e r e d no e x p la n a tio n
o f B urkeian p r i n c i p l e s o r j u s t i f i c a t i o n o f t h e i r use i n h i s
work. He saw th e v a rio u s p u rp o se s o f th e a g e n ts as the r e
s u l t o f the c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s s u e s le a d in g to th e Compromise
o f 1850. He d is c u s s e d b o th d i r e c t and i n d i r e c t i n f lu e n c e s
24
on the speech a c t s . The p r e s e n t stu d y was concerned p r i
m a rily w ith d i r e c t in flu e n c e s i n th e sc e n e which a f f e c t e d
th e sp eech a c t , r a t h e r than v a g u e, u n s u b s t a n t i a t e d i n f l u
e n c e s . Armold d isc o v e re d such s t r a t e g i e s as m y s t i f i c a t i o n ,
c o u r t i n g , c o v e rin g , and tra n s c e n d e n c e . S e v e ra l o f th e s e
s t r a t e g i e s a lso a pp eared in A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c .
In a M a s te r's t h e s is e n t i t l e d , "A D r a m a t is ti c Ap
p ro ac h to a R h e to r ic a l Study o f th e Sermon on the M ount,"
S i s t e r Maheu used B u rk e 's d r a m a t i s t i c p e n ta d to o rg a n iz e
the m ajor p a r t of h e r w o rk .61 she f u l l y e x p la in e d h e r use
o f th e p e n ta d , s t r a t e g i e s , and i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . Her d isc u s^
s io n o f scene and agent were th o ro u g h . She d is c o v e re d the
m a s te r s t r a t e g y of " p e r s u a s iv e i n s t r u c t i o n , " which seemed
too n eb u lo u s to be h e lp f u l in t h i s s t u d y . Maheu found t h a t
C h r i s t ' s purpose was d e riv e d from His r e l a t i o n s tow ard the
audien ce and the r u l i n g powers o f th e day. A t t l e e ' s p u r
pose was p a r t l y d e riv e d from s i m i l a r s o u r c e s .
M ichael R obert Hagen, i n 'A p p l i c a t i o n of S e le c te d
B urkeian P r i n c i p l e s in a R h e t o r i c a l A n a ly s is o f Eugene J .
M cC arthy's Speech Nominating A d la i E. S te v e n s o n , a t th e
1960 D em ocratic N a tio n a l C o n v e n tio n ,"62 conclu ded t h a t the
m a s te r s t r a t e g y was " s e c u l a r r e v i v a l i s m , " and t h a t th e
sp eech had many r e l i g i o u s o v e r to n e s . A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c
o c c a s i o n a l l y showed r e l i g i o u s im ages and o v e rto n e s because
of in f lu e n c e o f th e B ible on th e developm ent o f d e m o c ratic
s o c i a l is m .
25
A nother p o l i t i c i a n ' s r h e t o r i c was s t u d i e d by Paul
M elh u ish . His work was t i t l e d , "The R h e to r i c o f C r i s i s : A
B urkeian A n a ly sis o f John F. K ennedy's O c to b er 22, 1962,
Cuban A d d r e s s ."63 c h a p t e r II c o n c e rn e d th e a g en t in term s
o f Kennedy’s background, h is sp e ec h p h ilo s o p h y , and h i s
b a s i c t e n e t s in I n t e r n a t i o n a l A f f a i r s . Our d is c u s s i o n o f
A t t l e e as a g en t follow ed a s i m i l a r a p p ro a ch . M e lh u is h 's
a n a l y s i s o f agency seemed very c o m p le te , He su g g e ste d
t h r e e p rim a ry s t r a t e g i e s in K ennedy's Cuban speech: j u s t i
f i c a t i o n , w arning, and r e a s s u r a n c e . S i m i l a r s t r a t e g i e s
were d is c o v e r e d in A t t l e e ’ s r h e t o r i c .
L arry Carl W achter was co n ce rn e d w ith a n o th e r p o l i
t i c i a n in " A p p lic a tio n o f Kenneth B u rk e 's P en tad to th e
1966 P la tfo r m Speeches of C a l i f o r n i a 's G overnor Edmund G.
B r o w n . "^4 Wachter a r b i t r a r i l y em phasized th e term , a g e n t,
and the fo u r rem aining term s were d is c u s s e d in the same
c h a p t e r , b u t were s u b o rd in a te to a g e n t. I t was d i f f i c u l t
to u n d e rs ta n d how W achter l o g i c a l l y s e t t l e d on th e emphasis
on a g e n t. U nlike W a c h te r's a p p ro a ch , th e p r e s e n t stu dy o f
A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c a n a ly z e d each p a r t o f th e p e n ta d f i r s t ,
and th en determ ined th e e sse n c e o f A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c in th e
d is c u s s i o n o f r a t i o s in C h a p te r VI.
Karolyn Yokum's stu d y was t i t l e d , "The R h e to r ic o f
R ob ert G. Lee: A B urkeian A p p ro a c h ." ^ 5 Yokum used th e
p e n ta d , and d is c u s s e d purpose as i n h e r e n t in a c t . The
26
p r e s e n t a n a l y s i s a ls o combined A t t l e e ' s a c t and h is p u rp o se .
Lucy Anne M elhuish a n a ly z e d the r h e t o r i c of a n o th e r
famous p r e a c h e r , M a rtin L u th e r K ing, J r . ^ In t h i s s tu d y ,
C h ap ter I was t i t l e d , "The A g en t"; th e r e M elhuish p r e s e n t e d
t r a d i t i o n a l b i o g r a p h i c a l m a t e r i a l s on h e r s u b j e c t . However,
t h e r e was no s t r e s s w h atso ev er on th e i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p b e
tween b io g ra p h y and s e l e c t e d sp e e c h e s f o r s tu d y . The p r e s
e n t stu d y o f A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c em phasized th e r e l a t i o n s h i p
o f b i o g r a h i c a l m a t e r i a l e x p l i c i t l y to th e fo u r s e l e c t e d
p i e c e s o f r h e t o r i c f o r s tu d y . M elhuish d is c u s s e d "Act and
P u rp o s e ," as th e p r e s e n t a n a l y s i s on A t t l e e d id . M elhuish
d id n o t re c o g n iz e th e in te rd e p e n d e n c e betw een th e f iv e
p a r t s o f th e p e n ta d which Burke i n s i s t e d was v i t a l to h is
d r a m a t i s t i c approach to c r i t i c i s m i n h is " C o n ta in e r and
Thing C o n t a i n e d ."67 This stu d y o f A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c i n
c lu d e d r a t i o a n a l y s i s t h a t M elh u ish o v e rlo o k e d .
Kenneth Burke a p p lie d h i s own p r i n c i p l e s in a t l e a s t
two s t u d i e s : "The R h e to ric o f H i t l e r ' s B a t t l e , "68 and
"Antony in B e h alf o f the P l a y . " ^ The f i r s t was a stu d y o f
th e p o l i t i c a l t r e a t i s e o f Mein Kampf, j u s t as th e p r e s e n t
stu d y was, in p a r t , o f A t t l e e ' s p o l i t i c a l t r e a t i s e , The
Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e . B u rk e 's p u rp o se was " to d i s
cover what k in d o f 'm e d ic in e ' t h i s m edicine man has co n
c o c te d , t h a t we may know, w ith g r e a t e r a c c u ra c y , e x a c tl y
what t o g u ard a g a i n s t , i f we a re to f o r e s t a l l th e c o n c o c t-
in g o f s i m i l a r m edicine in A m e r i c a . H i t l e r u sed a________
27
m a t e r i a l i z a t i o n o f a fu n d a m e n ta lly r e l i g i o u s p a t t e r n o f
th o u g h t. A t t l e e ' s b ran d o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m a ls o had
C h r i s t i a n r o o ts and o v e r t o n e s . In H i t l e r ' s r e l i g i o u s
scheme, however, th e Jew was th e d e v il who had seduced
Aryan. Thus, the s a c r i f i c e o f th e Jew was th e means o f
c u rin g a l l i l l s . For A t t l e e , th e means to s o c i a l j u s t i c e
and economic e q u a l i t y was to s a c r i f i c e c a p i t a l i s m and the
p r o f i t m o tiv e , and i n s t i t u t e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f a l l m ajor
i n d u s t r i e s . Burke t r a c e d th e o r i g i n o f th e a n t i - S e m i t i c
and pan-A ryan d o c tr i n e s to H i t l e r ' s l i f e , and th en showed
how H i t l e r used th e s e d o c t r i n e s t o p e rsu a d e th e o p p re sse d
and d i s u n i t e d Germans. H i t l e r p r e s e n t e d a sc a p e g o a t f o r
7 1
a l l t r o u b l e s and met a p s y c h o l o g ic a l n e ed o f many Germans.
In c o n t r a s t , A t t l e e ' s t h e o r i e s o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m may
be t r a c e d to t h e i r o r i g i n s in h i s e a r l y l i f e in th e e a s t
end o f London. His " s c a p e g o a t" was c a p i t a l i s m , and th e
p a n ac ea was d e m o c ratic s o c i a l is m .
A n o th er r h e t o r i c a l a n a l y s i s by Burke, "Antony in
B e h a lf o f th e P la y ," c o n ta in e d a r e w r i t t e n speech o f Antony
to th e mob in Act I I I , Scene i i , o f J u l i u s C a e s a r . ^ This
c l e v e r l y r e w r i t t e n speech d e m o n s tra te d how Antony a p p e a le d
r h e t o r i c a l l y to th e t h e a t e r a u d ie n c e . Burke showed th e
c o n sc io u s and su b co n scio u s a p p e a ls in A n to n y 's sp eech which,
in t u r n , s u g g e ste d m a s te r s t r a t e g i e s . B u rk e 's r e w r i t t e n
speech r e v e a le d how Antony p r e p a r e d th e au d ie n ce f o r coming
e v e n ts , which was one of B u rk e 's p r i n c i p l e s o f form, th e
28
a n t i c i p a t i o n o f e v e n t s . ^ W ithout r e w r i t i n g A t t l e e ' s
sp e e c h e s , t h i s stu d y conducted a s i m i l a r a n a l y s i s o f ap
p e a ls to th e a u d ie n c e , and d e te rm in e d m a s te r s t r a t e g i e s .
Preview
The advocacy o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m by Clement R.
A t t l e e was analy zed along l i n e s s u g g e s te d by B urkeian m eth
odology. In C h a p te r I I , Clement A t t l e e ’ s developm ent as
th e a g e n t o f d e m o c ratic s o c i a l is m was exam ined. In C hapter
I I I , th e r h e t o r i c a l problem s A t t l e e c o n fr o n te d in a d v o c a t
ing d e m o c ratic s o c i a l is m were exam ined. In C h a p te r IV, th e
a c t , th e s e l e c t i o n s , were a n a ly z e d and th e purp o se i n h e r e n t
in th e a c t was a ls o e v a lu a te d . In C h a p te r V, th e agency,
the s t r a t e g i e s and means o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , u se d by A t t l e e
were d e l i n e a t e d . Most i m p o r t a n t l y , C h a p te r VI a n a ly z e d the
r a t i o s o r i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s o f th e p a r t s o f the p e n ta d , in
o r d e r to d eterm ine th e " s u b s ta n c e 1 1 o f Clement A t t l e e ' s a d
vocacy o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m . C h a p te r V II in c lu d e d the
summaries and c o n c lu s io n s o f the s tu d y . The appendices
in c lu d e d a com plete o u t l i n e o f the book , The Labour P a rty
in P e r s p e c t i v e , and the sp e ech es o f A t t l e e ' s s e l e c t e d f o r
em phasis in t h i s s tu d y .
29
F o o tn o te s
l j . J . S te w a rt R e id , The O rig in s o f th e B r i t i s h
Labour P a rty (M inn eap o lis: U n i v e r s i t y of M inn esota P r e s s ,
I9bb) , p . 3.
^R eport o f the Royal Commission on Labour (London:
P u b lic Records O f f ic e , 1893) , p . 24.
3R e id , o p . c i t . , p . 45.
^Shaw Desmond, Labour, The G ia n t w ith F e e t of Clay
(London: W . C o l l i n s , Sons § C o . , L t d . , 1921), p . 31T
5Clement A t t l e e , As I t Happened (New York: The
V ik ing P r e s s , 1954), p . 437!
^R eid, o p . c i t . , p . 50.
7I b id .
8I b i d . , p . 52.
^Sidney Webb, F ab ian T r a c t , No. 15, 1893
10ln a l e t t e r d a te d 1893, q u o te d by P. D. S k e lto n ,
S o c ia lis m , A C r i t c a l A n a ly sis (B oston: Houghton M i f f l i n ,
1911) , p . 289.
H-Reid, o p . c i t . , p p . 53-54.
l ^ i b i d . , p . 56.
13"What S o c ia lis m I s , " F ab ian T r a c t , No. 13, 1893.
•^ R e id , op . c i t . , p r e f a c e .
l ^ A t t l e e , The Labour P a r t y in P e r s p e c tiv e (London:
V i c to r G o lla n c z , L t d . , 1937), p p . 45-46.
16I b i d .
l^L abour and th e New S o c ia l O rd e r, Labour M a n ife sto
(London: T ra n s p o rt House, Smith S q u a re , 1918), p . 5"!
l ^ A t t l e e , As I t H appened, pp. 31-49.
19I b i d . , p. 38.
29A t t l e e , The Labour P a r ty i n P e r s p e c t i v e .
30
^ A l i s o n McCallum and R. B. Readman, The B r i t i s h
G e n eral E le c t i o n o f 1945 ( L o n d o n : G e o ffre y C um berlege,
O xford U n i v e r s i ty P r e s s , 1947), pp. 140-142.
22Anthony H i l l b r u n e r , "A Stop on A t t l e e ’ s F a re w e ll
T o u r," W estern Speech (Summer, 1961), 184-186.
23Leonard Ralph H ennings, "The 1945 B r i t i s h G en eral
E l e c t i o n : A R h e to r i c a l Ju dgm en t," u n p u b lis h e d Ph.D. d is -
s e r t a i o n , U n iv e r s ity o f Oregon, 1968.
24John Thomas Murphy, L abo ur’ s Big Three (London:
The Bodley Head, L td ., 1948) , p , 258.
23Kenneth Burke, A Grammar of M otives (New York:
The New R e p u b lic , 1937), pp. x v i i- x x v .
26Kenneth Burke, A R h e to r ic o f M otiv es (New York:
P r e n t i c e - H a l l , 1955), p . 567.
2 7Marie N ic h o ls , R h e to r ic and C r i t i c i s m (Baton Rouge,
L a.: L o u is ia n a S ta te U n i v e r s i ty P r e s s , 1 9 b 3 J, p . 83.
28Burke, A R h e to r ic o f M o tiv e s , p . 5 70.
29I b i d . , p . 544.
30I b i d . , p. 546.
31I b i d . , p . 544.
52I b i d . , p. 545.
3 3 I b id .
3^ N ic h o ls , o p . c i t . , p . 80.
3^Kenneth Burke, The P h ilo so p h y o f L i t e r a r y Form
(Rev. e d . , a b rid g e d ; New York: V in tag e BooKs, 195 7 ) ? p , vidi
36ciem ent A t t l e e , "D em ocratic S o c i a l i s m ," V i t a l
Speeches XIV (Janu ary 15, 19 48), 211-213.
• ^ A t t l e e , As I t H appened, p . 124.
38I b id .
^9Roy J e n k in s , Mr. A t t l e e : An I n te r im B iography
(London: W illiam Heinemann, L t d . , 1 9 4 8 ), p . 188.
31
4®Hugh D a lto n , Memoirs: The F a t e f u l Y e a rs , 1931-
1945 , I (London: F r e d e r ic k M u lle r, L t d . , 1953.) , p. 12 7.
41ciem ent A t t l e e , Labour P a rty i n P e r s p e c t i v e and
Twelve Years L a te r (London! V i c to r G o l l a n c z , L td . , 1949),
F r a n c is W illiam s in I n t r o d u c t io n .
A 7
* J e n k in s , o p . c i t ., p . 250.
43A t t l e e , As I t Happened, pp. 198, 201.
44McCallum and Readman, o p . c i t . , p . 142.
45I b i d . , pp. 140, 142.
4^H. C. A lle n , The Anglo-Am erican P re d ic a m e n t (New
York: S t. M a r t i n 's P r e s s , I n c . , 1 960 ), chap. T .
47"The P re s id e n c y : F re sh S t a r t , " Time, XLVI, No. 2
(1 9 4 5 ), 4.
^ A t t l e e , As I t Happened, pp. 226-229.
4^Edward R. Murrow, In Search o f L ig h t ; The B road
c a s t s o f Edward R. Murrow, 1958-1961 (New York: A l f r e d A.
K nopf, I n c . , 1967) , p. TTi
5 0 " B r i t i s h Labour P o l i c y ," The Times (London), Nov
ember 13, 1945, p. 4.
Sl-Eugene Meehan, B r i t i s h L e ft Wing and F o re ig n
P o l i c y (New Brunsw ick, N . J . : R utgers U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s ,
1960) , p. 50, c i t e d a q u o t a t i o n from Clem ent A t t l e e .
5 2 " ^ o r ld Assembly Begins T a sk ," The Times (London)
J a n u a ry 11, 1946, p . 4.
^ A t t l e e , As I t Happened, pp. 240-241.
54H i l l b r u n e r , op. c i t .
•^H enn ing s, op. c i t ., p . 219.
^ I n d i c e s to the Q u a r te r ly J o u r n a l o f Speech and
Speech M onographs, and F r a n k lin H. K now er's "G raduate
Theses--A n Index to Graduate Work in S p e e c h ," and Clyde W .
Dow's " A b s tr a c ts o f Theses in the F i e l d o f S p e e c h ," in
Speech Monographs were u t i l i z e d in l o c a t i n g th e s e s t u d i e s .
3 2
S^Burkeian a n a ly se s c o n s u lte d , b u t n o t c i t e d in th e
t e x t p r o p e r w ere, as f o llo w s : Donald W . P a rs o n , M The R h e t
o r i c o f I s o l a t i o n : A B urkeian A n a ly sis of th e Am erica
F i r s t C o m m ittee,’' u n p u b lis h e d Ph.D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , U n iv e r
s i t y o f M in n e so ta , 1964; Ronald F. S t i n n e t t , ”A P e n ta d ic
Study o f D em ocratic N a tio n a l Committee D inner S peak in g ,
19 36-1958," u n p u b lis h e d Ph.D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , U n i v e r s i ty o f
M in n e so a t, 1961; F r e d e r ic k J . K a u ffe ld , "A B urkeian A n a ly
s i s o f S e le c te d Speeches o f W illiam Graham Sum ner," unpub
l i s h e d M.A. t h e s i s , U n i v e r s i ty o f K ansas, 1966; H a ro ld Lee
A h re n d ts , "A R h e to r i c a l P e r s p e c tiv e A r is in g from th e Study
o f th e Speaking o f W illiam Je n n in g s Bryan by means o f a
B u rk eian and A r i s t o t e l i a n A n a l y s i s ," u n p u b lis h e d Ph.D. d i s
s e r t a t i o n , U n i v e r s i t y o f D enver, 1962; L. V i r g i n i a H o lla n d ,
" R h e to r i c a l C r i t i c i s m ; A B urkeian M ethod," Q u a r te r l y J o u r
n a l o f S p eech , XXXIX (December, 1953), 444-450; Jim Chese-
b r o , "Kenneth B u rk e 's 'D ram atism ; A p p lied to th e A n a ly s is
o f R h e to r i c a l S t r a t e g i e s , " u n p u b lis h e d M.S. t h e s i s , I l l i
n o is S t a te U n i v e r s i t y , 1967; C h a rle s L. M a rlin , "Ad Bellum
P u rific a n d u m : The R h e to r i c a l Uses o f Kenneth B u rk e ," u n
p u b l is h e d Ph.D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , In d ia n a U n i v e r s i t y , 1967;
Saleem J . Macksoud, "The L i t e r a r y T h e o rie s o f Kenneth Burke
and th e D isco v ery o f Meanings in O ral I n t e r p r e t a t i o n , "
u n p u b lis h e d Ph.D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , U n iv e r s ity o f C a l i f o r n i a a t
Los A n g e le s, 1964.
58Burke, The P h ilo so p h y o f L i t e r a r y Form , p. 267.
5^Burke, A Grammar o f R h e t o r i c , pp. 3-20.
b 0 j a ck D. Armold, "The Compromise o f 1850: A
B u rk eian A n a l y s i s ," u n p u b lis h e d Ph.D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , U n iv e r
s i t y o f I l l i n o i s , 1959.
^ S i s t e r A nto ine Maheu, "A D r a m a t is ti c Approach to a
R h e t o r i c a l Study o f the Sermon on th e M ount," u n p u b lis h e d
M.A. t h e s i s , U n i v e r s i t y o f H aw aii, 1957.
b2M ichael R. Hagan, " A p p lic a tio n o f S e l e c te d Burke
ia n P r i n c i p l e s in a R h e to r i c a l A n a ly sis o f Eugene J . McCar
t h y ' s Speech N om inating A d la i E. Stevenson a t th e 1960
D em o cratic N a tio n a l C o n v e n tio n ," u n p u b lis h e d M.A. t h e s i s ,
U n i v e r s i t y of W ash in g to n , 1962.
6-^Paul M e lh u ish , "The R h e to r ic o f C r i s i s : A B urke
ia n A n a ly s is o f John F. K ennedy's O ctob er 22, 1962, Cuban
A d d r e s s ," u n p u b lis h e d M.S. t h e s i s , U n i v e r s i ty o f Oregon,
1963.
33
^ L a r r y C. W achter, " A p p lic a tio n o f Kenneth B u rk e 's
P e n ta d to th e 1966 P la tf o r m Speeches o f C a l i f o r n i a Governor
Edmund G. Brown," u n p u b lis h e d M.A. t h e s i s , W ashington S t a te
U n i v e r s i t y , 1968.
^ K a r o l y n Yokum, "The R h e to r ic o f R ob ert G. Lee: A
B u rk eian A n a l y s i s ," u n p u b lis h e d M.S. t h e s i s , Kansas S ta te
C o lle g e o f P i t t s b u r g h , 1966.
G^Lucy Anne M elh u ish , " R h e to ric o f R a c ia l R e v o lt: A
B u rk eian A n a ly sis o f Speeches by M a rtin L u th e r King, J r . , "
u n p u b lis h e d M.S. t h e s i s , U n i v e r s i ty o f Oregon, 1964.
6?B urke, A Grammar o f M o tiv e s , pp. 3-20.
G^Burke, The P h ilo so p h y o f L i t e r a r y Form, pp. 164-
189. ----------------------
69I b i d . , pp. 279-290.
70I b i d . , p. 164.
71I b i d . , p. 187.
72l b i d . , pp. 279-290.
73I b i d . , p . 3.
CHAPTER I I
THE MAKING OF A REASONABLE REVOLUTIONARY
To u n d e rs ta n d Clement A t t l e e ' s emergence as the
c h i e f spokesman f o r d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m , i t i s im p o rta n t
to know h i s background. T h e re fo re , t h i s c h a p te r w i l l e x
amine th e s e t o p i c s : (1) ch ro n o lo g y , (2) e a r l y l i f e , (3)
s e r v i c e to c o u n try , (4) l e a d e r o f th e Labour p a r t y , (5)
A t t l e e as Prime M i n i s t e r , (6) what manner o f man, (7) A t t
le e as s o c i a l i s t . The focus w i l l be on th e p h ilo s o p h y and
p e r s o n a l i t y o f A t t l e e , the r o l e he e v e n t u a l l y assumed as
th e adv o cate o f dem o cratic s o c i a l is m .
Chronology
The main e v e n ts in th e l i f e o f Clem ent R ic h a rd
A t t l e e t h a t le d him from a boy born in an E n g lis h m iddle
c l a s s fa m ily to the p o s i t i o n o f Prime M i n i s t e r were th e s e :
1883 Born th e son o f Henry and E lle n A t t l e e in Putney
1896 E n te re d H ailey bury School
1901 L e f t H a iley b u ry School
1901-1904 A tte n d e d Oxford U n i v e r s i ty
1905 Went to H ailey bury House in E a st London
1906 C a lle d to the Bar
1907 J o in e d th e F abian S o c ie ty and l i v e d in E a s t London
34
1908
1909
1910
1912
1914
1918
1919
1922
1924
1927
1930
1931
1935
1940
1942
1943
35
J o in e d th e Labour p a r t y
Abandoned th e law
S e c r e ta r y o f Toynbee H a ll
Began l e c t u r e s h i p in s o c i a l s c ie n c e s a t London School
o f Economics
J o in e d th e Army
L e ft th e Army as M ajor
D e fe a te d f o r th e London County C o u n c il, b u t e l e c t e d
Mayor o f Stepney Borough . .
M a rrie d V i o l e t H elen M i l l a r ; f i r s t e l e c t e d to P a r l i a
ment f o r L im ehouse; s a t f o r Limehouse from 1922 to
1950
Under S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r War in M acDonald's f i r s t
governm ent
Became member o f th e In d ia n S t a t u t o r y Commission
C h a n c e llo r o f th e Duchy o f L a n c a s te r in M acDonald's
second government
P o s tm a s te r G e n e ra l; r e f u s e d to j o i n M acDoanld's
c o a l i t i o n governm ent; Deputy L ead er o f Labour p a r t y
E le c te d chairm an o f P a r lia m e n ta r y Labour p a r t y ;
L eader o f O p p o s itio n ; L eader o f Labour from 1935-1955
Lord P riv y Seal
Deputy Prime M i n i s t e r and S e c r e t a r y o f S t a te f o r
Dominions
Lord P r e s i d e n t of C ouncil
36
1945 Prime M i n i s t e r from 1945 to 1951
1950 C o n stitu e n c y o f West W althamstow u n t i l 1955
1955 R e tirem e n t as head o f Labour p a r t y
1960 F a re w e ll t o u r o f U n ite d S t a t e s
1967 Deceased
The p u rp o se in t h i s c h a p t e r i s to d is c u s s b i o g r a p h
i c a l d e t a i l s t h a t shed l i g h t on A t t l e e , th e re a s o n a b le b u t
r e v o l u t io n a r y ad v o ca te o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m .
E a r ly L ife
Clement A t t l e e was th e f o u r t h son and se v e n th c h il d
o f Henry A t t l e e , s e n i o r p a r t n e r in an o ld e s t a b l i s h e d firm
o f C ity S o l i c i t o r s , Druces and A t t l e e , w ith o f f i c e s on King
W illiam S t r e e t . ^ - There was l i t t l e ab o u t Clem to d i s t i n
g u ish him from o t h e r s in the A t t l e e f a m ily , e x c e p t h i s
a b i l i t y to re a d a t an e a r l y age. His f i r s t c h ild h o o d mem
ory was from age two. At age s i x , he was a c q u a in te d w ith
M i l t o n 's P a r a d is e L o s t . And when he s t a r t e d sc h o o l, he was
a ls o p la c e d in th e a c c e l e r a t e d c l a s s e s . ^ A t t l e e a ls o r e
c a l l e d , "The f i r s t p u b l i c e v e n t . . . was th e J u b i l e e of
Queen V i c t o r i a in 1887, w hich I c e l e b r a t e d by p u t t i n g o ut a
f l a g on the p o rc h o f our h o u s e . I n o t h e r w ords, h i s p a
t r i o t i c m otives were e v id e n t a t th e e a r l y age o f f o u r .
Miss F ra n ces H u tc h in so n , who ta u g h t A t t l e e ' s s i s
t e r s f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s , had been p r e v i o u s l y employed by
Lord Randolph C h u r c h il l to te a c h l i t t l e W innie, whom she
37
d e s c r ib e d as a "v ery d e te rm in e d l i t t l e b o y ."^ Miss H utch
in so n c o n s id e re d A t t l e e a r a t h e r q u i e t b u t v e ry p o l i t e
C
c h il d . She would have been s u r p r i s e d to l e a r n t h a t two
l i t t l e boys she knew l a t e r became Prim e M i n i s t e r s .
A t t le e was r a i s e d in a d eep ly r e l i g i o u s home. He
l a t e r in c o r p o r a te d much C h r i s t i a n i t y i n t o h i s p h ilo so p h y o f
s o c ia lis m . For exam ple, A t t l e e once s a id :
Our W estern c i v i l i z a t i o n has been b u i l t up i n th e
main on the a c c e p ta n c e o f the m oral s ta n d a r d s o f C h r is
t i a n i t y . . . . The Labour p a r t y owes i t s i n s p i r a t i o n
. . . o r . . . had always b a se d i t s propaganda on e t h i
c a l p r i n c i p l e s . . . [and C h r i s t i a n ] m oral g r o u n d s . 6
When A t t l e e was a t e e n a g e r , he a tte n d e d the Lower
School a t H a ile y b u ry C o lle g e . He b elo n g ed to a Shakespeare
re a d in g s o c i e t y and an a n t i q u a r i a n s o c i e t y as w e ll as a
l i t e r a r y and d e b a tin g s o c i e t y . O c c a s io n a lly d e b a te s were
h e ld in which he took p a r t . He was n o t c o n sid e re d a very
s u c c e s s f u l s p e a k e r in th o s e d a y s. A t t l e e d e s c rib e d h is r e
a c tio n s in t h i s way:
In my l a s t y e a r I was a member o f th e L i t e r a r y and
D ebating S o c ie ty . I spoke o c c a s i o n a l l y in the d e b a te s
b u t was th e n , and f o r many y e a rs l a t e r , a f f l i c t e d w ith
a most p a i n f u l s h y n e s s , so t h a t to do a n y th in g i n pub
l i c was a t o r t u r e to me. I was always a r a p i d and
v o ra c io u s r e a d e r and u se d t o re a d a b o u t f o u r books a
week a t s c h o o l . 7
At t h i s tim e A t t l e e ’ s view s were f ir m ly C onserva
t i v e , and h i s f a v o r i t e s u b j e c t was h i s t o r y . In h is l a t e r
sp e e c h e s, A t t l e e f r e q u e n t l y u t i l i z e d h i s t o r i c a l a l l u s i o n to
prove h is p o i n t s . A t t l e e o f t e n a d m itte d , "I have always
been a lo v e r o f h i s t o r y . . . . __________________________________
38
A t t l e e ' s o th e r love was p o e t r y . He s a i d , "My b e n t
a t th e tim e was w h o lly r o m a n t i c . H e d e l i g h t e d in p o e tr y
and whenever th e o p p o r tu n ity o c c u r r e d , went on long s t r o l l s
w ith a f a v o r i t e book and re a d f o r h o u rs. A rth u r Je n k in s
compared A t t le e to th e Rom antic p o e t S h e lle y , who a ls o e n
jo y ed s tu d y in g alone in th e c o u n t r y s i d e . 1^
In 1901, A t t l e e went to th e U n iv e r s ity C o llege a t
O xford. C oncerning h i s r h e t o r i c a l e d u c a tio n , he e x p la in e d ,
I a tte n d e d some d e b a te s a t th e Union b u t was much
too shy to t r y to speak t h e r e . In f a c t , my only e ssa y
in sp e ak in g was a t th e C o lle g e D ebating S o c ie ty , where
I championed p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t the l a t e S i r B a sil
B l a c k e t t . . . . H
Free tr a d e was su p p o rte d by B l a c k e t t , who was d e s t in e d to
become a p ro m in e n t f i n a n c i e r and d i r e c t o r o f th e Bank of
England. At t h i s tim e A t t l e e was s t i l l an a rd e n t Tory un-
-I o
d e r th e s p e l l of Jo sep h C ham berlain and Rudyard K ip lin g .
A f te r th r e e y e a r s a t O xford, A t t l e e d e cid ed to b e
come an a t t o r n e y . A f t e r one y e a r , he p a s s e d h is Bar exam i
n a ti o n s w ith o u t d i f f i c u l t y , and became a law yer in 1905.
However, A t t l e e soon t i r e d o f doing n o th in g he c o n sid e re d
w o rthw h ile in the law , and h i s l e g a l i n t e r e s t s waned.
One comm entator c l e v e r l y s t a t e d t h a t A t t l e e "went
L e ft by going E a s t , " to H a ile y b u ry House in E a st London to
see and know the p o o r. 1-4 A t t l e e i n i t i a l l y worked a t th e
law, b u t h is r e a l v o c a tio n was found in s o c i a l is m w ith th e
F a b ia n s. This ph ase o f A t t l e e ' s l i f e g r e a t l y i n f lu e n c e d
h i s sp e ak in g and p o l i t i c a l p h ilo s o p h y .__________________________
39
In 1907, A t t l e e assumed the job o f manager o f
H a ile y b u ry House and began a f o u r te e n y e a r r e s id e n c e in
E a s t London. He e x p la in e d how t h i s atm osphere a l t e r e d h i s
p e r s o n a l i t y and e p iste m o lo g y :
I had always been p a i n f u l l y sh y , and i t took me
some tim e to g e t s e t t l e d down, b u t E a s t London boys are
very f r i e n d l y . T here is no b e t t e r way to g e t to know
what s o c i a l c o n d it i o n s a re l i k e th an to be in a b o y s ’
c lu b . One l e a r n s much more o f how p e o p le in p oo r c i r
cum stances l i v e th ro u g h o r d in a r y c o n v e r s a tio n w ith them
than from s tu d y in g volumes o f s t a t i s t i c s . 15
A t t l e e c a u t i o u s l y began to speak a t s t r e e t c o rn e r
m eetings in Limehouse n e a r the London docks. A t t l e e and
h i s b r o t h e r o f f i c i a l l y became s o c i a l i s t s in 1907. When
th ey a tte n d e d t h e i r f i r s t F abian S o c ie ty m e e tin g , A t t l e e
r e c a l l e d how th e sp e a k in g im p ressed him:
H. G. W ells was on th e p l a t f o r m , sp e ak in g in a
l i t t l e p i p in g v o i c e ; he was v e ry u n im p re ss iv e . O ther
sp e a k e rs were C hiozza Money, f u l l o f s t a t i s t i c s ;
(B ernard) Shaw, c o n f i d e n t and d e ad ly in argum ent; Webb,
l u c i d l y e x p la n a t o r y l and H ubert Bland w ith h is e y e
g l a s s . They a l l seemed p r e t t y fo rm id a b le to a n e o
p h y te . ib
U n t i l 1909, A t t l e e p r a c t i c e d law , th en he d e c id e d
to become th e l e c t u r e s e c r e t a r y in s u p p o rt o f th e M in o rity
R eport on th e Poor Law. This s t a r t l i n g r e v o l u t i o n from a
shy sc h o o l boy to an im p re s s iv e p u b l i c sp e a k e r was rem ark
a b le . C y r i l Clemens s t a t e d :
His f i r s t sp e ec h was a t an o p e n - a i r m eeting in
Barnes S t r e e t , Lim ehouse, where he had to tak e th e
c h a i r . From th en on he was c o n t i n u a l l y a d d re s s in g
prop ag an da m e e tin g s . From Ja n u ary to J u ly o f 1909,
f o r exam ple, he spoke tw e n ty - e ig h t tim e s , w h ile a
y e a r o r two l a t e r , he a d d re ss e d no few er th an e ig h ty -
40
e i g h t m e e tin g s , a l l f o r th e In dep en d en t Labour P a r t y ,
m o stly o p e n - a i r , and o f c o u rs e , in th o se days, w ith o u t
a lo u d -s p e a k e r . . . he took on th e work o f l e c tu r e
s e c r e t a r y f o r th e o r g a n i z a t i o n formed by B e a tric e and
Sidney Webb in s u p p o r t o f i t (th e M in o rity R eport o f
th e Poor Law), and d u rin g th e whole y e a r was a c t i v e l y
engaged in a r r a n g i n g f o r sp e a k e rs to ad d re ss m eetings
i n every p a r t o f th e c o u n try , and in many cases a c t u
a l l y a d d r e s s in g them h i m s e l f when sp e a k e rs co uld n o t
be o b t a i n e d . 17
Once A t t l e e had to r e p la c e a s t a r l e c t u r e r on th e
t o p i c of problem s o f b i r t h and in f a n c y . As a b a c h e lo r
sp eak in g t o a v e ry la r g e g a th e r in g o f L ib e r a l women in Bol-
to n , he r e a l i z e d th e in adeq u acy o f a p u r e ly t h e o r e t i c a l a p
p ro a c h . N e v e r t h e l e s s , he was warmly r e c e i v e d . 18 The d i f f i
c u l t s t r e e t - c o r n e r s p e a k in g t h a t he was f a m i l i a r w ith , had
tak e n away any s e r i o u s sh y n ess w ith which he had been a f
f l i c t e d s in c e h i s y o u th .
A nother tim e , a y e a r l a t e r , A t t l e e was asked to
c h a i r a m eeting o f r i v a l Je w ish o r g a n i z a t i o n s ; he knew only
s i x words in Y id d is h . N e v e r t h e l e s s , he a g reed to h e lp .
During th e p r o c e e d i n g s , s e v e r a l p e o p le were sp eak in g a t
once. A t t le e s a i d , "One man in a top h a t and a long b la c k
coat and a b e a r d le a p e d on th e p l a t f o r m , sh o u tin g and wav
in g an u m b re lla . I shoved him o f f and c a r r i e d o n . "19 To
A t t l e e ' s s u r p r i s e , th e m ee tin g tu r n e d out a complete s u c
cess , and t h i s was a f o r e c a s t o f f u t u r e s u c c e s s f u l e f f o r t s
a t compromise in th e Labour p a r t y .
The campaign f o r th e M in o rity R eport on the Poor
Law was " g r e a t fun and had a b ig e f f e c t in th e c o u n try , b u t
41
the L ib e ra l governm ent r e f u s e d to do a n y t h i n g . " 2® Not u n
t i l f o r t y y e a rs l a t e r were th e l a s t v e s t i g e s o f th e Poor
Law removed, d u rin g A t t l e e ' s term as Prime M i n i s t e r .
In 1910, A t t l e e a c c e p te d th e s e c r e t a r y s h i p o f Toyn
bee H a ll, W h ite c h a p e l, one o f th e f i r s t s o c i a l and e d u ca
t i o n a l s e t tl e m e n ts in E a s t London, and went to l i v e t h e r e .
His n e x t work was as an o f f i c i a l i n s t r u c t o r o f th e Lloyd
George N a tio n a l In s u ra n c e Act o f 1911. A t t le e was one o f
a number of p e o p le a sk ed t o t o u r the c o u n try to e x p la in to
numerous w orkers what f r e e m ed ical a t t e n t i o n and t r e a tm e n t
th ey were p ro v id e d . A t t l e e r e c a l l e d an i n c i d e n t when
sp e ak in g a t Woodford in C h u r c h i l l 's c o n s titu e n c y :
A number o f young C o n s e rv a tiv e s s a t in f r o n t and
booed lo u d ly w h i l s t I t a l k e d , I t o l d them t h a t I was
only an " o f f i c i a l e x p l a i n e r , " b u t they c o n tin u e d to
boo. I th en s a i d , "You d o n 't l i k e Lloyd George?"
"No," th ey y e l l e d . "You d o n 't l i k e C h u r c h il l ? " "No,"
a g a in . "Then when n e x t you see a s a i l o r y o u 'd b e t t e r
h i t him, b ecause C h u r c h il l i s F i r s t Lord o f the Ad-
m i r a l i t y . " T hat q u i e t e d th e m .21
A t t l e e ' s s k i l l f u l r e t o r t e l i c i t e d a d e s i r a b l e au dien ce r e
sponse. He o b v io u sly d e v elo p ed e f f e c t i v e means o f audience
a d a p ta tio n , which th e f o u r a d d re s s e s s e l e c t e d f o r stu d y in
the p r e s e n t a n a l y s i s a ls o d e m o n stra te d .
During th e s e y e a r s , A t t l e e ' s only re m u n e ra tiv e em
ploym ent was th ro u g h t e a c h in g a co u rse o f l e c t u r e s on tra d e
unions once a week a t R uskin C o lle g e .
In 1912, he was a p p o in te d a l e c t u r e r and t u t o r a t
the London School o f Economics i n th e D epartm ent of S o c ia l
S cien ce and P u b lic A d m i n is tr a t io n . T his appointm ent a l
lowed him enough f r e e tim e to s t i l l be v e ry a c t i v e in th e
S o c i a l i s t movement, and to do much weekend sp e ak in g in a l l
2 2
p a r t s o f th e c o u n try . Sidney Webb in te r v ie w e d two c a n d i
d a te s f o r the l e c t u r e s h i p , A t t l e e and Hugh D a lto n , b u t
chose th e form er b e ca u se "he would s t i c k to i t . ” 23 Webb
was im p re ssed w ith A t t l e e ' s s o l i d a r i t y o f c h a r a c t e r and h i s
p e r s i s t e n c e .
Thus, A t t l e e abandoned th e " c o m fo rta b le Tory
2 4
f a i t h , " w ith w hich he had f i r s t gone to Limehouse. This
rem ark ab le change in c h a r a c t e r and the developm ent o f speak
in g a b i l i t y c o in c id e d w ith h i s sympathy and u n d e rs ta n d in g
o f th e s o c i a l l y d e p riv e d . As G. D. H. Cole s a i d , th e e s
sence of s o c i a l democracy was sympathy o r th e f e e l i n g o f
2 S
warm r e g a rd f o r r e a l l i v i n g p e o p le . A t t l e e o f te n demon
s t r a t e d such sym pathy; he e x p re s s e d h i s f e e l i n g p o e t i c a l l y ,
as fo llo w s:
In Lim ehouse, in Lim ehouse, b e fo r e th e b re a k o f day,
I h e a r th e f e e t o f many men who go upon t h e i r way,
Who wander th ro u g h th e c i t y ,
The g rey and c ru e l c i t y ,
Through s t r e e t s t h a t have s c a n t p i t y ,
The s t r e e t s where men decay.
In Lim ehouse, in Lim ehouse, by n i g h t as w e ll as day,
I h e a r th e t r e a d o f c h i l d r e n who go to work or p la y
Of c h il d r e n b orn to so rro w ,
The w orkers o f tomorrow,
How s h a l l th ey work tomorrow
Who g e t no b r e a d today?26
N eedless to s a y , A t t l e e ’s e x p e rie n c e th ro u g h o u t
t h i s p e r i o d exposed him to f i r s t h a n d knowledge of working
43
c l a s s m ise ry . E ngland, a t t h i s tim e , found m id d le - c la s s
s o c i a l i s t s q u i te r a r e , i f n o t d a n g ero u s. A t t l e e was a r e v
o l u t i o n a r y , On the o t h e r hand , A t t l e e tu r n e d s o c i a l i s t
because i t was sc a n d a lo u s to him t h a t a l l c o u ld n o t enjoy
h i s background, c l o t h e s , d e c e n t accom m odation, and s e c u r ity .
T his concern a p p lie d b o th n a t i o n a l l y and i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y ,
as he l a t e r made c l e a r in h i s a d d re ss to th e U n ite d N ations
in 1946. This concern h e lp e d him to conquer h i s s e n s i t i v
i t y and shyness in sp e a k in g . His commitment to th e p r i n
c i p l e s o f d e m o c ratic s o c i a l i s m h e lp e d him to c o n tr o l h is
n e rv o u s n e s s , and to e x p la in h i s p o i n t o f view calm ly and
r a t i o n a l l y b e fo re any a u d ie n c e . Soon he was a p r i n c i p a l
p u b l i c sp e a k e r f o r th e c a u se .
A t t l e e ' s speech es a t t h i s tim e were q u i t e s i m i l a r
to many o f h i s l a t e r sp e e c h e s . Of c o u rs e , h i s s k i l l s were
d ev eloped somewhat l a t e r in l i f e th a n many s p e a k e r s . Con
c e rn in g h is a b i l i t y t o a d a p t to a u d ie n c e s , from h i s s t r e e t -
c o rn e r audien ces he le a r n e d to be t e r s e and p o ig n a n t in
o r d e r to avoid boredom and overcome h i s sh y n e ss . C oncern
in g A t t l e e ' s s t y l e , h i s langu ag e was p l a i n and sim ple in
o r d e r t o be u n d e rs to o d c l e a r l y . His language was g e n e r a lly
i n s t r u c t i v e o r e x p l i c a t i v e , j u s t as h i s a t t i t u d e was t h a t of
a te a c h e r o r i n s t r u c t o r . His cause was u n d o u b ted ly demo
c r a t i c s o c ia lis m . To sum up, h i s c o u ra g e , s t a b i l i t y , w it,
concern f o r government p o l i c y , and sympathy fo r th e poor
44
were a l l d i r e c t e d tow ard the cause o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m .
M oreover, A t t le e n e v e r w anted to speak f o r th e sake
o f speaking o r p u b l i c i t y . The man from Limehouse p o s s e s s e d
a deep and p ro fo u n d message t h a t m o tiv a te d him. In l a t e r
y e a r s , h is r e f e r e n c e s to e x p e rie n c e s in E a s t London were
f r e q u e n t .
S e rv ic e to C ountry
The F i r s t World War marked th e c lo s e o f an epoch
o f V i c to r i a n c e r t a i n t y in p r o g r e s s and s e c u r i t y . phe war
te m p o r a r ily d iv id e d th e Labour movement. A ccording to
A t t l e e however, h i s s o c i a l i s t i n s t i n c t s were p ro fo u n d ly
a g a i n s t war b u t becau se he b e l i e v e d t h a t h is c o u n try was in
grave dang er, he th o u g h t i t was h i s duty to defend h e r to
th e utm o st o f h is a b i l i t y . 2 ® He s e r v e d o v e r fo u r y e a r s ,
a t t a i n e d the rank o f m ajo r, s u f f e r e d s ic k n e s s and i n j u r y .
L a t e r in P a r lia m e n t, A t t l e e u t i l i z e d v i v i d examples from
h i s war e x p e rie n c e s p a r t i c u l a r l y i n speeches f o r w o rld
p e a c e .
During h is war s e r v i c e , A t t l e e had many l i v e l y d i s
c u s s io n s on s o c i a l is m w ith h i s c o l l e a g u e s . Roy Je n k in s
d is c o v e r e d in one o f A t t l e e ' s l e t t e r s to h i s b r o t h e r , a
c o n f e s s io n o f p e rs u a s iv e a tte m p ts w ith r e a c t i o n a r y and
i r a s c i b l e s e n io r o f f i c e r s :
I have had numerous s t r a f e s on s o c i a l s u b j e c t s
s in c e I have been on b o a rd , some w ith th e C . 0 . - - a very
g e n ia l o l d Tory w ith a g i f t o f humorous e p i t h e t . . . .
His views on l i f e g e n e r a l l y amuse me m u c h . 29
45
A t t l e e was always g la d o f an o p p o r t u n it y to argue h is c a s e ;
d e s p i te h i s p e rs u a s iv e n e s s on o c c a s io n , h i s r e s p e c t seemed
w id e sp re a d and th e p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s s id e o f h i s army l i f e
rem ark ab ly s m o o t h .^
In 1919, th e r e was a g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n f o r a l l Coun
c i l s , and th e Stepney Labour p a r t y g a in e d c o n t r o l o f the
C ou ncil f o r th e f i r s t tim e . The C o u n cil chose A t t l e e as
Mayor o f S tep ney, a borough o f a p p ro x im a te ly 2 50,000.
T his was h is f i r s t r e a l achiev em ent as a L a b o u rite in th e
w o rld o f p o l i t i c s .
As Mayor, A t t l e e was th e Stepney Borough C o u n c il 's
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e on a g r e a t many o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f th e borough
c o u n c i ls . He gained a wide knowledge o f London p ro blem s.
He was e l e c t e d v i c e - p r e s i d e n t o f th e M u n ic ip a l E l e c t r i c i t y
A u t h o r i t i e s o f G re a te r London, and as such c o l l a b o r a t e d
w ith the chairm an, S i r Duncan Watson. For many y e a r s Wat
son and A t t l e e worked in p e r f e c t harmony j u s t as A t t l e e
worked in many p o l i t i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s which fo llo w e d .
A t t l e e p o e t i c a l l y d e s c r ib e d t h i s p o l i t i c a l e n ta n g le m e n t in
the fo llo w in g v e rs e :
Oh, E ast i s E a s t and West i s West
And n e v e r th e two s h a l l meet
T i l l Watson and I s i t s id e by s id e
On the W estm in ster m ayoral s e a t . 32
In 1920, A t t l e e p u b l is h e d The S o c ia l W orker. I t
was rem ark ab le because h is a n a l y s i s was so d epend en t upon
h i s own p e r s o n a l e x p e r ie n c e . B a s i c a l l y A t t l e e s a i d t h a t
46
t h e r e was a need f o r r a d i c a l change in th e a r e a o f s o c i a l
s e r v i c e . More d e d ic a te d , inform ed p e rs o n n e l were n e c e s s a ry .
S o c ia l s e r v i c e was c l a s s l e s s , C h r i s t i a n , and d e f i n i t e l y
s o c i a l i s t i c . He q u o ted numerous s o u rc e s from h i s w e l l - r e a d
background; to name a few: Sidney Webb, H. G. W ells, W il
liam M o r r is , John S. M i l l, E. J . U rw ick, James K eir H a rd ie .
A t t l e e a ls o c i t e d p o e ts and p o e tr y to prove h i s p o i n t s :
W illiam B lake, John K eats, Mary S h e l le y , and R o b e rt Louis
S tev en so n . A t t l e e ’ s book a d d re s s e d th e f u t u r e s o c i a l - ,
w orker and d e s c r ib e d h i s o p p o r t u n i t i e s and d e s i r a b l e q u a l i
f i c a t i o n s and t r a i n i n g . 33
The n e x t im p o rta n t e v en t in A t t l e e ’ s l i f e was m ar
r i a g e , and i t , t o o , concerned o r a t o r y . A t t l e e f e l l in love
w ith a g i r l who was more shy th an h e . However, b e f o r e he
p ro p o s e d , he th o u g h t i t only f a i r t h a t she s h o u ld see him
sp e a k in g from a p la tf o r m "so t h a t she m ight know th e
w o r s t . "34 L a b o u r ite s , a t t h i s tim e , were c o n s id e r e d r e v o
l u t i o n a r y and u n p o p u la r. N e v e r t h e l e s s , V i o l e t M i l l a r was
im p re ss e d , and A t t l e e was m a r r ie d a t age t h i r t y - e i g h t .
At th e g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n in 1922, E ngland saw the
f a l l o f the Lloyd George c o a l i t i o n . In Lim ehouse, A t t l e e
was L a b o u r's c a n d i d a t e , ru n n in g a g a i n s t th e in cum b en t, S i r
W illiam P e a rc e , who had h e ld the s e a t as a l i b e r a l s in c e
1906. A t t l e e ' s w ife a c te d as one of th e t e l l e r s a t th e
c o u n t. In th e r e s u l t , th e f i g u r e s w ere:
47
C. R. A ttle e (L ab.) 9688
S i r W. P earce (Con. Lib) 7789
M a jo r ity 1899 35
The p eo ple o f Limehouse r e s p e c t e d A t t l e e , and
w anted him as t h e i r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e . An o ld d o c k e r, Joe
J a c o b s , rem arked:
He was g e n u in e . W e d i d n ' t always fo llo w what he
s a i d , mind you ( h e 's a b i t highbrow f o r some o f us)
b u t we knew he meant what he s a i d . In th o se days r i c h
f o lk would cpme down h e re g iv in g away c lo th e s and money
and sa y in g th ey were s o r r y f o r u s . W e d i d n ' t thank
them. I t w a s n 't c h a r i t y we w anted. Or p i t y . Now Clem
was d i f f e r e n t . He came down h e re and l i v e d as one o f
u s. He showed us how to h e lp o u r s e l v e s . 36
A t t l e e was b e t t e r a b le to p e rs u a d e w orkers because
he i d e n t i f i e d w ith them n o t o n ly in h is a p p e a ls , b u t a ls o
in h i s l i f e . M oreover, A t t l e e ' s genuine s i n c e r i t y and co n
cern were re c o g n iz e d c o n s i s t e n t l y in h is speeches and a c
t i o n s , even by h i s w o rst o f c r i t i c s . From 1922 u n t i l 1950,
A t t l e e s a t f o r Limehouse and h ad th e r e s p e c t o f h i s c o n s t i
tu en c y th ro u g h o u t h i s t e n u r e .
One o f A t t l e e ' s f i r s t d u t i e s as a member o f P a r l i a
ment was to a tt e n d a m eeting o f th e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Labour
p a r t y to decide th e le a d e r s h ip o f th e Labour p a r t y in th e
House. MacDonald won. He a p p o in te d two p a r lia m e n ta r y p r i
v a te s e c r e t a r i e s to h elp him: A t t l e e and Ja ck Lawson, who
was l a t e r to become S e c r e ta r y o f S t a te f o r War in A t t l e e ' s
own C a b in e t.
When A t t l e e l a t e r became th e Labour l e a d e r , some
s a i d h i s e l e c t i o n was p a r t l y a r e a c t i o n a g a i n s t MacDonald:
48
There was l i t t l e enough in common betw een th e
p h y s i c a l l y im p re s s iv e Scotsman (MacDonald), w ith h i s
d ith y ra m b ic s t y l e and b i o l o g i c a l s i m i l e s , who c a p t i
v a te d p e o p le by h i s p e r s o n a l i t y and h i s p l a t f o r m manner
o n ly to r e p e l them by h i s i n d e c is io n in a c t i o n , and
th e p r e c i s e and p ra g m a tic E nglishm an, whose q u a l i t i e s
showed so l i t t l e above th e s u r f a c e . In l a t e r y e a rs
t h i s c o n t r a s t o f a t t r i b u t e s was to become a so u rc e o f
p o l i t i c a l s t r e n g t h to A t t l e e . . . . B e t t e r a p e d e s t r i a n
s p e a k e r who meant what he s a i d th an a s p e l l - b i n d e r who
bemused h i m s e l f w ith h i s own words; b e t t e r a m id d le-
c l a s s man w ith no s o c i a l a m b itio n s th a n a w orker who
was t r y i n g to r i s e ; b e t t e r a s e l f - e f f a c i n g modesty th an
a s e l f - d e s t r o y i n g v a n i t y . 37
C o n se q u e n tly , th e su c c e ss o f A t l e e 's " p e d e s t r i a n
p e r s u a s io n was p a r t l y e x p la in e d as a r e a c t i o n a g a i n s t Mac
Donald.
On November 20, 1920, P a rlia m e n t met; on November
23 rd , A t t l e e d e l i v e r e d h i s maiden sp e ec h . I t was an e a r l y
s t a r t , and a p p a r e n t l y , an u n p re m e d ita te d one. C h a rle s
Ammon, the Labour w hip, asked him i f he would sp e a k , because
th e S peaker was t i r e d o f h e a r in g n o th in g b u t Scotsm en.
A t t l e e ro se and im m ed iately d e li v e r e d a sp e ec h on unem ploy
m ent, a s u b j e c t on which he had wide knowledge from h i s
long e x p e r ie n c e i n E a st London. The speech l a s t e d a p p r o x i
m ately tw enty m in u te s . The fo llo w in g p a s s a g e d e l i n e a t e d
A t t l e e ' s s o c i a l i s t approach to the economic problem :
Why was i t t h a t in th e war we were a b le to f i n d em ploy
ment f o r everyo ne? I t was sim ply t h a t th e governm ent
c o n t r o l l e d th e p u r c h a s in g power o f th e n a t i o n . They
s a i d what t h in g s sh o u ld be prod uced . . . . They to o k ,
by means o f t a x a t i o n and by methods o f lo a n , c o n t r o l
o f th e p u r c h a s in g power o f t h i s n a t i o n , and d i r e c t e d
t h a t p u r c h a s in g power i n t o making th o se th in g s t h a t are
n e c e s s a r y f o r w inning th e w a r . 38
49
A t t l e e ' s G eneral E l e c t i o n b r o a d c a s t tw e n ty -sev e n y e a rs
l a t e r s t r u c k the same n o te :
. . . i f in w ar, d e s p i t e th e d i v e r s io n o f most o f our
e n e r g ie s to making in s tr u m e n ts o f d e s t r u c t i o n , and
d e s p i te th e s h o r ta g e o f su p p ly imposed by war c o n d i
t i o n s , we were a b le to p ro v id e fo o d , c lo th in g and em
ploym ent f o r a l l o u r p e o p le , i t i s n o t im p o s sib le to
do th e same in p e a c e , p r o v id e d th e government has the
w i l l and th e power t o a c t . . .39
The rem ain in g tim e o f t h i s f i r s t p a r lia m e n ta r y s e s
s io n was n o t so im p o r ta n t f o r A t t l e e ' s s p e e c h e s , as he
e x p la in e d :
I d id n o t speak o f t e n in t h i s s e s s io n as th e com
p e t i t i o n from our Benches was i n te n s e and a P a rlia m e n
t a r y P r i v a t e S e c r e t a r y i s n o t e x p e c te d to speak o f te n .
However, I le a r n e d th e ways o f th e House and made many
f r i e n d s in a l l p a r t i e s . I a ls o g o t some e x p e rie n c e
w orking f o r M acD onald.40
A f t e r A t t l e e was r e - e l e c t e d o v e r M i l l e r Jones
(C ons.) in 1923, by a 6,185 m a j o r i t y , he was a p p o in te d the
p o s i t i o n as U n d e r- S e c r e ta ry o f S t a t e . ^ In t h i s new o f
f i c e , A t t l e e g a in e d e x p e rie n c e in th e i n n e r w orking o f a
g r e a t D epartm ent o f S t a t e , and o f sp e a k in g and answ ering
q u e s tio n s from th e Government F ro n t Bench in the House o f
Commons.
S h o rtly a f t e r th e m eetin g o f th e new P a rlia m e n t in
November, 1924, A t t l e e ' s sp e e c h e s on e l e c t r i c i t y b i l l s were
n o te w o rth y . The i s s u e was w h e th e r e l e c t r i c i t y sh o u ld be a
p u b l i c s e r v i c e o r a p r i v a t e monopoly. Since h is e a r l y days
as mayor o f S tep n ey , A t t l e e g a in e d in fo r m a tio n on e l e c t r i c
i t y p ro b lem s. In 1924, th e C o n s e rv a tiv e government i n t r o -
so
duced a b i l l •which e s s e n t i a l l y n a t i o n a l i z e d g e n e r a tio n and
main tr a n s m i s s io n o f e l e c t r i c i t y . A t t l e e ' s in f lu e n c e on
t h i s b i l l was p ro n o u n ced . He s a i d :
I was p u t on th e committee of the House to examine
th e b i l l . There were t h r e e F ro n t Bench Labour men
s e n i o r to me, b u t th ey d id n o t know the s u b j e c t and
s p e e d i l y d ropped o u t, so t h a t I became the L eader o f
th e O p p o s itio n , i . . In th e course o f tim e , th e M in
i s t e r te n d e d to w a it f o r my ap pro v al o r d is a p p r o v a l
b e f o r e a c c e p t in g amendments. This was so marked t h a t
when we came t o the r e p o r t s ta g e a C o n se rv a tiv e o b
j e c t e d to th e undue d e fe re n c e shown to my v i e w s .42
Between 1924 and 1931, s i g n i f i c a n t e v e n ts in A t t
l e e ' s l i f e w ere few. However, Lord Wedgewood, i n Memoirs
o f a F ig h t i n g L i f e , w rote t h a t A t t le e was "a b e t t e r - r e a d
man th a n any o t h e r in P a r lia m e n t- - s a v e p e rh a p s Baldwin o r
S i r John Simon. Since h i s y o u th , A t t le e had been an
e a g e r r e a d e r and was always w e ll inform ed. His re a d in g
made him lo o k i n t e l l i g e n t in th e P a rlia m e n t; a s ta te m e n t
from a London e v e n in g new spaper in 192 4 confirm ed t h a t b e
cause of h i s v o r a c io u s r e a d i n g , A t t l e e was "one o f th e
s m a r te s t - lo o k i n g men in th e House o f Commons."44
In th e G e n era l E l e c t i o n of 1931, th e Labour p a r t y
s u f f e r e d th e m ost c ru s h in g d e f e a t in i t s h i s t o r y . But
A t t l e e s u r v i v e d by a sm a ll m a jo r ity o f 5 5 1 . ^ The p a r t y
d e s p e r a t e l y n e e d e d to be r e - e s t a b l i s h e d ; so A t t le e a llo w e d
n o th in g to i n t e r f e r e w ith h i s e f f o r t s to r e c r e a t e a p o w e r
f u l Labour p a r t y .
At th e same tim e , a most d e c is iv e e v e n t o c c u r r e d ;
George L ansbury was e l e c t e d th e new p a r lia m e n ta r y Labour
51
p a r t y l e a d e r and A t t l e e , deputy l e a d e r . Among the Labour
members who were r e t u r n e d to C o n g re ss, on ly t h r e e had any
w o rth w h ile f r o n t bench e x p e rie n c e : L ansbury, A t t l e e , and
S i r S t a f f o r d C rip p s. At th e f i r s t m eetin g o f th e new p a r
lia m e n ta r y Labour p a r t y , th e e l e c t i o n was a lm o st a u to m a tic .
L ansbury became l e a d e r o f th e o p p o s i t io n . C rip p s was too
new, n o t only to the House, b u t a ls o to th e p a r t y , and
t h e r e were no o th e r f e a s i b l e c a n d id a te s f o r deputy l e a d e r .
T h e r e f o r e , t h i s d e c is iv e e l e c t i o n i n A t t l e e ' s c a r e e r unex
p e c t e d l y o c c u rre d w ith o u t e x c ite m e n t, and p a s s e d w ith o u t
a ro u s in g any r e a l degree o f p u b l i c n o t i c e . The Labour
p a r t y was a t a low ebb when A t t l e e ro se from a second^rank
M i n i s t e r to the second man in the Labour p a r t y .
A t t l e e accom p lish ed h is job as depu ty l e a d e r w e ll.
He d e s c r i b e d th e s e y e a rs i n h is a u to b io g ra p h y , As I t Hap-^
p e n e d :
The y e a r s from 1931 to 1935 were v ery busy ones f o r
me. I u s u a l l y l e f t home a t n in e o 'c l o c k in th e morn
in g and seldom g o t back u n t i l a f t e r m id n ig h t. I had
t o d e a l w ith many s u b j e c t s t h a t fo rm e rly I had n o t
s t u d i e d w ith any c lo s e a t t e n t i o n . . . . I o f te n had to
speak t h r e e o r fo u r tim es a week. In. 1932 , I f i l l e d
more columns o f H ansard th an any o t h e r Member, and, as
I am g e n e r a l l y c o n s id e re d to be a r a t h e r l a c o n ic
s p e a k e r , i t can be ju d g ed t h a t my i n t e r v e n t i o n s i n
d e b a te were num erous. These y e a rs were a v e ry u s e f u l
t r a i n i n g . I a c q u ire d a com plete knowledge o f the
House o f Commons p ro c e d u re and a f a i r l y good a c q u a i n t
ance w ith many s u b j e c t s . Compared w ith my p r e v io u s
n in e y e a r s in th e House, th ey were l i k e th e W estern
F r o n t in the F i r s t World War c o n t r a s t e d w ith th e South
A f r ic a n W a r . 46
T his d e b a te t r a i n i n g p ro v e d in v a lu a b le l a t e r .
52
In 1932, a sm a ll body c a l l e d th e New F ab ian Re
s e a r c h Bureau was formed to work o u t in p r a c t i c a l d e t a i l
th e im p l i c a ti o n s o f Labour and S o c i a l i s t p o l i c y . I t s aim
and a c t i v i t i e s resem b led th o s e w hich had f o r y e a rs been a s
s o c i a t e d w ith th e Gabian s o c i e t y . A t t l e e was i t s chairm an.
His a b i l i t y to d i r e c t and o r g a n iz e r e s e a r c h was a ls o r e
f l e c t e d in h is l a t e r s p e e c h e s . Under A t t l e e ’ s l e a d e r s h i p ,
th e Labour p a r t y dev elo p ed a program, f o r m eeting th e modern
problem s o f go vern m en t.4?
When Lansbury f r a c t u r e d h i s t h ig h in 1933, A ttle e
a c te d as L eader o f th e O p p o s itio n f o r n in e months. The
Evening S ta n d a rd r e p o r t e d t h a t , M His g e n e ra l a t t i t u d e is
one o f p a t i e n t and r a t h e r b o re d t o l e r a n c e . He i s sm all and
dark and has a s l i g h t s t o o p . "48 However, w ith in a few
months the same new spaper co m p lained t h a t A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c
was. r a d i c a l and " to o l e f t . "49 Once again A t t l e e ' s i n i t i a l
im p re ss io n caused h i s o b s e r v e r s to u n d e re s tim a te h i s a b i l i
t i e s and r a d i c a l n e s s .
Lansbury d is c o v e r e d v a lu a b le q u a l i t i e s in A t t l e e .
Lansbury s a i d t h a t A t t l e e had a v e ry c l e a r b r a i n , an im
mense c a p a c ity f o r w ork, an in v a l u a b l e a s s i d u i t y in a b s o rb
in g and c l a s s i f y i n g th e v a s t amount o f m a t e r i a l t h a t de
scended upon any L eader o f th e O p p o s itio n , and a w i l l i n g
n e s s to f u l f i l l th e o b l i g a t i o n s o f work p la c e d on h i m .50
L ansbury, A t t l e e , and th e o th e r s had su cceed ed in
53
h o ld in g the L a b o u rite s t o g e t h e r d u rin g i t s e c l i p s e . The
time was coming when th e y would have to a tte m p t a fo ra y .
In the m eantim e, A t t l e e g a in e d p r o f i c i e n c y on th e numerous
s u b j e c t s he spoke on.
L eader o f th e Labour P a rty
A t t le e waged a v ig o ro u s campaign f o r h i s own Labour
p o s i t i o n and o t h e r Labour c a n d id a te s in 1931 a g a i n s t B a ld
w in 's C o n s e r v a tiv e s . He a d d re ss e d f o r t y - n i n e m ee tin g s;
only two were in Limehouse. In a d d i t i o n , the m eetings were
crowded w ith e n t h u s i a s t i c a u d ie n c e s ; A t t l e e a ls o d e li v e r e d
a b r o a d c a s t a d d re ss and f i g u r e d in a p o l i t i c a l f ilm . He
n o t only a t t a c k e d th e r e c o r d o f the N a tio n a l governm ent,
b u t a ls o s t r e s s e d th e c o n s t r u c t i v e p r o p o s a ls o f the Labour
p a r t y .
A t t l e e was r e - e l e c t e d f o r Limehouse w ith a m a jo r ity
52
o f 7,245 v o t e s . A f t e r George L an sb u ry rs r e s i g n a t i o n ,
p r i m a r i l y o v e r p a c i f i s t i c b e l i e f s , A t t l e e became th e p a r t y
l e a d e r in th e House. Lansbury c o n f i d e n tl y summed up A t t
l e e ' s a b i l i t i e s w ith t h i s s t a te m e n t , "Clem is w e ll ab le to
h a n d le a n y th in g t h a t comes u p ." ^ ^ In 1935 H arold L aski
w rote a l e t t e r to F r a n k f u r t e r about th e e f f e c t o f L ansbury's
r e s i g n a t i o n :
I t was r i g h t f o r G. Lansbury to go. He could n o t
le a d th e p a r t y on h i s te rm s . A t t l e e w i l l do w e ll in
an u n i n s p i r e d way and he i s s u f f i c i e n t l y aware o f the
dangers to be th e b e s t man a v a i l a b l e . 54
54
A t t l e e b e a t M o rriso n , and Greenwood was e l e c t e d to
Deputy l e a d e r s h i p . Hugh D alto n w rote in h i s d ia r y : "A
w re tc h e d , d i s h e a r t e n i n g r e s u l t . And a l i t t l e mouse s h a l l
le a d th em .H o w ev er, D a lto n l a t e r c o n fe s s e d , "But I was
wrong. Like many o t h e r s , I w ho lly u n d e re s tim a te d A t t l e e a t
t h a t tim e . He grew o u t o f a l l know ledge, as th e y e a rs
p a s s e d . He grew f a s t e s t in th e war y e a r s and . . . h is own
P r e m ie r s h ip ."56
A t t l e e had i n h e r i t e d a d i s u n i t e d and weak Labour
p a r t y . Perhaps a g r e a t e r e c l i p s e o f the p a r t y may have
o c c u rre d i f he had n o t found th e a b i l i t y to u n i te i t in
th e s e dark d ays. A t t l e e r e c o n c i l e d p o s i t i o n s o f v a rio u s
f a c t i o n s and h e ld many p r i v a t e c o n fe re n c e s in back rooms in
o rd e r to h o ld th e p a r t y t o g e t h e r . His u n i t i n g a b i l i t i e s
were v e ry a p p a re n t d u rin g h i s term as l e a d e r . A t t l e e a l
lowed c r i t i c i s m o f h i m s e l f and th e p a r t y to some e x t e n t ,
b u t th en combated i t w ith h i s i n t e g r i t y and compromising
a b i l i t i e s . He was in d e e d a p r a g m a tic and shrewd p o l i t i c i a n .
The f o u r y e a rs which p a s s e d between A t t l e e ’s e l e c
t i o n to le a d e r s h ip and th e o u tb re a k o f the Second World
War were y e a rs o f c o n s i d e r a b le f r u s t r a t i o n f o r th e Labour
p a r t y . Any l e a d e r would have had d i f f i c u l t y , e s p e c i a l l y
w ith a weakened Labour p a r t y i n th e House.
A t t l e e d e l i v e r e d many p e n e t r a t i n g sp eeches in th e
Commons. They were n o t b r i l l i a n t , b u t th ey were im p o rta n t
and p r o v o c a tiv e i n q u i r i e s which h e lp e d b u i l d h i s e th o s . He
55
s u b j e c t e d th e governm ent to c o n tin u a l and s e a r c h in g c r i t i
cism , and slo w ly b u i l t up a c o h e re n t and c o n s t r u c t i v e a l
t e r n a t i v e p o l i c y . In a d d i t i o n , A t t l e e ' s r e p u t a t i o n f o r
h o n e s ty , i n t e g r i t y , and sound sta te s m a n s h ip grew.
In 1937, A t t l e e w ro te The Labour P a r ty i n P e r s p e c
t i v e . T his was a c l e a r a r t i c u l a t i o n of the o r i g i n s and
h i s t o r y o f th e Labour p a r t y , and th e p o l i c y w hich i t sh o u ld
fo llo w when r e t u r n e d t o p o w e r .5^ Over f i f t y th o u sa n d
CO
c o p ie s were s o l d . A t t l e e e x p re s s e d h i s fir m b e l i e f in
th e p r i n c i p l e s and methods o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m i n t h i s
r h e t o r i c a l p i e c e . 59
The work was t r u e to th e c h a r a c t e r o f Mr. A t t l e e .
He was an im p e rso n a l w r i t e r and always av oid ed e m p h asizin g
h i s own p e r s o n a l i t y in h i s work f o r the Labour p a r t y . I t
r e v e a l e d h i s g r e a t i n t e g r i t y , h is i n t e l l e c t u a l g rasp o f th e
r e a l i t i e s o f p o l i t i c a l i s s u e s , h is i n t u i t i v e u n d e r s ta n d in g
o f th e r e a c t i o n s o f th e commoner, and h i s deep a f f e c t i o n
f o r w o rk e rs. Twelve y e a r s a f t e r A t t l e e ' s book was p u b
l i s h e d , i t was n o t p o l i t i c a l l y o u t o f d a te . R e p o r te r s ,
c o r r e s p o n d e n ts , p o l i t i c i a n s , and v o te r s were s t i l l r e a d in g
i t . A t t l e e ' s book was e s p e c i a l l y v a lu a b le to th o se who had
j o i n e d th e Labour p a r t y r e c e n t l y and knew l i t t l e o f the
c o n d itio n s u n d e r w hich i t was s t a r t e d .
In 1936, p o l i t i c a l b a t t l e s were sto p p e d f o r a s h o r t
tim e w ith th e news o f th e d e a th o f King Edward V I I I . In
56
The Commons, A t t l e e had th e d i f f i c u l t t a s k o f s p e a k in g im
m e d ia te ly a f t e r Baldwin whose s t y l e was w e ll s u i t e d to t h i s
k in d o f e v e n t. A t t l e e c o n fe sse d , " I have seldom f e l t more
n e r v o u s . B u t A t t l e e was c h ee re d lo u d ly as he aro se to
sp e a k . ^ 1
T his was one o f th e most n o tew o rth y o f th e many o c
c a s io n s on which A t t l e e , as Labour l e a d e r , was c a l l e d upon
to make sp e ec h es o f t h i s ty p e . He g a in e d a c o n fid e n c e and
f e l i c i t y o f p h r a s e . M oreover, on th e d e a th o f MacDonald,
A t t l e e f a c e d a most d i f f i c u l t t a s k , b u t in t h e words o f a
le a d in g a r t i c l e in The London T im es:
. . . th e l e a d e r o f th e O p p o sitio n y e s t e r d a y t r i u m
p h a n tly surm ounted a s i t u a t i o n in w hich a l e s s e r man
m ight w e l l have been tem pted to a llo w a s t i l l i n te n s e
re s e n tm e n t to c a s t an u g ly shadow, and p u b l i c l i f e i s
th e r i c h e r f o r t h i s r e f u s a l to be p e t t y . 62
A nother such o c c a s io n , in 1938, c o n c e rn e d th e mo
t i o n f o r a b u s t o f A sq u ith in the P a la c e o f W e stm in s te r.
A f t e r A t t l e e ' s sp e e c h , Lady Oxford was so im p re s s e d t h a t
she w r o te , "Thank yo u, dear Mr. A t t l e e , f o r a v e ry f i n e
speech on my h u s b a n d - - f a r th e b e s t t h a t was made l a s t
T hursday.
W ith th e coming o f World War I I , A t t l e e was i n s t r u
m en tal in removing C ham berlain, and ap p ro v in g C h u r c h i l l as
Prime M i n i s t e r . Because o f th e p a c i f i s t e le m e n t always
p r e s e n t in p a r t s o f th e Labour p a r t y , war and armament was
an im p o rta n t i s s u e . The L a b o u rite s needed a l e a d e r such as
57
A t t l e e w ith th e a b i l i t y to compromise and u n i t e them and
th e Labour p o l i c i e s i n th e b a t t l e a g a i n s t Germany.
Cham berlain t r i e d to a v e r t w a r, and he flew to Ger
many to see H i t l e r . A t t le e had l i t t l e f a i t h i n th e v e n tu r e .
His sta u n c h p o s i t i o n , a lth o u g h f r e q u e n t l y m is u n d e rs to o d ,
was t h a t no o p p o r tu n ity s h o u ld be a v o id ed to p r e s e r v e peace
w ith o u t s a c r i f i c e o f p r i n c i p l e . A few days l a t e r France
was d e f e a t e d , and t h e r e was a trem endous v i c t o r y f o r H err
H i t l e r . ^4
E a rly in 1940, A t t l e e b r o a d c a s t to th e n a ti o n th e
re a so n s t h a t had l e d th e Labour p a r t y , in s p i t e o f i t s h a
t r e d of war and d i s t r u s t o f th e C ham berlain governm ent, to
s u p p o rt th e war a g a in s t H i t l e r . As a m oral man, he p a r t i c
u l a r l y s t r e s s e d the moral i s s u e s in v o lv e d in th e w ar. He
s a id :
I w ant t h i s even in g to s t r e s s th e im po rtan ce o f the
moral i s s u e s in v o lv e d in t h i s w ar. . . . D uring the
l a s t n in e y e a rs the w o rld h a s , s te p by s t e p , moved^
tow ards war u n t i l i t has r e a c h e d the p r e s e n t p o s i t i o n .
I b e l i e v e th is h as been due to th e f a i l u r e to a c t on
m oral p r i n c i p l e s . When a g g r e s s io n and th e use o f
armed fo rc e as an in s tr u m e n t o f p o l i c y began a g a in , a
s ta n d was n o t ta k e n . The e v i l was condoned. Peace
was d e s tro y e d . . . .65
A t t l e e ' s language was d i r e c t , s im p le , c l e a r . L a b o u r's
s ta n d on th e war must be u n d e rs to o d by a l l B r i to n s .
By May, 1940, r e v o l t a g a i n s t th e Cham berlain gov
ernm ent was w id e sp rea d i n G re a t B r i t a i n . A t t l e e b e li e v e d
i t was n o t a p l e a s a n t t a s k to t e l l a Prime M i n i s t e r t h a t he
58
ought to go, b u t i t was the t r u t h . And A t t l e e p r e f e r r e d t o
be d i r e c t and h o n e s t.
A t t l e e l a t e r d e s c r i b e d h is f e e l i n g s toward Chamber-
l a i n :
As a m a tte r o f f a c t C ham berlain was p r e p a r e d to
throw anyone to th e w o lv e s. He was a p e a c e - a t- a n y -
p r i c e man. He was t o t a l l y u n a c q u a in te d w ith war and
he m u st, a t th e back o f h i s mind, have known t h a t he
would be no use i n w a r-tim e as a Prime M i n i s t e r . 66
C o n se q u e n tly , C ham berlain asked A t t le e i f Labour
would ta k e p a r t i n a c o a l i t i o n governm ent i f someone e l s e
were the head . At t h i s tim e , A t t l e e went to the Labour An
n u a l C onference a t Bournemouth, and asked th e d e le g a t e s two
q u e s t io n s : (1) ’’Would th ey e n t e r a government u n d e r th e
p r e s e n t Prime M in i s t e r ? T h e ir answer was unanim ously ' n o . '
(2) Would th e y come in und er someone e ls e ? T h e ir agreem ent
was unanimous on t h i s p o i n t . "67 A t t l e e , th e compromiser
and s e r v a n t to p a r t y and c o u n tr y , p la y e d an in s tr u m e n ta l
p a r t in e s t a b l i s h i n g a u n i t e d hom efront in B r i t a i n d u rin g
th e war.
C ham berlain r e s i g n e d , and C h u r c h ill was g iv en the
K in g 's commission to form a governm ent. There was a war
c a b in e t o f f i v e : C h u r c h i l l , H a l i f a x , C ham berlain, G reen
wood, and A t t l e e .
A t t l e e p ro m p tly r e t u r n e d to a d d re ss the p a r t y con
f e r e n c e . His r e s o l u t i o n f o r c o a l i t i o n was approved by an
overw helm ing m a j o r i t y . At t h i s tim e , C h u rc h ill made h is
59
famous "B lood, T o i l , T e a r s , and Sweat" sp e ec h . Thus, began
th e famous war governm ent w ith Bevin as M i n i s t e r o f Labour
and N a tio n a l S e r v i c e , M orrison as M in is te r o f Supply, D a l
ton as M i n i s t e r o f Economic W arfare, and G r e n f e ll as S e c r e
t a r y f o r M ines. A t t l e e was Lord P riv y S e a l, and Greenwood
was M i n i s t e r w ith o u t P o r t f o l io .^ ®
C ham berlain was th e f i r s t chairman o f the c a b i n e t ;
th e n S i r John A nderson (Lord W averley) , and th e n A t t l e e . ^
When A t t l e e too k th e c h a i r , s e v e r a l m in i s t e r s th o u g h t t h a t :
C a b in e t m eeting s are b u s i n e s s - l i k e and e f f i c i e n t ;
we keep to th e agenda, make d e c is io n s and g e t away a t
a r e a s o n a b le tim e . When Mr. C h u rc h ill p r e s i d e s , n o t h
in g i s d e c id e d ; we l i s t e n e d e n t h r a l l e d and go home,
many h ou rs l a t e , f e e l i n g t h a t we have been p r e s e n t a t
an h i s t o r i c o c c a s i o n . 70
More i m p o r t a n t l y , A t t l e e a c te d as Prime M i n i s t e r
f o r more th a n s i x months d u rin g the war. He seemed to grow
enorm ously in s t a t u r e as deputy Prime M i n i s t e r a l s o .
D uring th e w ar, A t t l e e made a t r i p to W ashington
and e x p e r ie n c e d h i s f i r s t b ig American p r e s s c o n fe re n c e .
He d e s c r i b e d h i s r e a c t i o n s as fo llo w s:
A ll th e p r i n c i p a l newspapermen in th e c ity - - A m e r i-
can and f o r e ig n - - w e r e p r e s e n t , and a f t e r lunch I was
bombarded w ith q u e s t i o n s ; some were handed i n , o t h e r s
were p u t s t r a i g h t from th e f l o o r . House o f Commons
e x p e rie n c e e n a b le d me to d e a l w ith them a t g r e a t l e n g t h
w ith o u t d i f f i c u l t y , and t h i s seemed to s u r p r i s e some
o f the a u d ie n c e . I g a th e r t h a t I did n o t drop any
b r i c k s o r t r e a d on any c o r n s . 71
A t t l e e was v e ry s k i l l e d a t answ ering q u e s tio n s ; he was much
p r a c t i c e d from h i s work on th e f r o n t bench. T his p a r t i c u -
60
l a r p r e s s c o n fe re n c e h e lp e d p r e p a r e A t t l e e f o r h i s l a t e r
t r i p to th e U n ite d S t a te s as Prime M i n i s t e r . In A t t l e e ' s
sp eech to C ongress in 1945, he r e f e r r e d to t h i s t r i p to
Ame r i c a .
M eanw hile, d u rin g th e w ar, A t t l e e and C h u r c h ill
d e v e lo p e d m utu al r e s p e c t , w hich numerous b io g r a p h e r s r e c o g
n i z e d . A t t l e e was a c lo se and lo y a l c o lle a g u e to C h u r c h ill,
i n s p i t e o f t h e i r obvious p a r t y d i f f e r e n c e s . Toward th e
end o f the w ar, C h u r c h ill s a i d o f A t t l e e :
. . . he i s n o t a s e l f - s e e k i n g man and always t r i e s to
p la y th e game and to do th e b e s t he can, which i s v e ry
much t o h i s honour. I s h a l l always a s s e r t t h a t - - e x c e p t
a t tim es when we have s p e c i a l q u e s tio n s o f d i f f e r e n c e .72
In A t t l e e ' s l e a d e r s h ip o f th e Labour p a r t y d u rin g t h i s p e
r i o d , t h e r e was no d i r e c t c h a lle n g e . A t t l e e was a b le to
d i s t i n g u i s h betw een h i s Labour o b j e c t i v e s and th e n e c e s s i
t i e s o f th e c o a l i t i o n . A t t l e e a t th e tim e o f Dunkerque
d e c l a r e d h i s c l a s s i c pronouncem ent t h a t i f l i f e must be
c o n s c r i p t e d , so must p r o p e r t y . T h e duty o f a Labour
l e a d e r d u rin g th e war was to la y th e fo u n d a tio n s o f p o stw a r
s o c i a l i s m . In t h a t way r e v o l u t i o n co u ld come by c o n s e n t.
The i n c r e a s i n g p r o s p e c t o f an e a r l y end to th e war
in Europe cau se d a growing s t r a i n on th e C o a li t io n G overn
m ent. A t t l e e and h i s L a b o u r ite s w anted s o c i a l re fo rm b i l l s
t o be p a s s e d i n t o law.
W hile A t t l e e accompanied Anthony Eden to th e fo u n d
in g c o n fe re n c e o f th e U n ite d N a tio n s a t San F ra n c is c o in
61
A p r i l , 1945, Bevin a c te d as l i a i s o n betw een th e C a b in e t and
th e P a r lia m e n ta r y Labour p a r t y . B efore A t t l e e l e f t f o r San
F r a n c i s c o , he spoke to C h u r c h ill who a g re e d t h a t i t would
be most u n f a i r to d is s o lv e P a rlia m e n t in A t t l e e ' s a b s e n c e 7 4
However, A t t l e e ' s t r i p was a b r u p t l y ended f o r th e war in
Europe was sud denly o v e r. A t t l e e q u ic k ly r e t u r n e d home.
When the Labour p a r t y annual c o n fe ren c e met in
B la c k p o o l, A t t l e e a tte n d e d ; and in May, 1945, th e group was
u n i t e d and e n t h u s i a s t i c abou t resum ing i t s in d ep en d en ce.
Thus, Mr. A t t l e e was asked to s e t th e Labour p o s i t i o n c l e a r
in a l e t t e r to Mr. C h u r c h il l . At th e c o n fe r e n c e , Bevin
d e l i v e r e d a f i n e sp eech on f o r e i g n a f f a i r s , and H arold
L ask i was e l e c t e d c h a i r m a n . ^
Upon m eetin g C h u r c h i l l , A t t l e e r e i t e r a t e d th e La
b o u r p a r t y ' s b e l i e f t h a t th e C o a l i t i o n sh o u ld c o n tin u e f o r
some months w ith th e u n d e rs ta n d in g t h a t in th e f a l l , a Gen
e r a l E l e c t i o n would ta k e p l a c e . C h u r c h il l th en made i t
c l e a r t h a t t h i s s u g g e s tio n was u n a c c e p ta b le to him. The
on ly a l t e r n a t i v e s f o r the Labour p a a r t y were an immediate
d i s s o l u t i o n or th e c o n tin u an c e of th e C o a l i t i o n u n t i l th e
end o f th e war w ith Jap an . V ic to r y in th e F a r E a s t was
g e n e r a l l y th o u g h t to be e ig h te e n months to two y e a r s away.
A f t e r an exchange o f l e t t e r s betw een A t t l e e and C h u r c h il l ,
th e e l e c t i o n was f i x e d f o r th e f i r s t week i n J u l y . ^
Thus, a campaign and g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n im m ediately
fo llo w e d . The 1945 e l e c t i o n was to a very la r g e e x t e n t a
62
b a t t l e o f b r o a d c a s t s p e e c h e s . The f i r s t two were by C hur
c h i l l and A t t l e e . These s e t th e ton e o f the e n t i r e cam
p a ig n , and a re d is c u s s e d i n l a t e r c h a p t e r s . Labour g a in e d
a la rg e p a r t o f i t s adv an tage in th e b a t t l e a t t h i s e a r l y
s t a g e .
During the e l e c t i o n , th e Potsdam C onference took
p l a c e . In o r d e r to e n su re a degree o f c o n ti n u i ty i f Labour
m ight w in, A t t l e e accom panied C h u r c h il l to t h i s g a th e r in g .
They b o th l e f t an u n f i n i s h e d c o n fe re n c e to r e t u r n to London
f o r th e e l e c t i o n r e s u l t s , which were d e c la re d on J u ly 2 6 th ,
The Labour p a r t y had an overw helm ing v i c t o r y . A t t le e was
Prime M i n is te r w ith th e f i r s t m a j o r it y Labour Government in
th e h i s t o r y o f G reat B r i t a i n . And A t t l e e and E rn e s t Bevin
r e t u r n e d to th e Potsdam C o n fe re n c e .
A ccording to Edward R. M urrow's M emoirs, th e " s u b
s t i t u t i o n o f A t t l e e and Bevin f o r C h u r c h ill and Eden d id
7 7
n o t d elay th e p r o c e e d in g s " a t Potsdam . A t t le e had no
i l l u s i o n s a b o u t th e Communists o r t h e i r l e a d e r S t a l i n .
A t t l e e s a id :
He [ S t a l i n ] was c l e a r l y a p r e t t y r u t h l e s s t y r a n t
b u t a man you c o u ld do b u s i n e s s w ith because he s a i d
yes and no and d i d n ' t have t o r e f e r back. . . . I t was
p l a i n to me from th e b e g in n in g a t Potsdam t h a t the
R u ssian s w ere going t o ask f o r e v e r y th in g on th e
grounds of t h e i r immense s u f f e r i n g s and so f o r t h . . . .
But I was u n d e r no i l l u s i o n s as t o h i s r e a d in e s s to
c o o p e ra te o r as to h i s l i k i n g f o r u s . . . . I knew
from e x p e rie n c e t h a t th e Communists had always fo u g h t
us more v i g o r o u s ly th a n th e T o rie s because they th o u g h t
we o f f e r e d a v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e to Communism. They
63
r e g a r d e d th e T o r ie s as th e a d v o c a te s o f a dying cause
w h ile th e y th o u g h t we were a r i v a l in th e new l i f e .
» • •
A f t e r t h i s c o n fe re n c e , Truman w ro te in h i s Memoirs
t h a t he h e ld a g r e a t r e s p e c t f o r A t t l e e ’ s ’’deep u n d e r s ta n d
ing o f th e w o r l d 's problem s.
A t t l e e as Prime M i n i s t e r
A f t e r form ing h i s c a b i n e t , Mr. A t t l e e p r e s e n t e d h i s
Government and h i s program to th e House in th e m iddle o f
A ugust. I t was th e b e g in n in g of a y e a r o f v e ry in te n s e
l e g i s l a t i v e a c t i v i t y . The Labour p a r t y ' s campaign program
o f s o c i a l refo rm and o th e r s p e c i f i c m easures o f n a t i o n a l
i z a t i o n were im plem ented. B i l l s f o r th e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f
th e Bank o f E ngland, th e coal m ines, c i v i l a v i a t i o n , and
the C able and W ire le ss o r g a n i z a t i o n were c a r r i e d th ro u g h
b o th H ouses. The N a tio n a l I n s u r a n c e , I n d u s t r i a l i n j u r i e s ,
N a tio n a l H e a lth , and Family Allowance B i l l s a l s o were
passed.
In November, 1945, A t t l e e made an im p o r ta n t t r i p to
th e U n ite d S t a t e s . A ccording to Edward R. Murrow, "The
s e m i- p a n ic in more C o n se rv a tiv e American c i r c l e s when a
Labour Government was e l e c t e d only began to s u b s id e a f t e r
Of]
A t t l e e ' s v i s i t and a y e a r o f m oderate Labour r e f o r m ."
A t t l e e n o t on ly o u t l i n e d B r i t i s h Labour p o l i c y to a
j o i n t - s e s s i o n o f C ong ress, b u t he a ls o p a r t i c i p a t e d in im
p o r t a n t d i s c u s s i o n s co n ce rn in g th e f u t u r e o f th e atom ic
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bomb s e c r e t s and th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f B r i t a i n ' s o b t a i n i n g a
s i g n i f i c a n t lo an from th e U n ite d S t a t e s . However, n e i t h e r
i s s u e was d is c u s s e d d i r e c t l y o r f u l l y in h i s speech to Con
g r e s s , in accordance w ith a p r e v io u s agreem ent w ith P r e s i
d e n t Truman and M ackenzie King.
From many s i d e s t h e r e a ro s e problem s to w hich i n
c re a s e d p r o d u c tio n seemed th e o nly e f f e c t i v e s o l u t i o n on
the h o m efro n t. In the s p r i n g o f 1946, a g r e a t p r o d u c tio n
d riv e was lau n c h ed . A t t l e e , as Prime M i n i s t e r , opened th e
campaign w ith a b r o a d c a s t a p p e a l, and t h e r e were numerous
m eetings w ith tr a d e u n ions and em p lo y ers' o r g a n i z a t i o n s .
Some say t h a t A t t l e e t r i e d to r e c a p t u r e th e "Dunkirk
s p i r i t .
This p e r i o d was a ls o marked by c o n s id e r a b le a c h ie v e
ment in the f i e l d o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l a f f a i r s . I n d i a 's i n d e
pendence was a t i s s u e . Through A t t l e e ' s p o l i c i e s and i n t i
mate d i s c u s s i o n s w ith Gandhi and N ehru, I n d ia g a in e d h e r
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in d ep e n d en c e, b u t s t a y e d in th e Commonwealth.
In 1946, A t t l e e a d d re s s e d th e opening s e s s io n o f
th e U n ite d N a tio n s ' g e n e r a l assem bly i n London. G reat
e v e n ts and c o n s ta n t h a rd e n d ea v o r marked i t s la u n c h in g . In
J a n u a r y , 1946, A t t l e e as h ead o f th e B r i t i s h governm ent and
h o s t to th e d e le g a te s o f th e f i f t y - o n e r e p r e s e n te d n a t i o n s ,
a d d re s s e d b o th th e opening and c lo s in g s e s s io n s o f th e a s
sem bly. A t t l e e p le a d e d f o r p erm an ent p eace and i n t e r n a
t i o n a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f s o c i a l i s t i c p r i n c i p l e s .
65
Even W inston C h u r c h ill r e p e a t e d ly spoke o f A t t l e e ' s
" c o n c i s e , m a s siv e , s ta te s m a n lik e c o n t r i b u t i o n s " to a b e t t e r
i n t e r n a t i o n a l u n d e rs ta n d in g .® 3
A t t l e e summed up th e work o f th e Labour Government
w h ile he was l e a d e r :
The Labour p a r t y came to power w ith a w e l l - d e f i n e d
p o l i c y worked o u t o v e r many y e a r s . I t h ad been s e t o u t
v e ry c l e a r l y in our e l e c t i o n m a n if e s to , and we were
d e te rm in e d to c a r ry i t o u t. I t s u l t i m a t e o b j e c t i v e was
th e c r e a t i o n o f a s o c i e t y b ased on s o c i a l j u s t i c e , and
i n o u r v iew , t h i s c o u ld be a t t a i n e d o n ly by b r i n g in g
u n d e r p u b l i c ow nership and c o n tr o l th e main f a c t o r s in
th e econom ic s y s te m .84
A t t l e e was r e - e l e c t e d in 1950. He cam paigned a g ain
w ith h i s w ife d r i v in g him to e v ery r a l l y . U l t i m a t e l y , he
had a m a j o r it y o f te n in th e House. But Labour p o l l e d o v e r
a m i l l i o n and a q u a r t e r more v o te s th an in 1945, which was
a t r u l y rem a rk ab le achievem ent.® 5
A t t l e e ' s c h ie f so u rc e o f a n x ie ty was th e i l l h e a l t h
o f two im p o rta n t members o f h i s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , C ripp s and
B evin. In M arch, 1951, A t t l e e d e l i v e r e d a b r o a d c a s t t r i b
u te to E r n e s t B evin, one o f h is d e a r e s t f r i e n d s and a l o y a l
comrade. In A p r i l , 1952, A t t le e d e l i v e r e d a t r i b u t e to S i r
S t a f f o r d C rip p s in the House o f Commons.
The Labour view o f th e Korean war was t h a t i t should
be c o n fin e d to K orea, t h a t i t would be a g r e a t m ista k e to
have l a r g e f o r c e s com m itted to a m ajor campaign in A s ia .
This i s s u e , a lo n g w ith o t h e r problem s in th e House, i n c l u d
in g a sm all Labour m a j o r it y , fo rc e d A t t l e e to c o n s id e r
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a n o th e r G eneral E l e c t i o n . One more re a s o n was t h a t King
George and Queen E liz a b e th were t o v i s i t A u s t r a l i a and New
Z ealand in th e s p rin g o f 1952, and t h e r e would be c o n s ta n t
a n x ie ty f o r the King i f a G e n eral E l e c t i o n were h e ld d u rin g
h i s absence.
For th e fo u r th tim e , A t t l e e and h i s w ife s e t o u t on
th e e l e c t i o n t o u r . He w r o te , "Everywhere we had pack ed and
e n t h u s i a s t i c m ee tin g s, th e au d ie n ce som etim es re a c h in g f iv e
f i g u r e s . "86 But they l o s t n i n e t e e n s e a t s , which was enough
to g ive th e C o n se rv a tiv e m a j o r it y .
A few days l a t e r , th e King b estow ed on A t t l e e th e
O rder o f M e r it, th e h ig h e s t honor in h i s power to g iv e .
A t t l e e had f a i t h f u l l y s e r v e d him s i x and a h a l f y e a r s , and
th e r e had n e v e r been any d i f f i c u l t y betw een them. A t t l e e
p a id t r i b u t e to the King in th e House on F e b ru ary 11, 1952,
when he d ie d .
From 1952 u n t i l 1955, A t t l e e was th e l e a d e r o f th e
Labour o p p o s itio n a g ain . O th e r a d d re s s e s o f im portance
t h a t he d e l i v e r e d d u rin g t h a t p e r i o d were a t fo u r S o c i a l i s t
c o n fe re n c e s abroad: M ilan , L ie g e , Stockholm , and Rangoon.
In 1955, A ttle e r e t i r e d as h ead o f th e Labour p a rty .
A ccording to Eden,
. . . Mr. A t t l e e came to t e l l me o f h i s d e c i s i o n to
r e t i r e from th e l e a d e r s h ip o f th e O p p o s itio n . I was
s o r r y to h e a r th is on a l l c o u n ts , n a t i o n a l and p e r s o n a l.
. . . I t seemed to me l i k e th e end o f an epoch, and I
t o l d Mr. A t t l e e so. . . . Mr. A t t l e e i s a man w ith whom
i t i s easy to be f r i e n d l y , b u t d i f f i c u l t to be in tim a te .
67
A t t l e e d id n o t ap p ear to look f a v o r a b ly on M orrison
as h i s s u c c e s s o r . W hether o r n o t A t t l e e ’ s a t t i t u d e a ffe c te d
th e outcome, G a i t s k e l l was e l e c t e d head o f the Labour P a r ty .
In 1960, A t t l e e made a f a r e w e ll t o u r to th e U n ited
S t a t e s . One a fte rn o o n he spoke a t Los A ngeles S t a te C o l
le g e on, ‘'The F u tu re o f D em ocracy," A ccordin g to Anthony
H i l l b r u n e r , h i s d e l i v e r y was s t r o n g , v i g o r o u s , and e x p r e s
sive.®® His p r o o f was l a r g e l y o f a p e r s o n a l n a tu r e and
dependent on h i s c h a r a c t e r and r e p u t a t i o n . He spoke extem
p o ra n e o u sly and in a p l e a s i n g c o n v e r s a t io n a l s t y l e . The
audience respon ded e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y , " n o t so much to what
A t t l e e s a i d , b u t r a t h e r what he r e p r e s e n te d as a symbol o f
su c c e ss from th e p a s t." ® ^ H i l l b r u n e r c o n s id e re d A t t le e "a
v e ry i n t e l l i g e n t p e rs o n w ith a f i n e command o f h is m a t e r i a l
- -a n d d is c o u r s i n g upon h i s id e a s in an u n a f f e c t e d in fo rm a l
s t y l e . "9® However, th e sp eech may have been more a p p r o p r i
a t e l y t i t l e d , "Some R e f l e c t i o n s on Democracy.
What Manner o f Man
Kenneth Burke m a in ta in e d t h a t in th e stu d y o f an
a g e n t, h i s " e g o ," " s e l f , " " s p i r i t , " " w i l l , " o r " g e n e r a l i z e d
I , " sh o u ld be a n a ly z e d in o r d e r to u n d e rs ta n d th e p s y c h o l
ogy o r m otive o f a s p e a k e r . ^2 In term s o f t h i s s tu d y , th e
q u e s t io n i s : What manner o f man was A t t l e e ? To make such
an e v a l u a t i o n , A t t l e e comes a li v e a f t e r a l l h i s t o r i c a l and
p o l i t i c a l d a ta has been co v ered .
68
A t t l e e had superb a b i l i t y a t u n i f i c a t i o n o f v a rio u s
p a r t y f a c t i o n s and s p e c i f i c members. Emanuel S h in w e ll,
M i n i s t e r o f d e fe n se in A t t l e e ’s c a b i n e t , n o te d A t t l e e ' s
u n i f y in g a b i l i t i e s and sh rew dn ess:
Clem A t t l e e , am enable, fa irm in d e d and d e c e p ti v e l y
m ild i n te m p e r, p ro b a b ly r e p r e s e n t s the i d e a l Labour
l e a d e r in th e eyes o f th e m a jo r ity o f f a c t i o n s t h a t
make up th e P a r t y . . . . A t t l e e was always shrew d and
t o l e r a n t , though on o c c a sio n he c o u ld e x p re s s h i m s e l f
w ith rem a rk ab le f ir m n e s s . . . . A t t l e e was always a p
p ro a c h a b le t o d ie h a r d tr a d e u n i o n i s t s , d o c t r i n a i r e
i n t e l l e c t u a l s and extrem e l e f t - w i n g e r s a l i k e . . ,
A t t l e e when o c c a s i o n a l l y he had to d i c t a t e , wore a
v e l v e t g l o v e . 93
E r n e s t Bevin a g re e d w ith S h in w e ll. In 1945 A r th u r
Deakin had been i n v i t e d by L aski to ask Bevin to be l e a d e r
o f th e Labour p a r t y . Bevin responded:
How dare you come and t a l k to me l i k e t h i s ? You
s h o u ld re a d h i s t o r y . . . and had r e f e r r e d to Cam pbell-
Bannerman and h i s g i f t o f h o ld in g a team o f c l e v e r men
t o g e t h e r . . . . A t t l e e resem b led C am pbell-B annerm an.94
A t t l e e a ls o h e ld s p e c i f i c L a b o u rite s in th e p o s i
t i o n he d e s i r e d by use o f h is p e r s u a s io n . D uring th e S e c
ond World War, Hugh D alto n c o n fe ss e d to A t t l e e ' s s u c c e s s f u l
m a n ip u la tiv e a b i l i t i e s . He s a id :
My own id e a had been t h a t A t t l e e , who, as Lord
P riv y S e a l, had no d e p a rtm e n ta l d u t i e s , sh o u ld ta k e
charg e and t h a t I sh o u ld be h i s C h ief o f S t a f f . He,
on th e o t h e r hand, w ished me t o ta k e i t , and s t e a d i l y
u se d h i s i n f l u e n c e to t h i s en d. F i n a l l y , a f t e r much
c o n f a b u l a t i o n , h i s view p r e v a i l e d . 95
D a lto n a ls o r e v e a le d A t t l e e ' s shrew d s t r a t e g y to
p e rs u a d e H e r b e r t M orrison to ta k e th e Lord P r e s id e n c y o f
th e C ou n cil i n s t e a d o f th e F o re ig n O ffice which M o rrison
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w an ted in A t t l e e ' s c a b i n e t . D a lto n e x p la in e d :
Then A t t l e e , a c c o rd in g to a t a c t i c p r e a r r a n g e d w ith
[W illiam ] W h ite le y , [th e c h i e f Whip] l e f t th e room f o r
a few m in u te s , d u rin g which W hiteley u rg e d M orrison to
a c c e p t , p o i n t i n g o u t t o him t h a t whoever was Lord
P r e s i d e n t would be th e second man in th e Government,
in e f f e c t th e Deputy Prime M i n i s t e r , and would l e a d th e
House o f Commons. When A t t l e e r e t u r n e d , M o rriso n
a c c e p te d th e Lord P r e s i d e n c y .96
T his i n s t a n c e shows A t t l e e ' s a b i l i t y as p o l i t i c a l t a c t i
c ia n .
A t t l e e re c o g n iz e d the v a lu e o f h i s u n i f y i n g a b i l i
t i e s w i t h in th e Labour p a r t y . When A t t l e e became th e
l e a d e r o f th e O p p o s itio n a g ain in 1951, he r e f l e c t e d :
I t i s , o f c o u rs e , p l e a s a n t to have th e b a ck in g o f
a l a r g e p a r t y , b u t numbers b r i n g w ith them c e r t a i n
d i f f i c u l t i e s . P a r ty m eetings a re crow ded, and i t needs
c o n s id e r a b le e f f o r t to g e t th ro u g h th e agenda in a
r e a s o n a b le tim e w ith o u t le a v in g a number o f members who
d e s i r e d to speak d i s a p p o in te d . I t i s a l s o h a r d e r to
g e t c o h e s io n , f o r th e r e i s a danger o f s e c t i o n a l d i f
f e r e n c e s . I was a g ain e l e c t e d as L eader w ith o u t
o p p o s i t i o n . 97
His f i n a l s e n te n c e summed up h i s own s u c c e s s f u l a tte m p ts a t
c o h e sio n .
A t t l e e had a rem arkable t a l e n t f o r com prom ising
d i f f e r e n c e s , c o n ta in in g i n t e r n a l p a r t y s t r i f e , and r e s o l v
in g c o n f l i c t s betw een opposing p a r t i e s . He was c o n s id e re d
a m ost v a lu a b le m e d ia to r; to be re c o g n iz e d as a r e a s o n a b l e ,
u s e f u l n e g o t i a t o r was an amazing accom plishm ent f o r a
r a d i c a l o r r e v o l u t i o n a r y .
One p a r t i c u l a r method o f A t t l e e ' s u n i f i c a t i o n was
h i s a b i l i t y to compromise. He f u l l y r e a l i z e d th e impor-
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ta n c e o f compromise f o r L a b o u r ite s . In 1946, he s a id :
I t has always been o u r p r a c t i c e , in a c c o rd w ith the
n a t u r a l g e n iu s o f th e B r i t i s h p e o p le , t o work e m p i r i
c a l l y . W e were n o t a f r a i d o f compromises and p a r t i a l
s o l u t i o n s , W e knew t h a t m is ta k e s would be made and
t h a t advance would o f t e n be by t r i a l and e r r o r . W e
r e a l i z e d t h a t th e a p p l i c a t i o n o f s o c i a l i s t p r i n c i p l e s
i n a c o u n try such as B r i t a i n , w ith a p e c u l i a r economic
s t r u c t u r e b a se d on i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e , r e q u i r e d g r e a t
f l e x i b i l i t y .98
A c l e a r i l l u s t r a t i o n o f A t t l e e ' s su c c e ss a t compro
mise was d e s c r ib e d by H arold L a s k i. L aski f e l t A t t l e e ^ s
h a n d lin g o f th e independence o f F ar E a s te r n c o u n tr i e s was
s u p e rb , M oreover, A t t le e managed to keep I n d i a i n th e
Commonwealth:
The one b r i g h t f a c t i n th e whole F ar E a s te r n p i c
t u r e was th e w ise d e c i s i o n o f th e Labour Government in
B r i t a i n - - a d e c is io n f o r w hich the main c r e d i t b e lo n g s
to i t s Prime M i n i s t e r , Mr. A t t l e e - - t o re c o g n iz e t h a t
th e y had n e i t h e r the p h y s i c a l power n o r the e t h i c a l
r i g h t to impose t h e i r s o v e r e ig n ty upon Burma and I n d ia
and Ceylon. . . . By a c c e p tin g th e i n e v i t a b l e in a
f r i e n d l y s p i r i t , Mr. A t t l e e p ro b a b ly sav ed more in
m a t e r i a l w e a lth and m oral p r e s t i g e f o r h i s c o u n try th an
any o t h e r p o l i c y co uld have a c h i e v e d . 99
A nother f a c e t of A t t l e e ' s u n i f y in g a b i l i t y was h i s
co o l tem per. Lord W in terto n in h i s O rders o f th e Day s a i d
t h a t A t t l e e had th e u s e f u l a s s e t o f b e in g " m ild , t o l e r a n t
and u n im p assio n ed in d e b a te , w h ile on o c c a s io n h i t t i n g
h a r d . "190 po r exam ple, in 1945 th e Labour l e f t wing r e
v o l t e d a g a i n s t th e f o r e ig n p o l i c y o f E r n e s t B evin. The
l e f t wing c o n s id e r e d B e v in 's p o l i c i e s an e x te n s io n o f Tory
p o l i c y . Prime M i n i s t e r A t t l e e e f f e c t i v e l y r e p l i e d to th e
d e b ate v e ry b r i e f l y , r e j e c t e d th e n e u t r a l i s t c o n c e p t, and
71
t h a t f o r e ig n p o l ic y c o u ld be e i t h e r "Tory" o r "L abour."
B r i t a i n , he s a i d , d id n o t a t t e n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l co n fe ren c es
101
on b e h a l f o f some " i d e o l o g i c a l a b s t r a c t i o n . " When A t t
le e r e t u r n e d to h i s s e a t , th e p a r l i a m e n ta r y phase o f the
r e v o l t was ended.
A nother s t r i k i n g example o f A t t l e e ' s cool temper
was d e m o n stra te d a t th e Labour N a tio n a l C onference p r e c e d
in g World War I I . A l e a d in g e x e c u tiv e o f the Labour p a r ty
of Spain demanded more a id from th e B r i t i s h Labour p a r t y .
A ccording to Hugh D a l t o n 's M em oirs, " A t t le e wound up the
d e b ate f o r the E x e c u tiv e and, as h i s g i f t i s , low ered the
te m p e r a tu re . The r e s o l u t i o n was c a r r i e d by 1 ,836 ,000 to
5 1 9 ,0 0 0 ." 102
As A neurin Bevan s a i d , "The p h ilo s o p h y o f demo-
c r a t i c s o c ia lis m is e s s e n t i a l l y cool in te m p e r ,"103 l i k e
w ise th e key l e a d e r o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m was cool in
tem per and c o n se q u e n tly v e ry p e r s u a s i v e in h i s own way.
A nother im p o rta n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f A t t l e e ' s advo
cacy and p e r s o n a l i t y was h i s a b i l i t y t o be t e r s e and c l e a r
on p r a c t i c a l l y any s u b j e c t . A t t l e e was aware o f h i s image
as a l a c o n i c s p e a k e r. 104 A t t l e e was p ro b a b ly p ro u d t h a t
H arold L aski and o t h e r s in th e House r e s p e c t e d h i s t e r s e
s ta te m e n ts ; as L ask i s a i d , " In g e n e ra l--M r. A t t l e e i s a
n o ta b le e x c e p tio n - -m o s t members from th e two f r o n t benches
te n d to speak too long . . . f o r t y m in utes and u p w ard s."105
72
A ttle e a l s o s a i d t h a t E r n e s t Bevin " l i k e d th e f a c t t h a t I
d i d n 't t a l k too much. . . ."106
Again on Septem ber 2 0 th , 1938, A t t le e b ro a d c a s t a
b r i e f b u t c l e a r s t a t e m e n t o f L a b o u r's p o s i t i o n on the in v a
sion of C z e c h o s lo v a k ia by th e Germans. C h u r c h ill c a l l e d
A ttle e th e fo llo w in g m orning and s a id : "Your d e c l a r a ti o n
does honour to th e B r i t i s h n a t i o n . "107 A pparently A t t l e e
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y r e p l i e d b r i e f l y : "I am g la d you th in k
so."^®^ Hugh D a lto n l a t e r h e a rd t h a t C h u r c h ill in te n d e d
his compliment t o be an o v e r t u r e f o r some form of c o n c e rte d
a c tio n , and was vexed by A t t l e e ' s cool re sp o n se . However,
A t t l e e 's s t r a t e g y a t th e tim e was n o t to encourage openly
c o n ce rte d a c tio n betw een th e Labour p a r t y and the Govern
ment. 109
A f t e r A t t l e e won th e e l e c t i o n in 1945, Laski asked
fo r a p o s i t i o n a t th e Embassy in W ashington. L a s k i's a c
tio n was p a r t i c u l a r l y b ra z e n a f t e r th e ultim atum s d u rin g
the 1945 e l e c t i o n and h i s numerous a tte m p ts in the p a s t to
remove A t t l e e from th e l e a d e r s h i p o f the p a r t y . A t t l e e r e
p l i e d b r i e f l y t o L a s k i ' s l e t t e r : "Dear L a s k i, thank you
for your l e t t e r , c o n te n ts o f w hich have been n o te d ." H O
A ttle e to o k no f u r t h e r a c t i o n .
These exam ples i l l u s t r a t e d t h a t A t t le e p o s s e s s e d
firm s t r a t e g i e s b e h in d h i s l i m i t e d a c t i o n s . Anthony Eden
agreed w ith t h i s o b s e r v a t i o n , and added:
73
A t t l e e ' s m odesty in e x p re s s io n c o n c e a ls a firm n e ss
of p u rp o s e . Though, n o t im a g in a tiv e , he se e s more
c l e a r l y th a n m ost th e l i m i t s o f h is a c tio n and n e v e r
s t r a y s beyond them. He i s i n f i n i t e l y p a t i e n t and I
o f te n m a r v e lle d d u rin g the war y e a rs a t h i s p e r s e v e r
ance in . . . C a b in e ts , which I sometimes found ex-
a s p e r a t i n g l y drawn o u t. I t was n o t in h is n a tu r e to
do s o , b u t i f he had t o , he co uld snap and b i t e w ith
th e b e s t . H I
In o th e r w o rd s, A t t l e e ' s a c t io n s were c a l c u l a t e d and p u r
p o s e f u l , in a d d i t i o n to t h e i r b r e v i t y . A t t le e was n a t u r
a l l y t e r s e , b u t he u se d t h a t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c to h is b e s t
adv an tag e.
A t t l e e ' s m anner c o u ld n o t be f a i r l y e v a l u a t e d w i t h
o u t m ention o f h i s m odesty. In C h u r c h i l l 's p h r a s e , A t t l e e
was "a m odest l i t t l e man w ith much to be modest a b o u t ." H 2
The l a s t o f A n e u rin B e v an 's c h a r a c t e r sk e tc h e s of th e w a r
time Labour M i n i s t e r s in c lu d e d much in v e c tiv e f o r A t t l e e
and o t h e r s . Bevan s a i d o f A t t l e e :
. . . Mr. A t t l e e has c o n s i s t e n t l y u n d e rp la y ed h i s p o s i
tio n and o p p o r t u n i t i e s . He seems d e te rm in e d to make a
trum pet sound l i k e a t i n w h i s t l e . . . He b r in g s to
th e f i e r c e s t r u g g l e o f p o l i t i c s th e t e p i d e n th u sia sm
of a la z y summer a fte r n o o n a t a c r i c k e t m a tc h .113
In A t t l e e ' s 1945 campaign t r a v e l s , he w r o te , "Our
r a t h e r u n o s t e n t a t i o u s method o f t r a v e l c o n tr a s t e d w ith th e
e l a b o r a t e p r o c e s s i o n t h a t accompanied C h u r c h ill on th e
jo u rn e y . Q u ite u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y , t h i s tu rn e d o u t to be
. . . an a s s e t . . . in th e p r e s s . "114 With A t t l e e ' s mod
e s t y a sense o f h i s commonness was developed. The average
B rito n c o u ld i d e n t i f y w ith him. A t t l e e p r a c t i c e d w hat he
74
p re a c h e d when he s a i d , "Always a m ista k e to th in k y o u r s e l f
l a r g e r th an you are."H ^ M oreover, A t t l e e l i k e d b e in g a s s o
c i a t e d w ith th e common man. A t t l e e f e l t " th e p u rp o se o f a
Labour Prime M i n i s t e r was to work f o r th e common man . . .
i r r e s p e c t i v e o f c l a s s and income. " H 6 His t e x t , The Labour
P a r t y i n P e r s p e c t i v e , a ls o em phasized t h i s p o i n t .
A t t l e e was a ls o w e ll aware he co u ld a f f o r d to be
m odest and keep a cool tem per w ith E rn e s t Bevin on h i s team.
A t t l e e shrew d ly e x p a lin e d :
" I f you have a good dog, d o n 't b a rk y o u r s e l f " i s
a good p r o v e r b , and in E r n e s t Bevin I had an e x c e p
t i o n a l l y good dog. . . . Bevin r e a l i z e d t h i s . . . .
he k e p t in d a i l y to u ch w ith m e .H ?
From an American p o i n t o f view , Edward R. Murrow
o b s e rv e d A t t l e e ' s a c t io n s d u rin g World War I I and th e 1945
e l e c t i o n . Murrow c o n s id e r e d A t t l e e a modest man in appear-^
ance and a c t i o n s , b u t s t i l l a r e v o l u t io n a r y :
Mr. A t t l e e i s s c a r c e l y n o t i c e a b l e . N othing in h is
manner or d r e s s d i s t i n g u i s h e s him from th e th o u sa n d s
o f bank c l e r k s o r u n d e rp a id c i v i l s e r v a n t s who come
i n t o London on morning t r a i n s . E v e ry th in g a b o u t Mr.
A t t l e e seems t o be n e u t r a l , even th e c o lo r o f h i s h a i r .
. . . Mr. A t t l e e i s a m o d e ra te , te m p e r a te , s e l f -
e f f a c i n g l i t t l e man who f o r s i x y e a r s has p r e s i d e d over
th e governm ent t h a t p ro d u ced a g r e a t s o c i a l r e v o l u t i o n
by c o n s e n t, y e t no man e v e r lo o k ed o r a c te d l e s s l i k e
a r e v o l u t i o n a r y o r f a n a t i c th an does Clem ent A t t l e e .
. . . Most o f th e e f f o r t s to w r i t e a p r o f i l e o f Mr.
A t t l e e have f a i l e d . He i s too m odest to t a l k about
h i m s e l f . 118
A t t l e e s k i l l f u l l y u t i l i z e d h i s u n o b tr u s iv e p e r s o n a l i t y and
b la n d ap p ea ra n c e to- i d e n t i f y w ith th e commoner o f B r i t a i n .
A t t l e e a p p e a le d to th e common man. A cco rd in g to
75
th e p o p u l a r i t y p o l l s w h ile he was Prime M i n i s t e r , h i s p e r
s o n a l p o p u l a r i t y was c o n s id e r a b ly g r e a t e r th an t h a t o f h is
p a r t y , H 9 jn o th e r w ords, A t t l e e spoke f o r th e common man
and A t t l e e was proud o f h i s p e o p le n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y o f him
s e l f . He was modest to th e c o re .
Not o n ly was A t t le e m odest, b u t a dom inant t r a i t
was h is re a s o n a b le n e s s o r h i s a b i l i t y to re a so n o u t p r o b
lem s. B efore World War I I , th e Labour N a t io n a l Conference
was about t o approve an agreem ent to be r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l
a c t io n a r i s i n g out o f th e d i f f i c u l t S p a n ish s i t u a t i o n .
Hugh D alto n d e s c r ib e d th e d e le g a te s as w i l d ly e x c i t e d and
w allow ing in s h e e r em otion and v i c a r i o u s v a l o r . A t t l e e
w is e ly dampened t h e i r s p i r i t s w ith th e r e a s o n a b le n e s s o f
h i s appro ach ; he warned th e C onference v e ry p l a i n l y t h a t
th e p o l i c y to which th ey were now abou t to commit them
s e l v e s m ight i n c r e a s e th e r i s k o f a g e n e r a l E uropean war.
I f th e n o n - i n t e r v e n t i o n agreem ent comes to an end,
th e dangers must be fa c e d by e v e ry b o d y , and we must a l l
be p r e p a r e d to tak e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r any d e c is io n we
come t o . W e know th e r e a re r i s k s . I f we demand t h a t
th e Government o f t h i s c o u n try s h o u ld tak e a c t io n to
e n t t h i s agreem ent, we must be p r e p a t e d to fac e any
r i s k s w hich may a t t e n d t h e i r a c t i o n . I w ant t h a t to
be a b s o l u t e l y c l e a r . 120
Edward R. Murrow s a i d in a 1945 b r o a d c a s t t h a t
A t t l e e "manages even in th e co u rse o f a b i t t e r p o l i t i c a l
cam paign, to appear th e r e a s o n a b l e , r e a s o n in g l i t t l e man
who i s j u s t a l i t t l e b i t above th e b a t t l e . "121 The t r u t h
was t h a t A t t l e e h a te d e m o tio n a lism ; he f e l t i t cloud ed
76
c l e a r th in k in g . A t t l e e re g a rd e d th e McCarthy e r a o f th e
f i f t i e s i n America "as a g e n e r a l wave o f anti-Communism,"
f o r e x a m p l e . A t t l e e a d m itte d , "I d o n 't b e li e v e in t h a t
s o r t o f em o tio n al t h i n k i n g b u t i t a f f e c t e d American p o l ic y
v e ry much. I t s t i l l d o e s . "123
A t t l e e ' s r e a s o n in g p r o c e s s seemed l o g i c a l . In d ee d ,
i t h e lp e d him do th e work o f h a l f o f h i s c a b i n e t , b u t n e v e r
a p p ea r t o show any p h y s i c a l s t r a i n . 124 A t t l e e e x p la in e d
t h i s unu su al phenomenon in an in te r v ie w w ith F ra n c is W il
lia m s , a good f r i e n d and b io g r a p h e r :
W illiam s: D i d n 't you f e e l in n e ed o f a r e s t a f t e r the
long h a u l o f th e war?
A t t l e e : I ' d had a b i t o f r e s t a t San F r a n c is c o , you
know, . . . Change o f a i r and scene anyway. I f e l t
q u i t e f i t . I u s u a l l y do.
W illia m s: How do you manage i t ?
A t t l e e : By n o t w o rry in g . C le a r in g o f f e v ery day^s job
b e fo re the end o f th e day. You ta k e a d e c i s i o n and
then have done w ith i t . No good to keep on ask in g
y o u r s e l f i f y o u 'v e done th e r i g h t t h i n g . I t g e ts you
nowhere. . . . You come to a d e c is io n as c a r e f u l l y as
you can and t h a t ' s t h a t . 12 5
A t t l e e ' s re a s o n in g powers have o f te n made him seem
p r o p h e t i c . His book, The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e , p r o
v id e d th e p o l i c y w hich became r e a l i t y when he was e l e c t e d
Prime M i n i s t e r . B efore th e w a r, A t t l e e warned th e Govern
ment o f t e r m in a t in g a c t i o n s a g a i n s t I t a l i a n a g g re s s io n
th ro u g h th e League o f N a tio n s . A t t l e e was p ro v ed r i g h t
when the Government t e r m i n a t e d such a c t i o n , more wars
s t a r t e d up in Spain and on th e C o n t i n e n t . ^26 D uring th e
w ar, A t t le e warned I t a l i a n S o c i a l i s t l e a d e r s n o t to t r u s t
77
the Communists, and a g a in he was p ro v ed r i g h t when the Com-
12 7
m un ists w ould n o t h e lp th e p e r s e c u t e d S o c i a l i s t s . Again,
A t t l e e was on re c o r d f o r hav in g s a i d "Europe m ust f e d e r a t e
o r p e r i s h . "128 j n o t h e r w ords, th e Common M arket was a
n e c e s s i t y . T hus, in a s e n s e , A t t le e was a p r o p h e t due to
h i s r e a s o n in g a b i l i t y , s e n s i t i v i t y , and common s e n s e .
M oreover, A t t l e e re c o g n iz e d th e im p o rtan c e o f an
e f f e c t i v e , re a s o n a b le r h e t o r i c to accompany a re a s o n a b le
man. He s a i d in re g a r d to a l e a d e r in Government:
What one needs in a C a b in e t M i n i s t e r i s d e c is io n
and a s t r o n g sense o f p r i o r i t i e s , a b i l i t y to make up
h i s mind. He must be a b le to s e l e c t and absorb the
n e c e s s a r y amount o f in f o rm a tio n and n o t cumber h i s
mind w ith a whole l o t o f u n n e c e ssa ry s t u f f . . . . He
needs to be a b le to t a l k c l e a r l y in th e House, to o .
Sometimes p e o p le say o f a f e llo w , " H e 's n o t much a t
e x p l a i n i n g a case b u t h e 's a good a d m i n i s t r a t o r . " I
d o n 't s e t much s t o r e by t h a t . I f a man c a n ' t e x p la in
h i m s e l f he h a s n ' t g o t enough c l e a r t h i n k i n g . 129
E x p la n a tio n was one o f A t t l e e ' s key s t r a t e g i e s in d e v e lo p
in g an a u d ien ce to h e a r h i s m essage.
I t i s always i n t e r e s t i n g , i f n o t v a l u a b l e , to stu d y
a g r e a t man’ s sense o f humor. Much can be u n d e rs to o d about
A t t l e e i f we comprehend h i s wry w i t . For i n s t a n c e , in 1936
A t t l e e v i s i t e d Moscow and had lunch w ith M arshal Tukhachev-
s k i o f th e Red Army. A t t l e e s a id :
He e x p la in e d the p o s i t i o n o f th e commissars in th e Army
and t h e i r f u n c tio n in prom oting m o ra le . I c o u ld n o t
r e s i s t p u l l i n g h i s le g by s a y in g , "They are l i k e army
c h a p l a i n s . " Whereupon he i n d i g n a n t l y r e p l i e d t h a t th e
p r i e s t s were the most d e s p is e d p e o p le in th e C z a r i s t
Army. I r e t o r t e d , "I d id n o t mean y o u r p r i e s t s . I
mean men l i k e C rom w ell's c h a p la in s w ith th e r o o t o f th e
m a t t e r i n th e m ."130
78
A t t l e e made a n o th e r p o ig n a n t jo k e c o n c e rn in g the
r h e t o r i c o f a C a b in et m e e tin g . He rem arked s h a r p ly :
To g e t thro u g h th e agenda you must sto p p e o p le
t a l k in g ^ - u n n e c e s s a r y t a l k . . . .And you s h o u l d n 't t a l k
too much y o u r s e l f however good you are a t i t , in my
view . W e u se d to have v e ry good t a l k from W inston in
th e War C a b in e t o f c o u rs e . . . . I remember once he
com plained in O p p o sitio n t h a t a m a t t e r had been broug ht
up s e v e r a l tim es i n C a b in e t and I had to s a y , "I must
rem ind th e R ig h t H onourable G entlem an t h a t a monologue
i s n o t a d e c i s i o n ."131
A t t l e e ' s wry w it a g a in d i s p l a y e d i t s e l f i n n o t so
m ild a comment in a d i s c u s s i o n w i t h American Ambassador
R ob ert W. Bingham in th e f i f t i e s . Bingham was a keen
sp ortsm an and asked w h e th er any o f h is d in n e r g u e s ts ahd
e v e r done any big-gam e s h o o tin g . A t t l e e f e l t t h i s was "not
a l i k e l y r e c r e a t i o n f o r Labour m em bers," b u t r e t o r t e d ,
"Yes."-*-^ Bingham th e n n a t u r a l l y a sk ed what he was s h o o t
in g , and A t t l e e answ ered, "Germans ."133
To d em o nstrate th e k in d o f humor A t t l e e approved,
an example in v o lv in g DeGaulle was in o r d e r . A t t l e e r e
view ed a book o f D e G a u lle 's a f t e r th e war and c a l l e d him a
v e ry good s o l d i e r and a very bad p o l i t i c i a n . DeGaulle r e
sponded, "I have come to th e c o n c lu s io n t h a t p o l i t i c s are
to o s e r i o u s a m a tte r to be l e f t to th e p o l i t i c i a n s ."134
A t t l e e b e l i e v e d t h i s rem ark was a good j e s t on h i s p a r t and
showed a n ic e w i t . l 3^ P erh ap s A t t l e e approved th e s t a t e
ment f o r a n o th e r re a so n . A t t l e e , t o o , was an u n u su a l man
in p o l i t i c s . He would have been a good te a c h e r o r s o c i a l
79
w orker, and p ro b a b ly a f a i r la w y e r, o r a r a t h e r p oor p o e t.
As a p o l i t i c i a n , how ever, he was u n iq u e. He was one o f a
k in d . His k in d o f p o l i t i c s must be u n d e rsto o d in i t s own
l i g h t fo r in h i s own way he was v e ry e f f e c t i v e and very
p e r s u a s i v e .
Some c r i t i c s have com plained t h a t A t t l e e ' s most
obvious f a u l t was t h a t he was u n i n s p i r i n g . Hugh D alto n
gauged th e a t t i t u d e o f m ost o f th e m i n i s t e r s o f P a r lia m e n t;
he s a i d , " A t t l e e , m ost o f o u r M .P.s th o u g h t [in 1939], had
done n o th in g wrong, though he i n s p i r e d l i t t l e e n t h u s i
a s m . " - ^ H a ro ld L ask i c a l l e d A t t l e e "a com petent i f u n in -
1 7 7
s p i r e d p r e m i e r . " In 1948, S t a f f o r d C ripps s u g g e s te d
t h a t E rn e st Bevin r e p l a c e A t t l e e because "th e one e s s e n t i a l
th in g was t h a t t h e r e s h o u ld be a Prime M i n i s t e r who sh o u ld
i n s p i r e th e c o u n t r y . " I 3®
However, A t t l e e was i n s p i r i n g in a unique way. He
was n o t i n s p i r i n g i n th e u s u a l sen se o f a ro u s in g e m o tio n s,
but a f t e r a l l he d is a p p r o v e d o f such em otio nal f e r v o r as a
motive to a c t i o n . l 3^ gu t he ^ id i n s p i r e rea so n and r a
t i o n a l i t y , and a se n se o f s t a b i l i t y f o r th e p o o r and common
man, and a sen se o f u n i t y in h is p a r t y , th e House, and the
n a ti o n . He a ls o i n s p i r e d compromise when n e c e s s a ry in th e
Labour p a r t y and i n th e Government b o th n a t i o n a l l y and i n -
t e r n a t i o n a l l y . A g a in , he i n s p i r e d e f f i c i e n c y ev ery w h ere.
To sum up, h is word i n s p i r e d c o n fid en ce because th e p e o p le
could b e lie v e i n him. F o r i n s t a n c e . C r ip p s ' own judgment
80
o f A t t l e e ' s p la c e i n p o p u la r esteem a l t e r e d a good d e a l by
1950. On Ja n u a ry 20, 1950, C ripps w rote to A t t l e e :
I am very w o r r ie d about the b r o a d c a s t in g a r r a n g e
m ents t h a t have been announced and though i t i s n o th in g
to do w ith me I do n o t t h i n k i t would be r i g h t f o r me
to n e g l e c t e x p r e s s in g my view. My main o b j e c t i o n i s to
th e w in d -u p , w hich I t h in k you s h o u ld do, n o t H e rb e rt
[M orrison] . . . H e rb e rt has n o th in g l i k e th e same i n
f lu e n c e as you have . . . People w i l l n o t pay a t t e n t i o n
to h i s answer to W inston as they w i l l to y o u r s . 140
A t t l e e ' s w o rd s, b r i e f though they w ere, meant som ething to
th e p e o p le .
In e s s e n c e , what manner o f man was A t t l e e ? He was
a g r e a t l e a d e r o f r e v o l u t i o n by c o n sen t in G re at B r i t a i n in
th e t w e n t i e t h c e n tu r y . He was a r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r demo
c r a t i c s o c i a l i s m f i r s t and fo re m o st. A t t l e e ' s o u ts ta n d in g
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s employed to achieve a s o c i a l i s t common
w e a lth were v a r i e d . He was a u n i f i e r and a com prom iser.
He p o s s e s s e d a cool tem per and sense o f m odesty. He was
a man o f th e common p e o p le . A t t le e was r e a s o n a b le and con
s e q u e n tly on o c c a sio n p r o p h e t i c . He was a ls o w i t t y and
u n iq u e ly i n s p i r i n g . Perhaps every t a l e n t he p o s s e s s e d was
tem pered by h is r a t i o n a l i t y , however. He was n o t im p u lsiv e,
n o r was he a w o r r i e r once a d e c is io n was made. His r e a s o n
in g powers seemed to c a r r y him throug h e v e ry c r i s i s .
A t t l e e as S o c i a l i s t
Burke s u g g e s te d , when stu d y in g the a g e n t, t h a t the
s t u d e n t s h o u ld be p a r t i c u l a r l y aware o f h i s i d e a s , i d e a l s ,
81
sense of j u s t i c e , se n se o f r e a l i t y , and e p i s t e m o l o g y . 141
To some e x t e n t , th e s e ele m e n ts were an aly ze d e a r l i e r in
t h i s c h a p te r. However, th e p u rp o se h e re i s to stu d y more
f u l l y th e se a s p e c ts w ith r e s p e c t to A t t l e e ' s prim ary con
cern o f d e m o c ratic s o c i a l is m . F u rth e rm o re , t h i s d is c u s s io n
d i r e c t l y r e l a t e s to th e main theme o f th e fo u r r h e t o r i c a l
s e l e c t i o n s f o r the p r e s e n t a n a l y s i s .
A t t l e e was o f t e n "known as a m id d l e - o f - th e - r o a d
m an,"142 because o f h i s g i f t f o r compromising and u n if y in g
v a rio u s p a r t y fa c tio n s . However, a t l e a s t two a u t h o r i t i e s
i n d i c a t e d t h a t A t t l e e ' s s o c i a l i s t i c p h ilo so p h y was more to
th e l e f t o f th e m id d le . In o t h e r w ords, A t t l e e was more o f
a r e v o l u t i o n a r y th an h i s p e r s o n a l i t y allow ed to s u r f a c e .
A t t l e e le a n e d more t o th e L e f t. He looked w ith
g r e a t e r fa v o r on the a c t i v i t i e s o f such b o d ie s as th e L e ft
Book Club and was p e rs u a d e d to c o n tr i b u te a volume o f h i s
own to the l i s t . In The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e , one
o f h i s s e n te n c e s was much q u o te d a t the tim e as an i l l u s
t r a t i o n o f how the le a d e r s h ip was co m p lete ly f a i l i n g to
r e f l e c t the im p a tie n c e o f th e r a n k - a n d - f i l e : "I would n o t
m y s e lf ," he w ro te , " r u l e o u t such a th in g [a move tow ards a
P o p u la r F ro n t] as an i m p o s s i b i l i t y i n the e v e n t of the im
minence of a w o rld c r i s i s ."1 4 3 Anthony Eden, w r i t i n g i n
h i s M em oirs, a g re ed w ith t h i s a n a l y s i s o f A t t l e e , and
added:
82
I have always th o u g h t A t t l e e ’s o p in io n s to th e l e f t
o f th o s e commonly a t t r i b u t e d to him. He has s u g g e s te d
t h a t a Prime M i n i s t e r sh o u ld be l e f t o f c e n tr e , q u o tin g
S ta n le y B a ld w in 's dictum . But I th in k he h a s m is u n d e r
s to o d t h a t s t a te s m a n 's meaning. Baldwin had i n mind
t h a t a C o n s e rv a tiv e Prime M i n i s t e r sh o u ld be l e f t o f
c e n t r e . Thus p l a c e d , he co uld in f lu e n c e th e f l o a t i n g
v o te to h i s l e f t . By the same to k e n , B alew in w ould, I
t h i n k , have p la c e d a S o c i a l i s t Prime M i n i s t e r r i g h t o f
c e n t r e .
However l e f t A t t l e e was,, he c e r t a i n l y was n o t a
M a r x is t. In B r i t a i n , s o c i a l is m and Marxism were o b v io u s ly
n o t one, c e r t a i n l y n o t communism. Numerous a d d re s s e s by
A t t l e e , p a r t i c u l a r l y h i s speech to Congress i n 1945, i l l u s
t r a t e d th e d i v i s i o n betw een communism and d e m o c ra tic s o
c i a l i s m .
F r a n c i s W illia m s , a le a d in g Labour P a r t y p u b l i c i s t ,
em phasized th e d i f f e r e n c e s between d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m in
B r i t a i n and M a rx is t s o c i a l is m from the c o n t i n e n t . Doc
t r i n a i r e s o c i a l i s m o f t e n opposed th e c h u rc h e s , w hereas
B r i t i s h s o c i a l i s m had a s tro n g r e l i g i o u s b a s e . T h e o r e t i c a l
s o c i a l i s m u s u a l l y was r e p u b lic a n in o u tlo o k , w hereas B r i t
is h s o c i a l i s m s u p p o r te d a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l m onarchy. M a rx is t
s o c i a l i s m s o u g h t s t a t e c o n tro l o f a l l i n d u s t r i e s , w hereas
B r i t i s h s o c i a l i s m a d v o ca te d a m ix tu re o f n a t i o n a l i z e d b a s i c
i n d u s t r i e s and p r i v a t e l y owned and o p e ra te d companies w ork
ing t o g e t h e r f o r th e same s o c i a l p u rp o se . L e f t wing move
ments became i n c r e a s i n g l y a u t h o r i t a r i a n , w hereas B r i t i s h
s o c i a l i s t p h ilo s o p h y d e riv e d most o f i t s s t r e n g t h from i t s
d e m o c ra tic n a t u r e . In f a c t , i f th e B r i t i s h had to choose
83
betw een s o c i a l is m and democracy: democracy would p ro b a b ly
w in. However, i t was th e t a s k o f Labour l e a d e r s , in c lu d in g
A t t l e e , to see t h a t th ey were n o t o f f e r e d t h i s c h o i c e . 145
C h r i s t i a n in f lu e n c e on B r i t i s h s o c i a l is m was marked.
A ccording to A t t l e e , i t must be g iven "th e f i r s t p la c e in
th e in f lu e n c e s t h a t b u i l t up th e s o c i a l i s t movement."146
A t t l e e e x p la in e d th e e f f e c t o f C h r i s t i a n i t y on F abian So
c i a l i s t s l i k e h im s e lf :
England in th e N in e te e n th C en tury was s t i l l a
n a t i o n o f B ib le r e a d e r s . To p u t th e B ib le i n t o the
hands o f an Englishm an i s to do a v ery dangerous t h i n g .
He w i l l f i n d t h e r e m a t e r i a l w hich may send him out as
a p r e a c h e r of some r e l i g i o u s , s o c i a l o r economic d o c
t r i n e . I t h in k t h a t th e m a j o r it y o f th o se who have
b u i l t up th e S o c i a l i s t movement in t h i s c o u n try have
been a d h e re n ts o f th e C h r i s t i a n r e l i g i o n - - a n d n o t
m erely a d h e re n ts b u t e n t h u s i a s t i c members o f some r e
l i g i o u s b o d y .147
C h r i s t i a n in f lu e n c e on A t t l e e a ls o marked h i s p e a c e f u l
means o f a c h ie v in g d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m .
Clement A t t l e e was an u n u su a l l e a d e r o f a r e v o l u
t i o n o f s o c i a l is m in G re a t B r i t a i n . N a t u r a l l y , A t t l e e ’ s
unassum ing p e r s o n a l i t y , as d is c u s s e d i n an e a r l i e r s e c t i o n ,
made him seem "one o f th e most u n l i k e l y le a d e r s o f a r e v o
l u t i o n - -even a b lo o d le s s o n e . " ^ ® B e a tr ic e Webb f e l t t h a t
A t t l e e , as a l e a d e r o f s o c i a l i s m , la c k e d th e r e v o l u t i o n a r y
s p i r i t because he was f a r to o w e ll o f f . 149 However, F a
b ia n is m drew much s u p p o rt from m iddle and u pper c la s s i n
t e l l e c t u a l s such as B ernard Shaw who found s o c i a l is m q u i te
co m p atib le w ith t h e i r u p b r in g in g . A t t l e e was a re a s o n a b le
84
ste a d y a c h ie v e r f o r s o c i a l is m . He had keen i n s i g h t and
aw areness o f B r i t a i n ’ s economic and s o c i a l problem s and
p o s s i b l e s o l u t i o n s to th o se p ro blem s. He may have been
w e ll o f f e c o n o m ic a lly , b u t he a c t u a l l y l i v e d w ith th e p o o r
in th e e a s t end o f London and d e d ic a te d h i s l i f e to the
p o o r o r common man. W illiam s summed up, A t t l e e was "th e
c h i e f a d m i n i s t r a t o r o f th e B r i t i s h R e v o lu tio n . His p e r s o n
a l i t y and a t t i t u d e o f mind a re i n d e l i b l y stam ped upon
i t . ” 150
A t t l e e o u t l i n e d th e p r e c e p t s and p r i n c i p l e s o f s o
c i a l i s m in a l o g i c a l , le g a l-m in d e d manner. However, he was
more o f a p o l i c y maker th an a s o c i a l i s t t h e o r i s t i n a
s t r i c t s e n s e . A t t l e e f ir m ly s t r e s s e d t h a t th e Labour p a r t y
was a p a r t y o f a l l c l a s s e s in b o th h is 1945 e l e c t i o n
b r o a d c a s t and h i s a d d re ss to the U n ite d S t a t e s Congress
t h a t same y e a r . A t t l e e m a in ta in e d t h a t a p a r t y o f a l l
c l a s s e s p r o v id e d p a r t o f i t s v a lu e and a p p e a l as a p o l i t i
c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n .
As an i d e a l i s t , A t t l e e ' s v i s i o n f o r Labour was
c l e a r , p r e c i s e , and o r d e r l y . He w anted a s o c i a l i s t common
w e a lth . He was c o m p le te ly convinced o f two s o c i a l i s t b e
l i e f s . One was th e e t h i c a l and economic c o r r e c t n e s s o f th e
s o c i a l i s t case i n B r i t a i n ; he b e li e v e d t h a t E ngland would
e x p e rie n c e new p r o s p e r i t y which a l l would s h a re . S eco n d ly ,
A t t l e e b e l i e v e d t h a t s o c i a l is m j u s t i f i e d i t s e l f o n ly by
u p h o ld in g a b s o l u te moral v a lu e s . In o t h e r w o rd s, th e
85
freedoms o f p e o p le s must n o t be d e s tr o y e d f o r s o c ia lis m .
Both o f th e se p o in ts were e x p r e s s e d in th e sp eeches s e
l e c t e d f o r th e p r e s e n t s tu d y .
M oreover, G. D. H. C o le , one o f th e i n f l u e n t i a l
f i g u r e s in A t t l e e ’ s l i f e , m a in ta in e d t h a t the e sse n ce o f
s o c i a l democracy was sym pathy, t h e f e e l i n g o f warm r e g a rd
f o r r e a l l i v i n g p e o p l e . 151 A t t l e e developed t h i s f e e l in g
e a r l y in h is l i f e in E a s t London. He d e m o n stra te d sympa
thy and warm re g a r d f o r p e o p le t h e rem ain d er o f h is l i f e .
F i n a l l y , A t t l e e ' s c o n c e p t o f the r e v o l u t io n of
d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m in c lu d e d d i s c u s s i o n , v o t e - g e t t i n g , and
p a r lia m e n ta r ia n is m , r a t h e r th a n t e r r o r i s m , v i o le n c e , and
bloody w a rfa re . A t t l e e was b a s i c a l l y a p e a c e - lo v in g man,
w hich h i s speech to the U n ite d N a tio n s c l e a r l y showed.
These means o f p e r s u a s io n , as opposed to v i o l e n t means,
c o n s t i t u t e d the a rs e n a l o f th e d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s t such as
A t t l e e . Each o f th e s e l e c t i o n s chosen f o r th e p r e s e n t
s tu d y , i l l u s t r a t e d a p e a c e f u l means o f p e r s u a s io n in o rd e r
to a c t u a t e p r i n i c p l e s o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m .
Not only was A t t l e e a s o c i a l i s t i n t h e o r y , he a lso
l i v e d i t s p r e c e p ts in th e v a r io u s r o l e s he p la y e d th ro u g h
o u t h i s l i f e t i m e . He was a s o c i a l w orker and an amateur
p s y c h o l o g is t in h is e a r l y y e a r s i n E a s t London. As an
a u th o r , he th o ro u g h ly depended upon h i s e x p e rie n c e s i n E a s t
London. At Ruskin C olleg e and th e London School o f Eco-
n o m ic s. he was a te a c h e r and an e c o n o m ist. He p la v e d the
86
v i t a l r o l e o f an a c t i v e p o l i t i c i a n most o f h i s l i f e , from
1919 t o 1955. His book, The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e ,
r e v e a le d him as t h e o r i s t , h i s t o r i a n , and advocate o f demo
c r a t i c s o c i a l is m . His r o l e s as P a r ty L ead er, Deputy Prime
M i n i s t e r , and Prime M i n i s t e r showed h i s s k i l l s as an e x e c u
t i v e . A t t l e e p la y e d th e s e v a rio u s r o l e s c o n s e c u tiv e ly and
c o n ju n c tiv e ly th ro u g h o u t h i s l i f e t i m e . He was the fo rem o st
spokesman f o r d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m o f h i s age.
87
F o o tn o te s
iRoy J e n k i n s , Mr. A t t l e e , p. 1.
Clement A t t l e e , As I t Happened, pp. 7, 13; C y r il
Clem ens, The Man from Limehouse: Clement R ic h a rd A t t le e
(W ebster G roves, M iss o u ri: I n t e r n a t i o n a l Mark Twain S o c i
e t y , 1 946 ), p. 2.
^ A t t l e e , As I t Happened, p. 7.
^ I b i d . , p . 6.
5I b i d .
6 I b i d . , pp. 150-152.
^ I b i d . , p . 9.
® I b i d ., p . 222 .
9I b i d . , p. 22.
10J e n k i n s , op. c i t ., p . 14.
^ A t t l e e , op. c i t . , p . 221.
l^ c ie m e n s , op. c i t . , p . 5.
^ ^ A tt l e e , op. c i t . , pp. 26-27.
l^ c ie m e n s , op. c i t ., p.. 7.
l ^ A t t l e e , op. c i t .
, p . 29 .
16I b i d . , pp. 31-32
•^Clem ens, 0p . c i t . , p . 8.
l ^ A t t l e e , op. c i t . , p . 39 .
19I b i d . , p . 41.
^ I b i d . , p p . 39-40 •
2^-Ibid. , p . 43.
^ ^ i b i d . , p p . 44-46 •
88
23Hugh D a lto n , Memoirs; C a ll Back Y e ste rd a y , 1887-
1931 (London: F r e d e r ic k M u lle r , L t d . , 1953), p . 71.
2 4 je n k in s , op. c i t . , p. 37.
23G. D. H. C o le, A H is to r y o f the Labour P a rty from
1914 (London: R outled g e $ Kegan P a u l, L t d ., 1948), pp. 4"66-
4T8T
26Attlee c ited by Clemens, The Man from Limehouse,
pp. 11-12.
^ A t t l e e , As I t H appened, p. 56.
2 8I b i d .
29A t t le e c i t e d by J e n k i n s , Mr. A t t l e e , p. 73.
■ ^ Je n k in s, Mr. A t t l e e , p. 73.
• ^ A t t l e e , As I t H appened, pp . 66-75.
32I b i d . , p . 75.
33Clement A t t l e e , The S o c ia l Worker (London: G. B e ll
and Sons, L t d . , 1920).
■ ^ A ttle e , As I t H appened, p. 77.
55I b i d . , p . 78.
3^Joe Ja co b s c i t e d by Clemens, The Man from Limehouse,
p. 17.
3? J e n k in s , o p . c i t . , p . 102.
3^ A ttle e , As I t H appened, pp. 79-80.
39I b i d . , p . 81.
40I b id .
41I b i d . , p. 87.
42I b i d . , pp. 83-84.
43Lord Wedgewood, Memoirs o f a F ig h tin g L ife c i t e d by
A t t l e e , As I t H appened, p"l 236.
44The S t a r , J a n u a ry 24, 1924, c i t e d by A t t l e e , As I t
Happened,^ 115.
^ ^ A t t l e e , As I t Happened, p . 108.
4 6 ib id . , p . H 2 .
4?M argaret C ole, B e a tric e Webb ( N e w York: H a rc o u rt,
Brace and C o ., 19 46), p . 212.
^ Evening S ta n d a r d , 1933, c i t e d by J e n k i n s , Mr.
A t t l e e , p. 152 .
49I b id .
5®George Lansbury c i t e d by Raymond P o s t g a t e , The
L if e o f George Lansbury (London: Longmans, G reen, and Co. ,
1951) , p. 279.
S l l b i d . , p p . 1 6 4 - 1 6 5 .
52A t t l e e , As I t Happened, p . 116.
c 7.
George L ansbury, c i t e d by J e n k i n s , Mr. A t t l e e ,
p. 163.
^ H a r o l d L a s k i, The Dilemma o f Our Times (L ei-
c a s t e r : B l a c k f r i a r s P r e s s , L t d . , 1952) , pp. 93-94.
S ^D alto n, The F a t e f u l Y e a r s , p. 82.
56I b i d .
^ A t t l e e , The Labour P a r ty i n P e rs p e c tiv e -- T w e lv e
Y ears L a t e r , Foreword.
5 8 je n k in s , o p . c i t . , p. 188.
59A ttlee, op. c i t .
^ A t t l e e , c i t e d by J e n k i n s , Mr. A t t l e e , p. 173.
^ C le m e n s , o p . c i t . , p. 32.
62xhe Times (London), November 11, 1937.
63Lady O x fo rd 's l e t t e r c i t e d by J e n k i n s , Mr. A t t
l e e .
^ A t t l e e , As I t Happened, pp. 145-146.
65I b i d . , p p . 149-155.
90
^ C le m e n t A t t l e e , The T w ilig h t o f Empire; Memoirs
o f Prime M i n i s t e r Clem ent A t t l e e , ed. F r a n c is W illiam s
(New York: A. F. Barnes and C o ., 1962), p. 16.
6 ? A t tl e e , As I t H appened, p. 158.
68I b i d . , p. 160.
^ Ibid. f p. 161.
70a London D ia ry , August 4, 1945, c i t e d by J e n k i n s ,
Mr. A t t l e e , p . 230.
7^-A ttlee, As I t H appened, p. 174.
72churchill cite d by J e n k i n s , Mr. A t t l e e , pp. 231-
232 .
^ A t t l e e , As I t H appened, pp. 189-193.
^ ^D alto n , The F a t e f u l y e a r s , p. 433.
78A ttle e , As It Happened, pp. 189-193.
76Attlee, Twilight o f Empire, pp. 64-68.
^^Murrow, In S earch o f L ig h t, 1958-1961, p . 101.
78A ttlee, Twilight o f Empire, p. 71.
7^Truman c ite d by A ttle e , Twilight o f Empire, p. 70.
80Murrow, op. c i t . , p. 74.
81-Attlee, As It Happened, pp. 228-229.
82A ttlee, Twlight o f E m pire, pp. 202-219.
83churchill c ite d by G. Williams and C. R oetter, The
Wit o f Winston Churchill (London: Max Parrish and C o .,
L t d . , 1954) , p . 47.
^ A t t l e e , As I t H appened, pp. 228-291.
85lb id . , pp. 273-275.
86l b i d . , pp. 289-294.
87Anthony Eden, F u l l C i r c l e : The Memoirs o f An-
thony Eden (B oston: Houghton M i f f l i n C o ., 1960), pp . J55-
35FT
91
88Anthony H i l l b r u n e r , "A Stop on A t t l e e ' s F arew ell
T o u r ," W estern Sp eech, XXV, No. 3 (Summer, 1961), 184-186.
8 9 i b i d . , p . 186.
90l b i d . , p p . 184-186.
91I b id .
92Burke, A Grammar o f M o t i v e s , p . 171.
93Emanuel S h in w e ll, The Labour S to ry (London:
MacDonald and C o., 1963), p. 210.
9 4 E rn est B evin, The B alance S h eet o f th e F uture
CNew York: R. M. McBride and C o ., 19 4 1 ), p . 281.
95D alton, The F a t e f u l Y e a r s , p . 367.
96I b i d . , p . 474.
9 ^ A ttle e , As I t H appened, p . 300.
9 8i b i d . , p. 229.
99Laski, The Dilemma of Our Times, p. 249.
lOOLord Winterton, Orders o f the Day, cited by
Dalton, The Fateful Years, p. 467.
lO lAttlee cited by Eugene Meehan, The B ritish Left
Wing and Foreign Policy: A Study o f the Influence of
Ideology (New Brunswick, N .J.: Rutgers University Press,
I960) , p. 102.
102Dalton, The Fateful Years, p. 99.
103Aneurin Bevan, In Place of Fear (New York: Simon
and Schuster, I n c ., 1952) , p . 179.
194Attlee, As It Happened, p. 112.
105narold Laski, R eflections on the C onstitution,
The House of Commons, The Cabinet and The C iv il Service'
(New York: The V iking P r e s s , In c . , 1951), p . Z 5~.
106Attlee, Twilight of Empire, p. 150.
lO^Winston Churchill, The Gathering Storm (Boston:
Houghton M ifflin , 19 48), pp. 294-296.
92
l ^ A t t l e e c i t e d by D a lto n , The F a t e f u l Y e ars, p . 185.
lO ^ D alto n , The F a t e f u l Y ears.
H 9A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f Em pire, p . 7.
H l E d e n , F u l l C i r c l e , p . 356.
H 2C h u r c h i l l c i t e d by M ichael F o o te , A neurin
A B io grap hy, V ol. I: 1897-1945 (London: MacGibbon
Kee, 1962) , p . 49 7.
Bevan,
and
H 3Bevan c i t e d in F o t t e , A neurin Bevan, p. 497.
H ^ A t t l e e , As I t Happened, p. 201.
'
H ^ A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f E m pire, p. 50.
116I b i d . , p . 150.
^ A t t l e e , As I t Happened, p . 237.
H ^M urrow , op. c i t . , pp. 199-200.
H 9 I b i d .
1 2 0 A ttle e , R e p o rt o f the T h i r t y - F i f t h Annual Con-
fe re n c e o f th e Labour P a r ty (London: T ra n s p o rt Hous
e ,
Smith S q u are, 1 9 3 6 ), p p . 105-130.
12lMurrow, op. c i t . , p . 200.
1 2 2 A ttle e , T w ilig h t o f Em pire, p . 237.
12 3 ib id .
12 4Murrow, op. c i t .
1 2 5 A ttle e , T w ilig h t of Em pire, pp. 79-80.
l 26A t t l e e , As I t Happened, p . 124.
l 27I b i d . , p p . 180-181.
1 2 8 j b i d . , p . 242 .
l 29A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f Em pire, pp. 82-83.
l 30A t t l e e , As I t Happened, p . 130.
l 31A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f E m p ire, pp. 81-82.
1 3 2 A ttle e , As I t H appened, p . 112.
IS^Ibid.
134c h a r l e s de G aulle c i t e d by A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f
E m p ire . p. 56.
l 35A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f E m p ire, p . 56.
136pa i-ton, The F a t e f u l Y e a r s , p. 201.
l ^ L a s k i f op. c i t ., p p . 93-94.
•* -38S t a f f o r d C ripps c i t e d in A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f
E m p ire . p. 224.
1 3 9 A ttle e , T w ilig h t o f E m p ire, p. 237.
l ^ S t a f f o r d C ripps r e p r i n t o f l e t t e r a d d re ss e d to
A t t l e e d a te d Ja n u a ry 20, 1950; from A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f
E m p ire , p. 225.
l^ lB u r k e , A Grammar o f M o tiv e s , pp. 172-226.
l ^ R e n e Kraus , The Men Around C h u r c h ill ( P h i l a d e l
p h i a , P en n .: J . B. L i p p i n c o t t C o ., 1941), p JL73.
l ^ A t t l e e , The Labour P a r t y in P e r s p e c t i v e , p . 124.
o p . c i t . , p. 356.
14 5 F ran cis W illia m s , S o c i a l i s t B r i t a i n (New York:
V ik in g P r e s s , 1949), pp. 190-212, 252-253.
1 4 6 A ttle e c i t e d i n W illia m s , S o c i a l i s t B r i t a i n .
1 4 7 A ttle e , The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e , p . 27.
148W illi ams, S o c i a l i s t B r i t a i n , p . 42.
Webb, D i a r i e s , 1924-1952 (London: Long
mans, G reen, 1956) p . 240.
ISOwilliams, op. cit., p. 54.
151g . D. H. C ole, op. c i t .
CHAPTER I I I
CLEMENT ATTLEE'S PRAGMATIC ADAPTATION TO THE
CONSTRAINTS OF THE RHETORICAL SCENE
P o l i t i c a l p e r s u a s io n cannot e x i s t as an i s o l a t e d
s ta te m e n t in tim e and sp a c e . I t i s a s o c i a l message w hich
i n t e r a c t s w ith i t s p s y c h o lo g ic a l and p h y s ic a l e n v iro n m en t.
For t h i s re a so n i t i s in d is p e n s a b l e t h a t th e h i s t o r i c a l o c
c a sio n s o f A t t l e e ' s p r e s e n t a t i o n o f the works s e l e c t e d f o r
stu d y sh o u ld be exam ined c a r e f u l l y . The focus o f t h i s e x
a m in atio n w i l l be th e r h e t o r i c a l problem s fac ed by A t t l e e
in each i n s t a n c e , the o b s t a c l e s he fac ed in b e in g p e r s u a
s iv e w ith g iv en a u d ie n c e s . Men, id e a s , i s s u e s a t th e tim e ,
and any o t h e r f a c t o r s which may have caused d i r e c t o r i n d i
r e c t a d a p ta tio n s i n A t t l e e ' s advocacy w i l l be c o n s id e r e d .
A d e s c r i p t i o n o f th e a u d ie n ce s to whom A t t l e e a p p ea le d w i l l
a ls o be in c lu d e d .
The f o llo w in g scenes a re d is c u s s e d i n c h r o n o lo g ic a l
o rd e r: th e 1937 p r e lu d e to World War I I ; th e 1945 B r i t i s h
g e n e ra l e l e c t i o n ; th e American scene and th e U n ited S t a t e s
Congress in November, 1945; and the U n ited N a tio n s G en eral
Assembly in London in J a n u a r y , 1946.
94
95
P re lu d e to World War I I
A t t l e e ' s g e n e r a l audience in 1937 was marked by u n
e a s i n e s s c o n c e rn in g the a p p a re n t la c k o f d i r e c t i o n in
C h a m b e rla in 's p o l i c i e s , b u t a ls o optim ism over th e economic
re c o v e ry which fo llo w ed th e slump o f th e e a r l y t h i r t i e s .
Clem ent A t t le e 's , t e x t , The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c
t i v e , f a c e d a m u l t i - f a c e t e d r h e t o r i c a l problem :
1. To d em o n strate A t t l e e ' s a u t h o r i t a t i v e p o s i t i o n
in s u g g e s t i n g Labour p o l i c i e s d e s p i te h i s tenuous l e a d e r
s h ip o f a m in o r ity p a r t y
2. To r e c o n c i l e d i f f e r e n c e s among Labour p a r t y
members o v e r armaments and p a c if is m
3. To i n d i c a t e w i l l i n g n e s s to compromise p r i v a t e
b e l i e f s in o r d e r to e x p re ss th e m a j o r ity o f Labour o p in io n
4. To meet the need o f c l a r i f y i n g g e n e r a l Labour
p o l i c y i n 1937
5. To g a in a t t e n t i o n from an a u d ien ce w ith o p t i
m i s t i c a t t i t u d e s
F i r s t , A t t l e e ' s p o s i t i o n o f l e a d e r s h i p was c o n s id
e r e d tenuo us from th e b e g in n in g o f h i s r e i g n . George L ans
b u ry , A t t l e e ' s p r e d e c e s s o r , su p p o rte d t o t a l n o n - r e s i s t a n c e
to th e im pending war; th e u n p o p u la r ity o f h i s s ta n d l e d him
to r e s i g n as Labour P a rlia m e n ta ry l e a d e r in O c to b e r, 1935.
A t t l e e , who h a te d w ar, b e l i e v e d t h a t n o n - r e s i s t a n c e was an
i r r e s p o n s i b l e p o l i c y , and was e l e c t e d in p l a c e o f L ansbury.
96
A t t l e e slo w ly g a in e d more and more c o n fid e n c e from h i s c o l
lea g u es th ro u g h s e v e r a l y e a r s o f d i l i g e n t and d e v o ted s e r
v ic e to th e Labour p a r l i a m e n ta r y p a r t y . L a b o u rite s who had
been in P a rlia m e n t s in c e th e d i f f i c u l t days o f 1931 had
come to a p p r e c i a te A t t l e e ' s q u a l i t i e s o f l e a d e r s h i p . "They
knew h is i n t e g r i t y , h i s q u i e t s t r e n g t h , h i s a b i l i t y to h o ld
t o g e t h e r th e v a ry in g groups w ith in the P a r t y , and they
v o te d alm ost s o l i d l y f o r h im ."^
However, in th e f o u r y e a rs b e fo re th e o u tb re a k o f
the w ar, th e Labour p a r t y was doomed to g e n e ra l f r u s t r a t i o n
and d i s u n i t y . The g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n s o f 1931 and 1935 k e p t
Labour in th e m in o r ity . Some wondered i f th e d e f e a t a t the
p o l l s s i g n a l e d th e b e g in n in g o f a t o t a l e c l i p s e o f th e La
bour p a r t y . As a m in o r ity p a r t y , A t t l e e and h is f o llo w e r s
co u ld make l i t t l e im pact on th e C o n se rv a tiv e p o l i c y . The
m assive and q u i e s c e n t C o n s e rv a tiv e m a jo r ity l i n e d up f i r s t
b e h in d B aldw in, and th e n b e h in d C ham berlain, as they ap
p e a se d th e d i c t a t o r s .
At L a b o u r's a n n u al c o n fe re n c e s , A t t l e e p ro c la im e d
the e v i l n a tu r e o f n a z ism , and th e shame and p e r i l o f a p
peasem en t. But L ab o u r’ s f o r c e s were too sm all to d i v e r t
O
C o n se rv a tiv e p o l i c y .
M oreover, H e rb e r t M o rriso n , H aro ld L a s k i , and E lle n
* 7
W ilkinson made r e p e a t e d e f f o r t s to r e p la c e A t t l e e . But in
1936, A t t l e e ran a g a i n s t H e r b e r t M o rriso n and A rth u r Green-
wood f o r the p a r t y l e a d e r s h i p . A t t l e e was r e - e l e c t e d ,______
97
w hich f u r t h e r cemented h i s le a d e r s h ip o f Labour. A. J . P.
T a y lo r concluded:
When he [Greenwood] came t h i r d , most o f h i s v o te s were
t r a n s f e r r e d to A t t l e e . A t t l e e ’ s e l e c t i o n ws a v i c t o r y
f o r th e m oderate L e f t and, o f c o u r s e , f o r th e o ld -
s t a g e r s who had been in th e 1931-5 p a r l i a m e n t . M o r r i
s o n ’s d e f e a t l o s t him f o r e v e r th e chance o f becoming
prim e m i n i s t e r . Though an a b l e r a d m i n i s t r a t o r than
A t t l e e , he la c k e d A t t l e e ' s g i f t f o r k e e p in g th e p a r t y
t o g e t h e r . . . .4
In The Labour P a rty in P e r s p e c t i v e , A t t l e e spoke
a u t h o r i t a t i v e l y and c l a r i f i e d L a b o u r's p a s t and p r e s e n t
p o l i c y . D e sp ite th e tenuous n a tu r e o f h i s l e a d e r s h i p , he
spoke w ith th e w e ig h t o f th e le a d in g v o ic e in th e Labour
f o r c e s in 1937. The i n s t a b i l i t y o f h i s l e a d e r s h i p d id n o t
a l t e r h i s b o ld s ta te m e n t of th e Labour p o s i t i o n as he saw
i t .
A t t l e e u t i l i z e d s e v e r a l d e v ic e s in h i s t e x t i n o r
d e r to improve h i s e th o s . D e s p ite the f a c t t h a t t h i s work
was n o t an a u to b io g ra p h y , he managed t o in c lu d e many p e r
s o n a l d e t a i l s such as h is r e j e c t i o n o f the C o n s e rv a tiv e
p h ilo s o p h y in h i s home, h is e d u c a tio n a t O xford, h i s l i v i n g
w ith th e p o o r in E a s t London, h i s s e r v i c e in th e p r e v io u s
w ar, some s t r i k i n g examples o f h i s s t r u g g l e s as Mayor o f
S te p n e y , h i s d e v o tio n to Lansbury and h i s d e n i a l o f MacDon
a l d ' s t a c t i c s , and f i n a l l y , h i s s e r v i c e t o Labour in P a r
l ia m e n t. E s s e n t i a l l y , A t t l e e d e s c r i b e d h i m s e l f as a s te a d y
a c h i e v e r f o r Labour, a modest b u t com petent w o rk e r, a s o
c i a l i s t o f l o n g - s t a n d i n g , and a s e r v a n t t o th e w i l l o f the
98
m a jo r ity . He spoke as an e x p e r t on the a c t i v i t i e s o f La
bour in the p a s t t h i r t y y e a r s . Even h i s f i r s t words i n the
t e x t c l e a r l y and b r i e f l y rev ie w ed h i s d u t i f u l s e r v ic e to
th e cause of d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m f o r most o f h i s l i f e :
Some t h i r t y y e a r s ago, when I was a young b a r r i s t e r
j u s t down from O xford, I engaged in v a rio u s forms of
s o c i a l work in E a s t London. The c o n d itio n o f th e
people in t h a t a r e a as I saw them a t c lo s e q u a r t e r s le d
me t o stu d y t h e i r c a u se s and to r e c o n s i d e r th e assump-
t i o n s o f th e s o c i a l c l a s s to w hich I b elong ed . I b e
came an e n t h u s i a s t i c c o n v e rt t o S o c ia lis m . I jo in e d
th e F abian S o c ie ty and th e In dep en d en t Labour P a rty and
became a member o f my t r a d e u n io n , the N a tio n a l Union
of C le rk s . For many y e a r s 1 worked as a rank and f i l e
member o f th e movement, ta k in g my sh a re o f th e work o f
bran ch a c t i v i t i e s and pro p ag an d a m eetin gs a t s t r e e t
c o rn e rs . . . .
A f t e r th e w ar, as Mayor and Alderman o f a Borough
C ouncil and as a P oo r Law G u ard ian , I had a f u l l e x
p e rie n c e o f m u n ic ip a l w ork. I was th e n e l e c t e d to
P a rlia m e n t. C ircu m stan c e s have c a l l e d me to occupy a
p o s i t i o n o f h ig h r e s p o n s i b i l i t y in th e movement.
Throughout th e s e y e a r s I have n e v e r w avered in my f a i t h
in th e cause o f S o c ia lis m . . . .5
With t h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n , A t t l e e c o n c is e ly summarized h i s e n
t i r e background in d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m . His p o l i t i c a l e x
p e rie n c e was u n d e n ia b le , and he e s t a b l i s h e d in h i s modest
way t h a t he alo n e was th e p rim a ry l e a d e r o f Labour a t t h i s
time .
Second, A t t l e e ’ s r h e t o r i c a l p roblem was f u r t h e r
co m p lica te d by th e s p l i t i n th e Labour p a r t y on th e i s s u e s
o f p a c if is m and rearm am ent. L a n s b u ry 's extrem e p a c if is m
caused him to r e s ig n from th e l e a d e r s h ip of the P a rlia m e n
t a r y Labour p a r t y . A c tiv e l e a d e r s h i p o f la w -a b id in g coun
t r i e s such as Germany, I t a l y , H o lla n d , and Belgium had
99
f a l l e n . A t t l e e and many s o c i a l i s t s clu ng to t h e i r p a c ifis m
t i c b e l i e f s . However, A t t l e e took s te p s to i n c r e a s e th e
knowledge o f th e r a n k - a n d - f i l e on i s s u e s o f d e fe n s e . His
means were p a m p h le ts , s p e a k e r s , l e a f l e t s , and books by
v a rio u s a u t h o r s .^ He i n s i s t e d t h a t th e r a n k - a n d - f i l e
sh o u ld know th e f a c t s on d e fe n se . In h i s t e x t o f 1937,
A t t l e e e x p la in e d L a b o u r's p a s t and p r e s e n t p o l i c y in r e g a r d
to armament s a t i s f a c t o r i l y enough so as n o t to aro u se any
o f the v a r i o u s f a c t i o n s i n th e Labour p a r t y . T his was a
s k i l l f u l e f f o r t in d e e d . M oreover, A t t l e e s a i d in h i s Mem
o i r s , " u n t i l 1935 th e P a rlia m e n ta r y Labour p a r t y had g iven
l i t t l e o r no s e r i o u s a t t e n t i o n to d efence p r o b l e m s .
In a d e b ate in th e House in 1937, A t t l e e s t a t e d
t h a t th e d e m o c ra tic S o c i a l i s t s would n o t be p a r t y to p i l i n g
up armaments and fo llo w in g a p o lic y o f im p e r ia lis m and a l
l i a n c e s ; th e y w ould, how ever, su p p o rt a p o l i c y o f c o l l e c
t i v e s e c u r i t y th ro u g h th e League o f Nations.** Y et, A t t l e e
d id n o t t e l l th e House how s e c u r i t y was to be p ro v id e d when
Germany, J a p a n , and th e U n ite d S ta te s were o u t s i d e th e
League. M u s s o lin i was busy b re a k in g th e C ovenant, S o v ie t
R u s s ia was u n p r e d i c t a b l e , and B r i t a i n rem ained weak in
arm am ents.
Clement A t t l e e was more to th e l e f t on many i s s u e s ,
as d i s c u s s e d in C hap ter I I , p a r t i c u l a r l y on w ar i s s u e s ,
q
th an many i n h i s p a r t y . E a rly in 1937, A t t l e e was more
100
p a c i f i s t i c than th e n a t i o n and many o f h i s c o lle a g u e s . His
b r o a d c a s t on the 19 37 B udget, f o r exam ple, was s e r i o u s l y
out of tune w ith the n a t i o n a l f e e l i n g when he condemned th e
government f o r p u t t i n g guns b e f o r e b u t t e r . Nor d id h is
p e r s o n a l d i s l i k e o f B a ld w in 's s u c c e s s o r , N e v ille Chamber-
l a i n , who became Prime M i n i s t e r i n May, 1937, h e lp A ttle e
to b r in g h i s views i n t o l i n e w i t h p u b l i c o p in io n .
The r e s u l t was A t t l e e ' s t e c h n i c a l d e f e a t as th e
P a rty l e a d e r a t a m eetin g o f th e P a rlia m e n ta r y P a rty in
J u ly when the o f f i c i a l p o l i c y on th e d efen se e s tim a te s came
up f o r d i s c u s s i o n . A t t l e e , a lo n g w ith the m a jo r ity o f the
E x e c u tiv e , fa v o re d v o t in g a g a i n s t th e e s t i m a t e s . Hugh D a l
ton le d the group f a v o r in g a b s t e n t i o n . S u b se q u e n tly , A t t
le e along w ith A r th u r Greenwood and H e rb e rt M orrison were
d e f e a te d a t a m eeting which s e v e n ty M .P.s had n o t b o th e re d
to a t t e n d . H I t was a m ajor d e f e a t f o r th e l e a d e r s h i p ,
which i n o t h e r s i t u a t i o n s m ight have b ro u g h t about A t t l e e ' s
r e s i g n a t i o n . I n s t e a d , A t t l e e a c c e p te d the d em o c ratic p r i n
c i p l e s o f th e Labour p a r t y and bowed to i t s o r d e rs .
A t t l e e ' s a b i l i t y to a d a p t and compromise was p a r t
o f h i s a r t o f l e a d e r s h i p . T his same a b i l i t y to adapt made
A t t l e e th e f i t t e s t f o r s u r v i v a l in the w h ir lp o o l o f Labour
p o l i t i c s . A t t l e e ' s d e c i s i o n to compromise h is own f e e l i n g s
had the tw o fo ld r e s u l t o f a v o id in g y e t a n o th e r s e n s a t i o n a l
s p l i t in th e P a r t y , and a ls o o f s t r e n g th e n in g A t t l e e ' s p o
s i t i o n as a l e a d e r who was amenable to s u g g e s tio n from th e
101
r a n k - a n d - f i l e . The Labour P a rty i n P e r s p e c t i v e e x p re s s e d
th e view t h a t th e e sse n c e o f the Labour p a r t y i s i t s ran k -
a n d - f i l e m em bership; i t s le a d e r s h ip o f th e p a r t y m ust f o l
low th e guidance o f i t s members. A t t l e e n o t o n ly p re a c h e d
t h i s p o l i c y , b u t a ls o p r a c t i c e d i t . His compromise o f p e r
s o n a l f e e l i n g s p ro b a b ly made some in h i s p a r t y c o n s id e r him
u n e t h i c a l , b u t most f e l t e l a t e d t h a t a l e a d e r w ould sim ply
fo llo w t h e i r d i c t a t e s . Of c o u rs e , f o r A t t l e e ’ s p o l i t i c a l
s u r v i v a l , i t was p r a g m a tic to a c c e p t th e w i l l o f th e ma-
j o r i t y .
Whereas A t t l e e opposed rearm am ent in 1936 and h is
o p in io n was r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f Labour a t t h a t tim e , in 1937
th e p a r t y changed and c o n se q u e n tly h is view changed to a c
commodate them. Both id e a s were e x p re s s e d i n The Labour
P a r ty i n P e r s p e c t i v e . A. J . P. T ay lo r commented on Labour's
change o f p o l ic y :
The p a r t y o f f i c i a l l y now a c c e p te d th e view t h a t some
i n c r e a s e in armaments was n e c e s s a r y i n o r d e r to su p p o rt
th e c o l l e c t i v e s e c u r i t y in which Labour s t i l l b e l i e v e d .
In J u l y 1937 th e p a r lia m e n ta r y p a r t y d e c id e d h e n c e
fo rw a rd to a b s t a i n over the armament e s t i m a t e s i n s t e a d
o f v o t i n g a g a i n s t them. In t h i s way, th e y hoped to
e sca p e the re p ro a c h t h a t they were p r e a c h in g s tr o n g
a c t i o n w ith o u t p r o v id in g the means f o r e n f o r c i n g i t ,
and y e t to show t h e i r lac k o f co n fid e n ce i n th e gov
e r n m e n t's p o l i c y . 12
T his b ro a d e n in g o f view was r e f l e c t e d i n A t t l e e ' s t e x t ;
how ever, i f he had w r i t t e n the book in 1936, th e t e x t would
have b een more l i m i t e d , n o t as a p r o p h e t i c o r u n i v e r s a l
s ta te m e n t o f Labour p o l i c y as i t a c t u a l l y w as.
102
A t t l e e ’ s a c q u ie s c e n c e to p a r t y p o l ic y e n a b le d La
bour to tak e a s te p fo rw a rd , b ecau se some d i v i s i o n had been
mended, and more s e p a r a t i o n o f p a r t y and p o l ic y had been
a v o id e d , p a r t i c u l a r l y th ro u g h th e agreem ent to r e s i s t th e
defen se e s tim a te s and a b s t a i n from v o tin g .
In s p i t e o f t h i s p r o g r e s s tow ard s t r e n g t h and u n i ty ,
th e Labour p a r t y was t o r n in a number o f c o n f l i c t i n g d i r e c t
t i o n s . This d iv id e d p a r t y was A t t l e e ' s p rim ary au dience
f o r The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e . One b ran c h o f the
p a r t y was c o m p letely p a c i f i s t i c . Opposed to t h i s g ro up,
who saw the e n t i r e s i t u a t i o n from a M arxian p o i n t o f view ,
was t h a t wing o f th e Labour P a rty who, w hile co m p lete ly op
posed to the Governm ent’s f o r e i g n p o l ic y as b e in g d e s e r t i o n
of th e League o f N a tio n s , were n e v e r t h e l e s s u n w illin g to
come out a g a in s t rearm am ent. A t t l e e ’s a t t i t u d e s p ro b a b ly
c o in c id e d w ith the l a t t e r group. Some members th o u g h t a r
mament to be n e c e s s a r y and good f o r b u s in e s s and th e gen
e r a l economy. A side from o p p o s i t io n to rearmament as p a r t
o f the G overnm ent's f o r e i g n p o l i c y , th e r e were members who
were g r e a t l y opposed to th e armaments p o l ic y i n t e r n a l l y .
As th e move towards armaments became more and more a n a
t i o n a l p o l i c y , th e Trade Unions became concerned t h a t i n
d u s t r i a l c o n s c r i p t io n would s t r i k e a t the v ery b a s i s o f
t r a d e u n io n is m .13
A t t l e e ' s book s t r e s s e d th e need f o r u n ity ' and th e
103
g r e a t t r a d i t i o n o f the Labour p a r t y to a llo w many view
p o i n t s in i t s p o l i t i c a l m a k e - u p ,^ I t along w ith o t h e r
a c t i o n s betw een 1935 and 1939, worked to u n if y p a r t y f a c
t io n s as much as p o s s i b l e . At l e a s t A t t l e e h e ld th e p a r t y
t o g e t h e r w ith some sem blance o f o r d e r .
A ccording to p o l i t i c a l a n a l y s t , Don Fabun, th e t e s t
o f a t r u e r e v o l u t io n a r y was h i s a b i l i t y to r a l l y and u n i te
f o r c e s a t a tim e o f c r i s i s . 15 In 1935 when e l e c t e d l e a d e r ,
A t t l e e h e ld a weak and d iv id e d p a r t y t o g e t h e r . A t t l e e ' s
t a l e n t s f o r u n i f i c a t i o n o f th e Labour p a r t y were demon
s t r a t e d r e p e a t e d ly . He p r a g m a ti c a l ly h a n d le d th e problem
o f p a c i f is m and rearm am ent; he t r i e d to e x p re s s th e b e s t o f
b o th w o rld s in one o f th e l a s t c h a p te r s in h i s t e x t :
. . . th e Labour P a r t y , w h ile h o ld in g as an i d e a l to
be rea ch e d some day th e com plete a b o l i t i o n o f a l l armed
f o r c e s , is n o t in fa v o u r o f a p o l i c y o f disarm am ent by
exam ple. . . . th e Labour P a r ty i s p ro fo u n d ly p a c i f i c .
I t re g a rd s a l l war as an e v i l , and can adm it th e use o f
armed fo r c e only i f a g r e a t e r e v i l i s to be av oided .
. . . I have even been rebuked f o r making s u g g e s tio n s
w hich were in te n d e d to make th e defen ce s e r v i c e s more
e f f i c i e n t . . . . I t i s , I b e l i e v e , e s s e n t i a l t h a t
Labour men and women sh o u ld u n d e rs ta n d what modern war
m eans, and sh o u ld make up t h e i r minds as to what t h e i r
a t t i t u d e is to be on problem s o f d e f e n c e . 16
The i d e a l goal o f the L a b o u rite was p e a c e . A t t l e e accounted
f o r t h i s g o a l, b u t a t th e same tim e a d m itte d t h a t B r i t a i n
must rem ain armed f o r n e c e s s i t y o f d e fe n s e . He d evo ted
t w e n ty - f i v e pages to a d is c u s s io n o f "Labour and Defence"
n e a r th e end o f h i s book. He w is e ly l e f t t h i s c o n t r o v e r
s i a l i s s u e n e a r th e c o n c lu s io n o f h i s book and fo llo w in g a
104
d e l i n e a t i o n o f p o l i c i e s t h a t most L a b o u rite s would agree
upon. A t t l e e e x p la in e d t h a t armaments were n e c e s s a r y f o r
i n t e r n a l s e c u r i t y . Such arms must be p ro v id e d as e f f i
c i e n t l y and e c o n o m ic a lly as p o s s i b l e in a d d itio n to k e e p in g
the armed f o r c e s in c lo s e to u ch w ith the n a ti o n . M oreover,
A ttle e s u g g e s te d t h a t th e th r e e B r i t i s h s e r v i c e s form a
c o a l i t i o n i n t o th e M i n i s t r y o f D efense. He a ls o p ro p o se d
t h a t th e p r o f i t- m a k i n g in armaments shou ld cease th ro u g h
the n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f th e armaments i n d u s t r i e s . A t t l e e
i n s i s t e d f u r t h e r , " I n th e o r g a n i s a t io n o f th e f i g h t i n g S e r
v ic e s th e m s e lv e s , t h e r e are two prim e n e c e s s i t i e s : th e ap^
p l i c a t i o n o f common s e n s e , and d e m o c r a t i s a t i o n . "1? A t t l e e
added t h a t Labour d id n o t a c c e p t the Governm ent's f o r e i g n
p o lic y "
The Labour p a r t y , t h e r e f o r e , has s t e a d i l y opposed th e
rearm am ent p o l i c y o f th e Government, n o t on th e ground
t h a t th e l e v e l o f armaments o f two y e a rs ago i s a d e
q u a te , o r even t h a t the p r e s e n t s c a l e i s n o t e x c e s s i v e ,
bu t because i t i s im p o s s ib le to t e l l what the s c a l e
o f armaments s h o u ld be in th e absence o f any sound
f o r e ig n p o l i c y . . . .18
C o n se q u e n tly , A t t l e e compromised the Labour p o s i t i o n o f
p a c i f is m f o r a more p ra g m a tic approach o f rearm am ent f o r
i n t e r n a l s e c u r i t y . But Labour p ro p o se d a d i f f e r e n t f o r e i g n
p o l ic y from th e C o n s e r v a tiv e s ; th u s , Labour was n o t in com
p l e t e agreem ent w ith th e C o n s e rv a tiv e p o l ic y of rearm am ent.
F o u rth , L abour s ta te m e n ts of p o l ic y and prom ise
were d e s p e r a t e l y n e e d e d t o a p p e a l to the p o p u la c e , and to
r e a s s u r e i t s own p ro p o n e n ts o f i t s e x is te n c e and o b j e c t i v e s .
105
S in ce 19 31, A t t l e e made numerous s ta te m e n ts on many s u b
j e c t s o f Labour c o n cern . In 1932, he f i l l e d more columns
i n H ansard th an anyone e l s e . - ^ F or s e v e r a l y e a r s , the L e ft
Book Club p u rsu e d him to w r ite a volume in i t s s e r i e s . He
f i n a l l y a g re e d , and in 1937, in th e m iddle o f p o l i t i c a l
b a t t l e s , h i s te s ta m e n t of d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m ap p ea re d .
His work in c lu d e d im p o rta n t h i s t o r i c a l f a c t s of th e d e v e l
opment o f th e Labour p a r t y ; i t r e a s s u r e d a l l L a b o u rite s of
t h e i r common h e r i t a g e , His work a ls o em phasized th e s o
c i a l i s t o b j e c t i v e s o f l i b e r t y , s e c u r i t y , e q u a l i t y , democ
r a c y , common o w n ersh ip, in v e n tio n and p r o g r e s s , b e a u ty , and
n a t i o n a l i s m , is s u e s on which most L a b o u r ite s had common
s e n t im e n t s . F i n a l l y , A t t le e d e s c r ib e d an a c t u a l program
t h a t was ambiguous enough to e l i c i t g e n e r a l agreem ent among
m ost L a b o u r ite s . As m entioned p r e v i o u s l y A t t l e e d e l i v e r e d
a c l e a r s ta te m e n t on f o r e ig n p o l ic y and rearm am ent. Such
s ta te m e n ts were ambiguous enough to e l i c i t g e n e r a l a g r e e
ment among most L a b o u rite s . The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c
t i v e was a rem ark ab le c o n t r i b u t i o n to th e Labour l i b r a r y o f
p e r s u a s i v e l i t e r a t u r e much needed a t th e tim e . A t t l e e
c o v ered many r e l e v a n t p o l ic y to p ic s and r e f l e c t e d th e w i l l
o f th e m a jo r ity and d e m o n strated h i s common sen se approach.
F i f t h , A t t l e e fac ed th e t a s k o f making a g e n e r a lly
o p t i m i s t i c audience o f 1937 l i s t e n t o him. A t t l e e ' s l a r g e r
a u d ie n c e in c lu d e d L a b o u rite s o f many g e n e r a t i o n s , however.
106
F i r s t , th e many d i v i s i o n s in the Labour p a r t y were h i s t a r
g e t. Second, t h i s t r e a t i s e a p p ea le d to l a t e r Labour g e n e r
a tio n s when A t t l e e was Prime M i n i s t e r , b ecau se he fo llo w e d
th e 1937 g u i d e l i n e s in The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e .
C o n se q u e n tly , th e book has become a c l a s s i c in Labour l i t
e r a t u r e ; I t had c o n s id e r a b le s a le and was t r a n s l a t e d i n t o
20
F ren ch , S p a n ish , D utch, J a p a n e s e , and some o t h e r languages.
In a d d i t i o n , i t e x p la in e d to a l l B r i t i s h , Labour o r n o t ,
th e p h ilo s o p h y , h i s t o r y , and p o l i c y o f the Labour p a r t y .
A t t l e e ’s g e n e r a l au dience was alm ost b l i n d l y o p t i
m i s t i c . The economic boom o f th e l a t e t h i r t i e s prom oted
f e e l i n g s o f g r e a t e n th u s ia sm in th e c o u n try , w hich cau sed
C h u r c h ill c a u s t i c a l l y to rem ark, "I must say t h a t I am
asto u n d ed a t th e wave o f optim ism , o f c o n fid e n c e , and even
o f com placency, w hich has swept o ver P a rlia m e n t and p u b l i c
o p in io n . Perhaps a form o f escapism was in o p e r a t i o n .
The B r i t i s h w ished to ig n o re the problem s o f th e w o rld ,
because f i n a l l y a f t e r a long economic slump, th e econom ic
p i c t u r e o f th e n a t i o n a p p e a re d more ro s y .
The e v e n t o f c h i e f im po rtance to th e au dience o f
1937 was C h a m b e rla in ’s p o l i c y f o r p e a c e , which i n c lu d e d r e
arm ing, w orking f o r p e a c e , and appeasem ent. The p o l i c y was
c o n t r a d i c t o r y , b u t i t gave England ” a d e f i n i t e f e e l i n g o f
u n i ty th an she had had f o r th e l a s t couple o f y e a rs when
she had been w allow ing in a tro u g h o f i n d e c i s i o n . ” 22 Not
u n t i l 1938 was a new f o r e i g n p o l i c y ad opted . T his p o l i c y
107
c o n t r i b u t e d t o th e " f a l s e sense o f s e c u r i t y , which was con
t a g io u s and s p re a d th ro ugh a l l g r o u p s . "^3 A. J . P. T ay lo r
s t a t e d t h a t B r i t a i n was "a l a x e r c o u n try th a n she had been
t h i r t y y e a r s b e f o r e . M . W . F lin n sum m arized th e e c o
nomic c o n d itio n s o f A t t l e e ' s audience in 1937:
With th e a c c e l e r a t i o n in the m iddle and l a t e r t h i r t i e s
o f th e r a t e o f i n d u s t r i a l grow th, th e i n c r e a s i n g flow
o f goods and s e r v ic e en su red the c o n tin u a n c e o f t h i s
r i s e in r e a l incomes. Between 1931 and 193 8, average
r e a l incomes ro se by 20%. S e t a g a i n s t the background
o f b e t t e r h o u sin g , th e i n c r e a s in g flow o f lu x u ry goods
l i k e m otors and dom estic e l e c t r i c a l eq uip m en t, th e new
p l e a s u r e s of th e r a d io and th e s p r e a d o f p a id annual
h o l i d a y s , f o r the f o r t u n a t e m a j o r i t y t h e 1 9 3 0 's was n o t
such a bad decade. In sharp c o n t r a s t , how ever, the
w re tc h e d n e ss o f the u n p re c e d e n te d m i l l i o n s o f f a m ilie s
whose b rea d w in n ers were out o f work has stam ped the
decade as the b l a c k e s t o f th e l a s t c e n t u r y . 25
A t t l e e ' s g e n e ra l to n e o f c o n v e r s a tio n was u s u a l ly
p r a c t i c a l y e t o p t i m i s t i c . He was a r e a l i s t who n e v e r l o s t
s i g h t o f h i s i d e a l s even though th ey w ere im p o s s ib le to
a c h ie v e . In The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e , A t t l e e o p t i
m i s t i c a l l y p r e s e n t e d th e Labour p a r t y as a growing organism.
He a d m itte d t o some f a l t e r i n g and u n p ro g re s s iv e y e a r s , b u t
f o r th e most p a r t the p a r t y was c o n t i n u a l l y expanding in
v a r io u s a r e a s . In a d d it i o n , h is p o l i c y f o r e c a s t s i n d i c a t e d
t h e r e was a b r ig h t f u tu r e f o r th e Labour p a r t y . T hus, in a
s e n s e , he a g re e d w ith h i s o p t i m i s t i c age. However, he d id
em phasize th e dangers o f rearm in g w ith o u t f o r e i g n p o l i c y ,
th e dangers o f in a d e q u a te ly p r o v id in g f o r th e p o o r and un
em ployed, and th e dangers o f n o n r e p r e s e n t a t i o n f o r a l l
p e o p le . His s o l u t i o n s were r a d i c a l : f o r exam ple, n a t i o n a l
108
i z a t i o n o f p r i v a t e i n d u s t r i e s . But h i s s o l u t i o n s were a ls o
c lo th e d in term s o f n e c e s s i t y i n o rd e r to a l l e v i a t e the
i l l s and i n j u s t i c e o f s o c i e t y . The war was soon to make
h i s r a d i c a l p r o p o s a ls somewhat o f a r e a l i t y ; many i n d u s
t r i e s were n a t i o n a l i z e d . Because A t t l e e a p p ea le d to th e
optim ism o f h is a u d ie n c e , h i s book was l a t e r a p p li c a b l e to
many c irc u m sta n ce s and took on a u n i v e r s a l n a t u r e .
The E l e c t i o n 1945
On June 5 th , 1945, A t t l e e ' s "L et Us Face the Na
t i o n , " was re c o rd e d a t the BBC s t a t i o n in London; he a d
d re s s e d a v i c t o r i o u s b u t w a r-s c o u rg e d B r i t a i n . The B r i t i s h
audience was uneasy about more i n t e r n a t i o n a l commitments
and were e a g e r to r e b u i l d th e d o m estic l i f e on a p e a c e f u l
b a s i s . A ccording to h i s t o r i a n C arl Brand, th ro u g h t h i s
d i f f i c u l t p e r i o d A t t l e e q u i e t l y and l a c o n i c a l l y c o n tin u e d
to le a d "a s o c i a l r e v o l u t i o n g r e a t e r i n scope and s i g n i f i
cance th an many p o l i t i c a l r e v o l u t i o n s , and [he did] so
p e a c e f u l l y and c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y . " ^
The e l e c t i o n t i m e t a b l e was as fo llo w s: the U n ited
N atio n s c o n fe ren c e in San F r a n c is c o in May, 1945; th e e l e c
t i o n b ro a d c a s ts b e g in n in g June 4 th ; P a rlia m e n t d is s o lv e d
June 15 th ; p o l l i n g on J u ly 5 t h ; the Potsdam C onference on
J u ly 1 7 th ; and e l e c t i o n r e s u l t s announced on J u ly 2 6 th .
In 1945 s e v e r a l c o n s t r a i n t s fa c e d A t t l e e ' s e l e c t i o n
b ro a d c a s t:
1Q9
1. C onvincing th e B r i t s h e l e c t o r a t e
2. The r e a c t i o n o f the Labour P a r t y C onference
3. H a ro ld L a s k i 's i n t e r f e r e n c e ov er th e Y a lta
C onference
4. The t h r e a t of th e opposing c a n d i d a t e , W inston
C h u r c h il l
5. How to u t i l i z e the media: th e r a d io au dience
and th e new spaper coverage
The B r i t i s h e l e c t o r a t e was s t u d i e d in d e t a i l by
A. J . A lle n in The E n g lis h Voter. H i s work c o n ta in e d
o c c u p a tio n t a b l e s b a se d on d a ta from th e G e n era l R e g is te r
O ffic e o b ta in e d d u rin g th e 1951 census which was th e one
c l o s e s t t o th e 1945 campaign. A lle n c o n s id e r e d f i v e o c c u
p a t i o n d i v i s i o n s : I P r o f e s s i o n a l , I I I n t e r m e d i a t e , I I I
S k i l l e d O c c u p a tio n s , IV P a r t l y s k i l l e d o c u p a tio n s , and V
U n s k ille d . S o c ia l c l a s s I seemed to be c o n c e n tr a te d in sea
r e s o r t s , London s u b u rb s , and th e s o u t h e a s t p o r t i o n o f th e
c o u n try . A ll o f th e s e a re a s ten d ed to be s t r o n g C onserva
t i v e s e a t s . In s o c i a l c l a s s I I Wales seemed to le a d th e
f i e l d . S o c ia l c l a s s I I I was th e l a r g e s t group n u m e r ic a lly .
These p e rs o n s were c o n c e n tr a te d m ainly in London r e s i d e n
t i a l a r e a s , and i n d u s t r i a l and s e a s id e a r e a s . T his p a r t i c
u l a r c l a s s was v i t a l to a p a r t y ' s e l e c t o r a l s u c c e s s .
R. S. M ilne and M. C. Mackenzie term ed t h i s group th e
" f l o a t i n g o r m a rg in a l v o t e . "28 S o c ia l c l a s s IV was com
110
posed o f th e s e m i - s k i l l e d l a b o r fo rc e p r i m a r il y in E ast
London and coal m ining towns in W ales. E ast London a ls o
r e p r e s e n te d c la s s V o f th e g e n e r a l l y u n s k i l l e d w o rk e rs.
Most im p o rta n t f o r p u rp o se s o f t h i s s tu d y , A lle n concluded
t h a t in 1945 a growing p o p u l a t i o n and an in c r e a s e d number
o f w orking p e o p le c r e a t e d by w artim e employment, prom pted
an in c r e a s e in the ra n k s o f L a b o u r . ^
B r i t i s h e l e c t o r a t e had j u s t e x p e rie n c e d t h a t unique
sense o f n a t i o n a l u n i t y . A t t l e e d e s c r ib e d the atm osphere
o f the e l e c t o r a t e , as f o llo w s : "Everywhere was the same
f in e s p i r i t . I t h in k t h a t th e bombing d id more than any
th in g e l s e to b re a k down c l a s s b a r r i e r s . " 3® A ll c l a s s e s ,
r i c h and p o o r, worked t o g e t h e r f o r the s u r v i v a l o f th e n a
t i o n . Workers from a l l c l a s s e s r e s p e c t e d each o t h e r . The
B r i t i s h won the war by w ork ing t o g e t h e r . As A. J . P. Taylor
s a i d , "This was a p e o p l e 's w a r . " 3*
This u n i ty o f w o rk ers may have encouraged the a c
cep tan ce o f Labour p r i n c i p l e s . M oreover, A t t l e e ' s a p p e a ls
were g e n e r a lly d i r e c t e d to th e "common p e o p le " ; and as su ch ,
t h e i r accep tan ce on t h i s o c c a s io n was l i k e l y . G. D. H. Cole
and Raymond P o s tg a te d e s c r i b e d th e p o s t- w a r a u d ie n c e , as
fo llo w s:
In the p e r i o d t h a t began w ith May 10, [1940,] the
h i s t o r y of th e B r i t i s h common p e o p le cannot be s e p a
r a t e d from t h a t o f a l l th e n a t i o n . The u n ity so f r e
q u e n tly prom ised o r a p p e a le d to in p o l i t i c i a n s ' speeches
was f o r some tim e a r e a l i t y ; i t i s f o r once n o t u n tru e
to say t h a t few in any c l a s s f a i l e d to do t h e i r utm ost
Ill
f o r th e community. . . . M om entarily, t h e r e was no
d i s s e n s i o n o r r e c r i m i n a t i o n . . . . P r o f i t s [ f o r p r i v a t e
b u s i n e s s ] were s e v e r e ly r e s t r i c t e d . ^2
In e f f e c t , s o c i a l i s t i c measures meant u n i t y o f th e n a t i o n .
A t t l e e s u c c e s s f u l l y a p p ea le d to a l l p e o p le o f a l l c l a s s e s
in th e c o n c lu s io n o f h i s a d d re ss.
The Labour P a rty i s , in f a c t , the one P a r t y w hich most
n e a r l y r e f l e c t s in i t s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n and c o m p o sitio n
a l l th e main stre am s which flow i n t o th e g r e a t r i v e r
o f o u r n a t i o n a l l i f e . Our appeal t o you, t h e r e f o r e ,
i s n o t narrow or s e c t i o n a l . W e a re p ro u d o f th e f a c t
t h a t o u r c o u n try i n th e hours o f i t s g r e a t e s t d an g er
s to o d f irm and u n i te d . . . .33
T hus, A t t l e e a tte m p te d to appeal to e v ery s o c i a l group
m en tio n ed by A lle n . A t t l e e was w e ll aware o f th e u n i t y o f
c l a s s e s a f t e r th e w ar, and he wanted Labour to ap p ea r as a
u n i t y o f c l a s s e s lik e w i s e .
The w ar p ro v e d s o c i a l i s t p r i n c i p l e s w o rk ab le and
p r a c t i c a b l e . Now only a t r a n s i t i o n to p e a c e tim e seemed
n e c e s s a r y . A t t l e e and o t h e r L a b o u rite s s e r v e d th e B r i t i s h
p e o p le in a C o a l i t i o n government and p ro v e d th e m se lv e s
w o rth y o f th e t a s k o f le a d e r s h ip . A t t l e e r e f e r r e d to h i s
s e r v i c e as Deputy Prime M in is te r in o r d e r t o b u i l d h is own
e t h o s .
A n o th e r e lem en t i n th e B r i t i s h e l e c t o r a t e were a l l
th e new v o t e r s who came onto th e r e g i s t e r f o r th e f i r s t
tim e . There had been no g e n e ra l e l e c t i o n f o r t e n y e a r s .
One s u rv e y by J . D. Hoffman su g g e ste d t h a t th e l a r g e Labour
m a j o r i t y r e s u l t e d from a change o f o p in io n among th e f o l
low ing t h r e e s o u r c e s :
112
Cl) Young p e o p le who had n o t p r e v i o u s ly v o te d ,
(2) o l d e r p e o p le who had a vote in th e l a s t g e n e ra l
e l e c t i o n b u t d id n o t use i t , and (3) C o n se rv ativ e
sy m p a th ize rs who d id n o t v o t e . 35
A t t l e e a tte m p te d to re a c h th e y o u th th ro u g h h is b r o a d c a s t.
Of c o u rs e , many young p e o p le were in th e s e r v i c e o r w a itin g
f o r someone in th e s e r v i c e . A t t l e e f i r s t e x p la in e d how he
t r i e d to d e la y th e e l e c t i o n in o rd e r to give th e servicem en
adequate o p p o r tu n ity to v o t e . 3 * * Second, he em phasized
•z 7
p la n s to r e t u r n th e se rv ice m e n home as soon as p o s s i b l e . 0
F i n a l l y , the clim ax was h i s s ta te m e n t" "More th a n 120 of.
our c a n d id a te s come from th e F ig h tin g S e r v ic e s , so t h a t
y o u th is w e ll r e p r e s e n t e d . " 3 ® With t h i s a p p e a l, L a b o u r's
in volv em en t w ith y o u th was e v i d e n t . A t t l e e u t i l i z e d s i g
n i f i c a n t s ig n s o f c o n s u b s t a n t i a l i t y in l i g h t o f h i s e l e c
t o r a t e .
For the average e l e c t o r , p o s t-w a r B r i t i s h economics
meant a g e n e ra l s h o r ta g e o f goods and h ig h p r i c e s . B r i t a i n
needed to e s t a b l i s h a b a la n c e betw een h e r e x p o rt e a rn in g s
and h e r e x p e n d itu re on im p o rts o f f o o d s t u f f s and raw m ate
r i a l s . The p r i c e o f raw m a t e r i a l s a f t e r th e war was alm ost
th r e e tim es h ig h e r th a n p r e - w a r p e r i o d s . 3^ C o nseq u en tly ,
th e e l e c t o r w anted th e economy changed to a p e ac etim e e f
f o r t to meet demands f o r consumer goods a t home and p ro v id e
a s u r p lu s f o r e x p o r t . ^0
While B r i t a i n ' s i n d u s t r i e s were p ro d u cin g war p r o d
u c t s , she l o s t many o f h e r o v e rs e a s p r o p e r t y in v e s tm e n ts .
113
Heavy s a l e s o f B r i t i s h a s s e t s cau sed h e r to lo se th e a b i l i t y
to pay f o r im p o rts . C o n se q u e n tly , she borrow ed e x te n s i v e l y .
B r i t a i n ' s n e t annual income from o v e rs e a s in v e s tm e n ts was
re d u c e d to no le s s th an h a l f of what i t was b e fo re th e war.
In s h o r t , she had a c r i t i c a l b a la n c e o f payments p r o b le m .41
To a d d re ss the economic problem s o f G reat B r i t a i n ,
A t t l e e em phasized L ab o u r's d o m estic p ro g ram o f n a t i o n a l i z a
t i o n . C h u r c h i l l , in sharp c o n t r a s t , c e n t e r e d on i n t e r n a
t i o n a l i s s u e s . A t t l e e ' s a t t e n t i o n t o d o m e stic i s s u e s a t
t r a c t e d th e i n t e r e s t o f the average e l e c t o r more th a n
C h u r c h i l l 's i n t e r n a t i o n a l a p p e a l s . 42 a . J . P. T a y lo r e x
p l a i n e d .
The e l e c t o r s c h e e re d C h u r c h ill and v o te d a g a i n s t him.
They d is p la y e d no i n t e r e s t in f o r e i g n a f f i a r s o r im
p e r i a l power. They c a re d only f o r t h e i r own f u t u r e in
term s o f h o u sin g , f u l l employment, and s o c i a l s e c u r i t y .
Here Labour o f f e r e d a c o n v in c in g p ro g ram , and th e Con
s e r v a t i v e s gave th e im p re ssio n th e y d i d n o t b e li e v e in
such d om estic program s. . . . F olk memory co unted f o r
much. E le c t o r s remembered th e unemployment o f th e
t h i r t i e s . A t t le e was to become p rim e m i n i s t e r and le a d
th e s t r i k i n g Labour v i c t o r y . 43
A t t l e e ' s a d d re ss w as.keyed to th e r e l e v a n t is s u e s a t th e
tim e. A t t l e e ' s e l e c t i o n was "a c l e a r symbol t h a t the B r i t
i s h p e o p le had abandoned t h e i r a b s o r p tio n in w o rld a f f a i r s .^
W hether or n o t A t t le e would be in v o lv e d in any cam
p a ig n in J u ly depended upon th e r e a c t i o n o f the Labour
P a r t y C onference h e ld in B lackpool i n May, 1945. The e x
t e n t o f h i s a d d re s s e s and th e e l e c t i o n tim e i t s e l f was d e
te rm in e d a t t h i s p r o b l e m a t i c a l c o n fe re n c e .
114
Two months b e f o r e th e e l e c t i o n , Anthony Eden and
A ttle e were in San F r a n c is c o w orking on th e U n ited N a tio n s
C h a rte r. A t t l e e was g iv e n a prom ise by C h u r c h ill t h a t he
would f i x th e e l e c t i o n d a te in A t t l e e ' s ab sen c e. However,
C h u rc h ill w ire d Eden t h a t th e consensus o f o p in io n in h i s
p a r ty was t h a t June was a good tim e f o r an e l e c t i o n . C hur
c h i l l was p r e s s u r e d to f i x th e e l e c t i o n d ate by Max B eaver-
brook and Brendan B rack en , a c c o rd in g to Hugh D a l t o n . ^
Upon r e t u r n i n g to E ngland from a U n ite d N a tio n s
m eeting i n San F r a n c i s c o , A t t l e e le a r n e d o f C h u r c h i l l 's
p ro p o sa l to e i t h e r h o ld an im m ediate e l e c t i o n o r to c o n
tin u e th e c o a l i t i o n f o r two more y e a r s , which was c o n s i d
ered , time enough to w in th e war w ith Japan.
E r n e s t B ev in, f r i e n d and l o y a l c o lle a g u e to A t t l e e ,
co n cu rred w ith A t t l e e t h a t a c o n tin u a tio n o f the c o a l i t i o n
government would be d e s i r a b l e w ith the prom ise t h a t th e
government w ould do i t s u tm o st to implement th e p r o p o s a ls
f o r s o c i a l s e c u r i t y and f u l l employment a lr e a d y l a i d b e f o r e
P a r lia m e n t. With t h i s g u a r a n te e , A t t le e b e li e v e d t h a t he
had a b e t t e r chance o f p e rs u a d in g h is Labour c o lle a g u e s to
a c c e p t th e co u rse w hich he and Bevin as w e ll as C h u r c h il l
th o u g h t to be most a d v an tag eo u s t o the n a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t . 46
A t t l e e - and B evin th e n d e p a r te d f o r B lackpool where
the Labour P a r t y C o nference was to m eet. A t t le e and Bevin
c o n s t i t u t e d a fo rm id a b le a l l i a n c e ; a f t e r a l l , th e y were th e
115
c h i e f spokes men of th e p o l i t i c a l and i n d u s t r i a l wings o f
th e movement. The mood o f th e g e n e r a l c o n fe re n c e s e t t l e d
th e i s s u e . I t was d e f i n i t e l y a g a i n s t w a i ti n g f o r v i c t o r y
in th e P a c i f i c , because the p r e s e n t P a r i l i a m e n t had a lr e a d y
l a s t e d te n y e a r s , which was double th e l e g a l term . Thus,
a f t e r an exchange of l e t t e r s betw een C h u r c h il l and A t t le e
from May 19th to the 22nd, the c o a l i t i o n was no m o r e . 47
E lle n W ilk in so n , th e C onference ch airm an , s a i d t h a t
n e v e r b e fo r e was Labour so u n i t e d in such a f i g h t i n g f e t
t l e . Few sto p p e d to m arvel t h a t th e two most p ro m in en t
o f L ab o u r’s le a d e r s had been h a u le d o u t o f th e c o a l i t i o n
"by th e s c r u f f o f t h e i r n e c k s . "49 Once a g a in , th e ran k -
a n d - f i l e s e t t l e d th e i s s u e .
So ended th e famous c o a l i t i o n . The members d e
p a r t e d on a f r i e n d l y b a s i s , a t l e a s t u n t i l th e e l e c t i o n
b r o a d c a s t s s t a r t e d . C h u r c h ill i n i t i a l l y resp o n d ed w ith a
genero us w r i t t e n t e s t i m o n i a l to th e s e r v i c e s o f the Labour
m i n i s t e r s . "No Prime M i n i s t e r , " he w r o te , "co u ld e v e r have
w ish ed f o r more lo y a l and s t e a d f a s t c o lle a g u e s than I found
C f)
w ith th e Labour p a r t y . " However, C h u r c h i l l 's e l e c t i o n
a d d re s s e s s u g g e s te d an o p p o s ite s e n tim e n t.
B e v in 's s u p p o rt o f A t t l e e as Prime M i n i s t e r was
most s i g n i f i c a n t in h e lp in g A t t l e e m a in ta in le a d e r s h ip of
th e Labour p a r t y a t t h i s c r u c i a l h o u r. T here had been some
c r i t i c i s m of A t t l e e d u rin g the war on th e ground t h a t he
116
a llo w ed h i m s e l f to be c o m p le te ly overshadowed by C h u r c h i l l ,
and f a i l e d to m a in ta in th e s e p a r a te i d e n t i t y o f Labour in
the c o a l i t i o n . B o t h Bevin and H e rb e rt M o rriso n were more
c o l o r f u l th an A t t l e e . L aski and E lle n W ilk in so n were e a g e r
to see A t t l e e r e p l a c e d , and M orriso n was g e n e r a l l y th o u g h t
to be w i l l i n g t o oppose A t t l e e ' s l e a d e r s h i p . However,
A t t l e e was alw ays th e p o l i t i c a l m iddle man in p a r t y c o n t r o
v e r s i e s , and w ith B e v in 's c o n tin u e d s u p p o r t, he c o u ld n o t
be d e n ie d p a r t y l e a d e r s h i p . But A t t l e e was aware o f t h i s
d i s s e n s i o n a t th e tim e o f h i s e l e c t i o n a d d r e s s , and he
t r i e d to u n i t e th e p a r t y i n common go als and p o l i c i e s a c
c e p ta b le to a l l . In a d d i t i o n , A t t l e e i n s i s t e d on o n ly
sp e a k in g once, and g iv in g e q u a l tim e to h is c o l l e a g u e s .
L a b o u r i te s , in g e n e r a l , r e s p e c t e d h is f a i r , hum ble, i n t e l
l i g e n t approach to p o l i t i c s .
The Potsdam C onference was to open on J u l y 1 7 th ,
and C h u r c h ill i n v i t e d A t t l e e to accompany him in view o f
th e u n c e r t a i n t i e s o f th e p o l i t i c a l f u t u r e . T hereupon,
H arold L aski i n t e r f e r e d on June 1 5th in The T im es, and s a i d
i t was e s s e n t i a l t h a t A t t l e e sh o u ld a tt e n d in th e r o l e o f a
mute o b s e r v e r . For some tim e t h a t s p rin g L aski h ad been
making u p s e t t i n g comments c o n ce rn in g the a c tio n s o f A t t l e e .
A f t e r t h i s p a r t i c u l a r s t a te m e n t , p r e s s and p o l i t i c i a n s a t
ta c k e d L aski f o r a tte m p tin g to d i c t a t e p o l i c y to th e p a r t y .
C h u r c h il l c o u n te r e d w ith th e charge t h a t L aski may d i c t a t e
p o l i c y to th e Labour governm ent, and he may d i c t a t e a c t io n s
117
to the Prime M i n i s t e r . C h u r c h i l l 's s ta te m e n t made A ttle e
ap p ea r very weak in th e eyes o f the p e o p le . A t t l e e then
w ro te L aski a p r i v a t e l e t t e r , c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y t a r t , i n
form ing him t h a t "th e c o n s ta n t flow o f sp eech es and i n t e r -
52
views w ith you are e m b a r r a s s in g ."
A ccording to Henry P e l l i n g , th e l i v e l i e s t is s u e o f
th e 1945 campaign was: would A t t l e e as Prim e M i n i s t e r be
un d er th e c o n tr o l o f H aro ld L a s k i, Chairman o f th e N a tio n a l
E x e c u t i v e ? ^ A t t le e responded:
. . . a t n o t time and in no c irc u m s ta n c e s has the
N a tio n a l E x ecu tive Committee e v e r so u g h t to g iv e , or
g iv en i n s t r u c t i o n s to th e P a r lia m e n ta r y Labour P a r ty .
. . . The Chairman [L aski] has n o t th e power to give
me i n s t r u c t i o n s . 54
The Laski i n c i d e n t in 1945 was to be e x p la in e d by
th e p e r s o n a l i t y of H arold L a s k i. I f t h e r e had been a d i f
f e r e n t chairm an a t the tim e , no a tte m p t would have been
made t o t e l l Mr. A t t l e e t h a t he s h o u ld go to B e r li n only as
an o b s e r v e r . I t i s e q u a lly t r u e t h a t a n o th e r p a r t y head
m ight have so u g h t, as C h u r c h ill s u g g e s te d , to have Laski
su sp en d ed o r c e n su re d , b u t t h a t was n o t Mr. A t t l e e ' s k ind
o f l e a d e r s h i p .
A t t l e e w is e ly chose to ig n o r e commenting d i r e c t l y
on H arold L a s k i 's i n t e r f e r e n c e . He chose n o t to be p e t t y
and a f f r o n t someone in h i s own p a r t y , p a r t i c u l a r l y th e new
Chairman o f th e N a tio n a l E x e c u tiv e . On th e c o n t r a r y , A ttle e
s a id :
118
In th e ranks o f th e Labour P a r ty are men w ith v i s i o n ,
e n th u sia sm and v a r i e d e x p e r ie n c e . My Labour c o lle a g u e s
have shown t h a t th e y can a d m in is te r g r e a t d e p a rtm e n ts ,
a c c e p t heavy r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s and p la n and c a r r y o u t
f a r - r e a c h i n g p o l i c i e s . We a re c o n fid e n t t h a t i f you
give Labour th e p ow er, i t can and w i l l le a d t h i s coun
t r y th ro u g h th e d a n g ers and d i f f i c u l t i e s o f th e tim e
i n to a h a p p ie r and s e c u r e r f u t u r e . 55
Hugh D alto n e v a l u a t e d A t t l e e ' s remarks to th e p r o b
lem as f a v o r a b l e :
The L aski a f f a i r was most i r r i t a t i n g , though I
d o n 't t h in k i t t u r n e d many v o te s a g a i n s t u s , and i t may
have en co u rag e d C h u r c h il l to lau n ch h i s b r o a d c a s t a t
ta c k on us as dangerous d i c t a t o r s , a new G estap o , e t c .
T h is , fo llo w e d by A t t l e e ' s q u i e t , r e a s o n a b le and con
s t r u c t i v e r e p l y , c e r t a i n l y t u r n e d many v o te s our way.
. . . L aski s h o u ld n o t have in te r v e n e d a t a l l on
C h u r c h i l l 's i n v i t a t i o n to A t t l e e . 5°
However, when A t t l e e su g g e ste d t h a t B eaverbrook and
P r o f e s s o r F r i e d r i c h A ugust von Hayek were the m a s te r minds
b e h in d C h u r c h ill and d i r e c t e d h i s a c t i o n s . ^ In a s e n s e ,
t h i s was a s i m i l a r k in d o f " m u d -slin g in g " as C h u r c h i l l 's
a c c u s a tio n s t h a t H a ro ld L aski d i r e c t e d th e a c t io n s o f A t t
l e e . A t t l e e ' s in d ic t m e n t o f C h u r c h i l l 's p o l i t i c a l a d v is o r s
may n o t have been as r e a s o n a b le as Hugh D alton s u g g e s te d .
However, p o l i t i c a l l y s p e a k in g , A t t l e e ' s charge was p r a g
m a tic and may have c a u se d th e e l e c t o r a t e to q u e s tio n C hur
c h i l l ' s a c t i o n s .
A t t l e e was n o t a pawn o f L a sk i. A ccording to
A neurin Bevan, " A t t l e e s k i l l f u l l y r e b u t t e d th e c h a r g e . "^8
A t t le e d id so th ro u g h p u b l is h e d l e t t e r s and sp e e c h e s . A
p r o v o c a tiv e exchange o f l e t t e r s was p u b l is h e d in The Times
119
d a i l y ; A t t l e e ' s s t r a t e g y was a p p a re n t when he s a i d , "I a l
ways c o n tr iv e d to g e t my r e p l i e s i n t o th e p r e s s th e same
day as h i s [ C h u r c h i l l 's ] l e t t e r s appeared."^®
The f i f t h f a c t o r in A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c a l problem was
h i s fo rm id a b le opponen t, W inston C h u r c h i l l . C h u r c h i l l 's
b r o a d c a s t on June 4 th changed th e campaign atm osphere of
p o s t- w a r good humor to b i t t e r i n v e c t i v e . C h u r c h ill
la u n c h e d a v i r u l e n t a t t a c k on s o c i a l i s m , w hich he d e s c r ib e d
as a b h o rr e n t to freedom and in s e p a r a b ly in terw o v en w ith
t o t a l i t a r i a n i s m . He c h arg ed t h a t s o c i a l i s t s found a f r e e
P a r lia m e n t o d io u s, would r e s o r t t o a G e stap o , and th r e a t-,
ened th e sa v in g s o f a l l c i t i z e n s . His d i a t r i b e may have
e x c i t e d a p u b l i c m e e tin g , b u t n o t p e o p le l i s t e n i n g q u i e t l y
i n t h e i r homes. I t was a m ista k e to a t t a c k Labour le a d e r s
l i k e A t t l e e , M o rriso n , B ev in , and C r ip p s , who had won the
r e s p e c t of th e p u b l i c f o r t h e i r l o y a l s e r v i c e in the c o a l i
t i o n governm ent. "Mr. C h u r c h i l l 's sp eech d id much to lo s e
th e 1945 e l e c t i o n f o r th e C o n s e r v a t i v e s ," s a i d Anthony
E d e n . 60 A n o th er p o l i t i c a l a n a l y s t s a i d o f C h u r c h i l l 's
s p e e c h , "The e l e c t o r a t e was shocked by t h i s e x c u rs io n in to
p a r t y p o l i t i c s o f th e most v i t r i o l i c and u n c o n s tr u c tiv e
t y p e . "61 W in sto n 's a d d re s s e s s u g g e s te d t h a t in p o l i t i c a l
a f f a i r s h is judgment was l e s s sound and n o t so w e ll con
c e iv e d as in m i l i t a r y m a t t e r s .
V i r g i n i a Cowles, C h u r c h i l l 's f r i e n d and b io g r a p h e r ,
r e c a l l e d h e r e x p e rie n c e s upon h e a r i n g C h u r c h i l l 's v i t r i o l i c
120
b r o a d c a s t. She s a i d :
C h u r c h ill h i m s e l f d id n o t add to h is own ch an c es. I f
th e p u b l i c n e ed e d a rem inder t h a t he had always been
r e j e c t e d as a p e a c e -tim e l e a d e r on the grounds o f b a d
judgm ent and i n s t a b i l i t y , th ey had i t , ' to use a f i g u r e
o f sp e e c h , s t r a i g h t from the h o r s e 's mouth. O v e rn ig h t
th e s ta te s m a n v a n is h e d and in h is p la c e a p p e a re d ah
i r r e s p o n s i b l e p o l i t i c i a n h u r lin g in v e c tiv e a t h i s o p
p o n e n ts and o f f e r i n g few p ro p o s a ls of h i s own. He
sounded th e f i r s t gun in a rad io b r o a d c a s t t e l l i n g th e
c o u n try t h a t S o c ia lis m would r e s u l t in "a G e s ta p o ."
I t was a c h i l d i s h b lu n d e r to a t t a c k Labour l e a d e r s l i k e
A t t l e e , M o rris o n , B ev in , C r i p p s , who had won th e r e
s p e c t and a d m ir a tio n o f th e p u b l ic f o r t h e i r l o y a l
s e r v i c e in W in s to n 's C o a li t io n Government. I h e a rd th e
b r o a d c a s t a t Lord R o th e rm e re 's house and I remember th e
s i l e n c e when he f i n i s h e d . " I f he c o n tin u e s l i k e t h a t , "
s a i d o u r h o s t , " th e e l e c t i o n is as good as l o s t . "
W indston d id n o t change h i s t a c t i c s .
M oreover, A t t l e e e v e n ly d iv id e d the b r o a d c a s t a p
p e a ls among h i s c o lle a g u e s w hereas C h u rc h ill u se d a l l th e
C o n se rv a tiv e tim e f o r h im s e lf . A neurin Bevan r e f l e c t e d on
th e manner in w hich C h u r c h il l had conducted the cam paign:
. . . The v o ic e o f C h u r c h ill dominated th e e t h e r (he
b r o a d c a s t fo u r tim e s t o A t t l e e ' s o n e); h is f e a t u r e s ,
re p ro d u c e d a m i l l i o n - f o l d were p l a s t e r e d on t h e w a l ls
o f e v e ry town, v i l l a g e and h am let; every word t h a t
dropped from h i s l i p s was a m p lif ie d , every g e s t u r e made
d u rin g h i s t o u r s o f th e c o u n try and the c a p i t a l was
a b s u r d ly m a g n ifie d by pow erful newspapers sworn to h i s
s e r v i c e . A l l t h i s . . . was a d e g ra d a tio n o f democracy.
I f i t su c c e e d e d the consequences could be s e r i o u s ,
p a r t i c u l a r l y s i n c e C h u r c h il l was p ro fo u n d ly b o re d by
th e g r e a t d o m e stic i s s u e s w ith which the c o u n try w ould
be f a c e d . 63
A t t l e e , on th e o th e r h a n d , was again i n complete c o n t r a s t
w ith h i s r o l e as c a p t a i n o f th e Labour team, n o t d i c t a t o r or
dom inator o f L abour.
A t t l e e ' s re sp o n se th e fo llo w in g evening was in com-
p l e t e c o n t r a s t . He e a s i l y d is p o s e d o f C h u r c h i l l 's vague
121
c h arg es t h a t s o c i a l i s t would develop a G estapo and t h r e a t e n
th e p r i v a t e sa v in g s of a l l c i t i z e n s and d e s tr o y freedom .
Few had ta k e n C h u r c h ill s e r i o u s l y . A t t l e e gave a re a so n e d
e x p o s i t i o n o f L a b o u r's c o n s t r u c t i v e p o l i c i e s . He speech
was r e l a t i v e l y u n a l t e r e d d e s p i te C h u r c h i l l 's f i e r y rem arks;
he d i s p e l l e d doubt on C h u r c h i l l 's u n s u b s t a n t i a t e d ch arges
and th en d e l i v e r e d h i s a d d re ss as p la n n e d . Both A t t le e and
Bevin b e li e v e d t h a t C h u r c h ill fo llo w e d th e i l l ad vice o f
B eaverbrook and A t t l e e even s a i d so i n h i s a d d re s s . The
exchange was to th e advantage o f Clem ent A t t l e e , whose
p r e s t i g e was much enhanced by h i s calm , r a t i o n a l r e s p o n s e .
Edward Murrow e x p la in e d t h a t th e choice between
C h u r c h il l and A t t l e e was s t r i k i n g l y d i f f e r e n t ; and th e
e l e c t i o n r e s u l t s , win or l o s e , would p ro v e A t t l e e a k in d o f
w in n e r. Murrow e x p la in e d :
I t i s u n l i k e l y t h a t two more d i s s i m i l a r men e v e r
c o n te s t e d f o r h ig h o f f i c e th an Mr. W inston C h u r c h ill
and Clement A t t l e e . Mr. C h u r c h il l i s a h ig h ly v i s i b l e
man; Mr. A t t l e e i s s c a r c e l y n o t i c e a b l e . . . . He i s
j u s t a m odest, ste a d y l i t t l e man doing h i s jo b . I f he
i s r e t u r n e d to pow er, i t w i l l be done in la r g e measure
by th e women of B r i t a i n , f o r t h e r e are about two and
a h a l f m i l l i o n more women th an men v o tin g h e r e , and i f
he i s flu n g o u t o f o f f i c e , h i s p o l i c i e s r e v e r s e d , he
w i l l c o n tin u e to e n jo y , even from h i s p o l i t i c a l oppo
n e n t s , th e r e s p e c t t h a t i s due to a m odest man o f
g r e a t i n t e g r i t y . 64
C o n se q u e n tly , A t t l e e ' s approach to p o l i t i c s made him a w in
n e r b e f o r e th e r e s u l t s were t a l l i e d . Of c o u r s e , a f t e r th e
e l e c t i o n r e s u l t s were i n , th e v i c t o r y f o r Labour was o u t
s ta n d in g .
122
The f i f t h p roblem which A t t l e e fa c e d i n h i s 1945
e l e c t i o n b r o a d c a s t was th e a d a p ta tio n to th e m edia. Con
t r a r y to C h u r c h i l l , A t t l e e used th e b r o a d c a s t in g medium well
in th e p e r s u a s io n o f th e 1945 e l e c t o r a t e . A t t l e e c o n s id
e r e d th e r a d io au dien ce a r e f l e c t i v e , r e a s o n a b le group l i k e
h im s e lf . He s a i d , ’’The in f lu e n c e of th e r a d i o , h a s , I
t h i n k , o p e r a t e d to make e l e c t i o n a u d ie n c e s more t h o u g h tf u l
and more d e s ir o u s o f l i s t e n i n g to s o l i d reasoning. Con
s e q u e n t l y , A t t l e e approached h i s a d d re ss in a r e a s o n a b le
manner.
The B.B.C. was c o n s id e re d p o l i t i c a l l y n e u t r a l . Ten
a d d re s s e s were allo w ed f o r each p a r t y in one o f th e f i r s t
p o l i t i c a l r a d io d e b a te s in G reat B r i t a i n . C h u r c h il l u sed
th e medium in a p u g i l i s t i c and i r r e s p o n s i b l e m anner. For
i n s t a n c e , C h u r c h ill a cc u sed Labour o f "G estapo t a c t i c s . " ^
The fo llo w in g n i g h t when A t t l e e sp o k e , th e c o n t r a s t was o b
v io u s . In a d d i t i o n , o f the te n a d d re s s e s a llo w e d f o r the
C o n s e r v a tiv e s , C h u r c h ill dom inated th e scene w ith f o u r . On
the o th e r h a n d , th e Labour p a r t y d iv id e d i t s tim e e q u a l ly
betw een t e n s e p a r a t e s p e a k e r s . A t t l e e , th e p a r t y l e a d e r ,
s u g g e s te d and approved t h i s approach. He s t a r t e d th e La
b o u r a d d re s s e s w ith a g e n e ra l s ta te m e n t o f p a r t y p o l i c i e s
and a s k i l l f u l r e b u t t a l o f C h u r c h i l l ’s rem ark s.
The 1945 e l e c t i o n was c o m p a ra tiv e ly q u i e t , and
th e r e was t h i n a tte n d a n c e a t e l e c t i o n m e e tin g s , u n d o u b ted ly
123
because o f the p r e - e l e c t i o n b r o a d c a s t s . R. B. McCallum and
A liso n Readman r e p o r te d :
These [b ro a d c a s ts ] were l i s t e n e d to by a s u r p r i s i n g l y
l a r g e p a r t of th e p o p u l a t i o n . The B.B.C. e s tim a te d
t h a t the average a u d ie n ce f o r each o f th e s e b ro a d c a s ts
was 44.9 p e r c e n t o f th e a d u l t p o p u l a t i o n . The f ig u re
d id n o t v ary much from day to day, from week to week,
o r between one p a r t y and a n o th e r . The av erages f o r
the L ib e r a l and Labour p a r t i e s were b o th 44.5 p e r c e n t.
The C o n se rv ativ e f i g u r e was 0 .9 p e r c e n t h i g h e r , b u t
t h i s was e n t i r e l y due t o th e speech es o f Mr. C h u r c h il l ,
whose average was 49 p e r c e n t . These l i s t e n i n g f ig u r e s
are p e c u l i a r l y s t r i k i n g b e ca u se few spoken word b roads
c a s t s come anywhere n e a r t h i s . They a re n orm ally only
re a c h e d by the most p o p u la r v a r i e t y p r o g r a m m e s . 67
In e f f e c t , the method o f ra d io cam paigning r e v o l u
t i o n i z e d the n a tu r e o f B r i t i s h e l e c t i o n s . The i n t e r e s t
s h i f t e d from th e lo c a l f i g h t to n a t i o n a l i s s u e s , and from
th e l o c a l c a n d id a te t o th e le a d in g champions o f the p a r t i e s .
M oreover, the r o le of th e e l e c t o r became more r a t i o n a l ,
c r i t i c a l , and p a s s i v e . Readman and McCallum e x p la in e d :
. . . the c o n d itio n s und er w hich th e e l e c t o r i s p e r
suad ed , and th e n a tu r e o f t h i s p e r s u a s i o n , w i l l have
undergone a s u b t l e b u t p ro fo u n d change. Many o f tho se
f a c t o r s which fo rm e rly te n d e d to d i s t r a c t him from
r a t i o n a l and c r i t i c a l th o u g h t a re e l i m in a te d under the
new method. The e x p o s i t i o n o f p o l ic y which i s o f f e r e d
n o t only by one b u t by a l l p a r t i e s te n d s to be more
l u c i d and i n t e l l e c t u a l l y a b le th an t h a t d e li v e r e d from
th e l o c a l p l a t f o r m . . . . But p e rh a p s the most s i g n i f i
c a n t d i f f e r e n c e i s t h a t th e e lem en t o f mass em otion,
which i s always l i a b l e to a r i s e and sweep through la rg e
c o n g re g a tio n s o f p e o p l e , i n t e n s i f y i n g t h e i r p a ssio n s
and clo u d in g t h e i r ju d g m en t, i s e n t i r e l y a b s e n t. . . .
i f i n t e r e s t in l o c a l m e e tin g s d e c l in e d . . . the ro le
o f th e e l e c t o r becomes more p a s s i v e . 68
A t t l e e s u c c e s s f u l l y a d a p te d to th e b r o a d c a s tin g con
d i t i o n s o f h is day. A t l a s t , he found a moment in h i s t o r y
when h i s calm, r a t i o n a l advocacy m atched th e mood o f h is
124
l i s t e n i n g a u d ie n c e . P erhaps J . R. Clynes b e s t summed up
A t t l e e ' s a b i l i t y as a s p e a k e r in t h i s r e g a rd :
His o r a t o r y m ust be a s s e s s e d on a b a s i s o f w hat he says
and n o t how he say s i t . There are men who c a n , w ith
much s a t i s f a c t i o n to th e l i s t e n e r s , u t t e r "an i n f i n i t e
d e a l o f n o t h i n g , " and w ith th e a id o f some t r i c k s o f
em phasis and m anner, le a v e th e im p re ss io n o f h a v in g
spoken w e l l . He i s n o t o f t h a t c l a s s . He say s l i t t l e
w ith h i s hands and n e v e r bangs the t a b l e . The E n g lis h
lan guag e i s h i s medium, and lo g ic th e co re o f e v e ry
c o n s id e r e d u t t e r a n c e . He re a so n s w ith h i s h e a r e r s by
w e ig h t o f a rg u m e n t.69
A t t l e e ' s a d d re s s was r e a s o n a b le .
In a d d i t i o n to th e medium o f r a d i o , a l l o f th e La
b o u r 's v i c t o r i e s w ere won in th e face o f o p p o s i t io n from a
s u b s t a n t i a l p o r t i o n o f th e p r e s s . A t t le e l e d h i s p a r t y to
v i c t o r y in th e fa c e o f o p p o s i t io n from a la r g e s e c i o n o f
th e " n a t i o n a l p r e s s. I n the e l e c t i o n o f 1945 , i t was
e s t im a t e d t h a t th e Labour p a r t y was su p p o rte d by London
d a i l i e s w ith a combined c i r c u l a t i o n of 6 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 . At the
same tim e , th e C o n s e rv a tiv e s had th e s u p p o r t o f th e London
p a p e rs w ith a c i r c u l a t i o n o f 6 ,8 0 0 ,0 0 0 .
Most new sp apers f u l l y e x p e c te d C h u r c h il l to w in,
and most p r e d i c t i o n s were f o r a C o n se rv a tiv e v i c t o r y . Even
th e D a ily H e ra ld and the New L eader tho u g h t t h a t C h u r c h il l 's
p e r s o n a l p o p u l a r i t y would r e t u r n him to o f f i c e . Too few
p a id a t t e n t i o n to a G allup su rv ey tak en about t e n days b e
f o re th e p o l l ; i t r e v e a l e d 47 p e r c e n t f o r L abou r, 41 p e r
c e n t f o r C o n s e r v a tiv e s and a l l i e s , and 10 p e r c e n t f o r l i b -
72
e r a l s ; th e p r e d i c t i o n came w i t h in about 1 p e r c e n t accuracy.
125
A t t l e e ’s g e n e ra l r e a c t i o n to th e p r e s s was o f te n
one o f i n d i f f e r e n c e . He n e v e r behaves as though he c r e d
i t e d th e p r e s s w ith much p o l i t i c a l i n f l u e n c e . ? 3 During the
1945 cam paign, he seemed s l i g h t l y more aware o f th e p r e s s ,
in o r d e r to p r e s e n t e f f e c t i v e l y L a b o u r's p o l i c i e s . He
seemed to p r e f e r b r o a d c a s t in g o r a d d re s s in g th e e l e c t o r a t e
in p e rs o n . Every e l e c t i o n y e a r , he and h is w ife f a i t h f u l l y
to u r e d th e c o u n try from one soap box to a n o th e r , w ith a
r e p o r t e r in th e shadows. A t t l e e s a i d , "Our u n o s t e n ta ti o u s
method o f t r a v e l . . . was g iven a g r e a t d e a l o f prom inence
in th e p r e s s .
A t t l e e p ro b a b ly had mixed f e e l i n g s ab o u t newspaper
r e p o r t i n g . From a p ra g m a tic p o i n t o f view , he knew i t s
c o n s id e r a b le e f f e c t s . However, a t tim es he d i s l i k e d ad m it
t i n g i t s im p o rta n c e . For exam ple, from the days he was
P o s tm a s te r G e n eral in 1931, he a d m itte d .
I s t a r t e d a d v e r t i s i n g th e P o s t O ff ic e i n the news
p a p e r s , and have n e v e r f o r g o t t e n th e f r a n k a ssu ran ce
given to me in p u b l i c by a new spaper magnate to th e
e f f e c t t h a t t h e r e was a v e ry c lo s e l i n k betw een th e
a d v e r t i s i n g and e d i t o r i a l management o f h is new spapers
and t h a t a n y th in g g iven to th e f i r s t had an immediate
e f f e c t on the second. I found t h a t he was q u i te r i g h t :
a sm all e x p e n d itu r e y i e l d i n g good r e s u l t s .
However, d u rin g C r ip p s ' a tte m p t to remove A t t l e e in 1948
from le a d e r s h ip o f the p a r t y , A t t l e e rem ained u n p e rtu rb e d .
S t i l l l e s s d id he concern h i m s e l f w ith what th e new spapers
had t o say . He was " a l l e r g i c to n ew sp a p ers" in h is own
w ords, and r a r e l y b o th e r e d t o re a d any b u t The Times and
126
the D aily H e r a ld . ^ M oreover, the r u t h le s s n e s s o f th e news
p a p e rs in G reat B r i t a i n b o th e re d A t t le e on o c c a s io n , In
1950 when E r n e s t B evin , h is F o re ig n S e c r e ta r y , was d e a th ly
i l l , A t t l e e w ro te :
He clung on. The d o c to rs were o f t e n r e a l l y q u i t e
h o p e fu l and he hung on as long as he c o u ld , but he was
s u f f e r i n g i n t e n s e l y . I d o n 't th in k i t a f f e c t e d h i s
judgm ent a lth o u g h some o f th e new spapers t r i e d to say
i t d id and k e p t up a b i t t e r a t t a c k . They a re more
generous i n such m a tte r s in America th an th e y are h e r e .
When D u lle s was i l l th ey c ra c k e d him up and w anted him
to s t a y on, b u t as soon as E rn ie was s ic k the T o rie s
s t a r t e d how ling f o r h is b lo o d . . . .77
F o r t u n a t e l y , A t t l e e d id n o t a n ta g o n iz e th e p r e s s in th e
1945 cam paign, and th e p r e s s was q u i t e fa v o r a b le to him.
His sp e ec h es on t o u r were a d e q u a te ly covered , h i s l e t t e r s
to C h u r c h il l c o n c e rn in g L aski were p r i n t e d the same day i n
respon se t o C h u r c h i l l 's a c c u s a t i o n s , and h i s modest methods
o f p o l i t i c i z i n g .
The U n ite d S t a t e s Congress 1945
B efore Clem ent A t t l e e l e f t f o r the U n ited S t a t e s i n
November, 1945 , he was the g u e s t o f the American O utpost in
G reat B r i t a i n a t w hich Mr. A. L. W inant, th e American Am
b a s s a d o r, s a i d t h a t Am erica l i k e d a man who s a i d what he
thought and was f e a r l e s s in doing s o . ^ Winant b e lie v e d
A t t l e e was th e k in d o f s p e a k e r who s a id e x a c tl y what he
th o u g h t. A t t l e e , d u r in g h i s t r i p to W ashington, d id say as
p r e c i s e l y as p o s s i b l e e x a c t l y w hat he tho ugh t about th e
U n ited N a tio n s , th e Labour p a r t y , and the atom ic bomb.
127
However, h i s comments were tem pered to p e rs u a d e h i s A m eri
can l i s t e n e r s on the is s u e o f B r i t i s h f i n a n c i a l n e e d s. One
A m erican a u th o r d e s c r ib e d b o th American and B r i t i s h a u d i
e n ce s a t t h i s tim e t o be an a l e r t and t h in k i n g p u b l i c on
whose o p in io n s p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s r e l i e d f o r t h e i r s u p p o r t .^9
T h is s t a te m e n t was A t t l e e ’ s echo o f b e l i e f i n th e ra n k -a n d -
f i l e o f L a b o u rite s and the d e m o c r a tiz a tio n p r o c e s s in
g e n e r a l .
A t t l e e fa c e d th r e e o b s t a c l e s in h i s a d d re ss to the
U n ite d S t a t e s C on gress. F i r s t , th e o v e r r i d i n g o b j e c t i v e o f
A t t l e e ' s week long v i s i t was to d is c u s s w o rld a f f a i r s w ith
P r e s i d e n t Truman and P rem ier Mackenzie King from Canada.
T h e i r p a r t i c u l a r focus was c o n tr o l o f ato m ic in f o r m a tio n
and th e bomb. Second, A t t l e e t r i e d to b re a k the s ta le m a te
on th e U n ite d S t a te s lo an to B r i t a i n . T h i r d , he w ished to
g a in some r e s p e c t f o r and knowledge o f th e Labour p a r t y by
many A m ericans. T his l a t t e r aim was im p e r a tiv e i n o r d e r
f o r th e f i r s t two o b j e c t i v e s to have a m ea n in g fu l e f f e c t
and to cement a l a s t i n g Anglo-American r e l a t i o n s h i p .
B efore A t t l e e ' s a d d re ss to C o n g re ss, he spoke a t a
s t a t e d in n e r f o r f i f t y - t w o . Truman d i s c u s s e d A m e ric a 's
f o r e i g n p o l i c y w ith th e group. A t t l e e r e f e r r e d to Truman's
s p e e c h , and s a i d t h a t most o f a l l , a u n i v e r s a l f o r e i g n p o l
ic y was needed to p ro v id e freedom and democracy f o r a l l
80
p e o p l e s . Clement A t t le e a d v is e d , "What we a re out f o r ,
128
to d ay i s to t r y and d e v is e a w o rld p o l i c y o f th e common
man.
The t h r e e l e a d e r s jo u rn e y e d to A r lin g to n N a tio n a l
Cem etary, the Tomb o f th e Unknown S o l d i e r , and down the
Potomac, b e fo re A t t l e e ' s a d d re ss on November 13, 1945.
Aboard th e y a c h t down th e Potomac, A t t l e e o f f e r e d t h i s
t h r e e - p o i n t program to th e c o n fe r e e s :
That the U n ite d S t a t e s , G re a t B r i t a i n and Canada,
th e th r e e h o ld e r s o f th e bomb s e c r e t , agree t o sh a re
a l l th e in fo r m a tio n on atom ic e n erg y w ith th e members
o f the S e c u rity C o u n c il o f the UNO.
That a l l f u tu r e s c i e n t i f i c d i s c o v e r i e s be sh a re d
by members o f the U n ited N a tio n s .
That th e th r e e c o u n tr i e s y i e l d t h e i r in f o rm a tio n on
atom ic power only i f th ey are g iv en i r o n c l a d g u a ra n te e s
t h a t o th e r n a t i o n s [R u ssia ] w i l l work w ith h o n e sty and
f r a n k n e s s , i n c o o p e r a tio n w ith th e UNO.82
T his p r o p o s a l and th e p r i v a t e c o n fe re n c e s s e t th e
scene f o r A t t l e e ' s t a l k t o C ong ress. He r e f e r r e d to atom ic
energ y only once and r a t h e r v a g u ely i n h i s a d d re s s . The
c o n te n t o f the c o n fe re n c e s was to rem ain a s e c r e t u n t i l a
j o i n t c o n c lu sio n had been re a c h e d . N e v e r t h e l e s s , s in c e the
t a l k s were forem ost in A t t l e e ' s m ind, he was com pelled to
m ention h is su p p o rt o f c o n t r o l l i n g th e atom ic bomb thro u g h
the U n ite d N atio n s i n o r d e r to m a in ta in w o rld p e a c e .
A t t l e e argued
t h a t th e U n ite d N a tio n s O r g a n iz a tio n must be taken
s e r i o u s l y o r n o t a t a l l and t h a t i t s c o n tr o l by th e
o r g a n i z a t i o n s S e c u r i t y C ouncil i s a n e c e s s a r y p re lu d e
to w h o le -h e a r te d c o o p e r a tio n by S o v ie t R u ssia f o r
w o rld p e a c e .83
B efore th e w ar, B r i t a i n h ad begun atom ic r e s e a r c h ,
129
and d u rin g th e war combined e f f o r t s w ith Canada and th e
U n ited S t a t e s . In 1941, accum ulated in f o r m a tio n and B r i t
i s h s c i e n t i s t s were s e n t to the U n ite d S t a t e s . A t t l e e
w anted to c o n tin u e th e exchange o f in f o r m a tio n among th e
th r e e c o u n t r i e s . He a ls o w anted to work tow ard a U n ite d
N a tio n s atom ic, p o ol o f in f o r m a tio n , i f th e S o v ie ts would
s t a t e t h e i r aims and adhere to them.
C o n se q u e n tly , fo llo w in g A t t l e e ' s a d d re ss to Con
g r e s s , A t t l e e , Truman, and Mackenzie King i s s u e d a j o i n t
s ta te m e n t w hich e x p re s s e d t h e i r w i l l i n g n e s s to sh a re on a
r e c i p r o c a l b a s i s w ith o t h e r U n ited N a tio n s d e t a i l e d i n f o r
m ation on th e p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f atom ic en erg y " j u s t
as soon as e f f e c t i v e e n fo r c e a b le s a fe g u a rd s a g a i n s t i t s use
f o r d e s t r u c t i v e p u rp o se s can be d e v i s e d . " ^ A t t l e e ' s p e r
s u a s iv e id e a s were s u c c e s s f u l once a g a in .
U n f o r t u n a t e ly , A t t l e e ' s su c c e ss was s h o r t - l i v e d .
D e sp ite and agreem ent f o r " f u l l and e f f e c t i v e c o o p e r a tio n
in th e f i e l d o f atom ic e n e r g y ," 88 l a t e r C o n g re s s io n a l o p i n
ion was a g a i n s t i t . The McMahon Act o f 1946 e s t a b l i s h e d the
Atomic Energy Commission and c o n ta in e d r e s t r i c t i o n s upon
d i s s e m in a tio n o f in f o r m a tio n t h a t ended hope o f c o n tin u e d
c o o p e r a t i o n . C o n se q u e n tly , B r i t a i n was f o r c e d to d u p l i c a t e
c o s t l y e x p e rim e n ts in th e developm ent o f n u c l e a r power in
o r d e r to g a in adequate atom ic energy i n f o r m a t i o n . 8^
A t t l e e ' s approach to the problem o f h a n d lin g atom ic
e n e rg y was p a r a l l e l to h is 1934 p r o p o s a l to p o o l armed
130
f o r c e s f o r w o rld s e c u r i t y . On J u l y 1 3 th , 1934, A t t le e made
t h i s s ta te m e n t in th e House o f Commons:
. . . th e Labour P a r t y i s c o n v in c ed t h a t i n th e absence
o f a w orld scheme o f p o o le d s e c u r i t y , th e p o l ic y of
re d u c in g n a t i o n a l armed f o r c e s in r e t u r n f o r i n t e r -
n a t i o n a l g u a ra n te e s o f s e c u r i t y , backed by i n t e r n a
t i o n a l armed f o r c e s , may be prom oted by S t a te s w i t h in
th e League c o n clu d in g a g reem en ts u n d er A r t i c l e 21 o f
th e Covenant. W e s h o u ld form no e x c lu s iv e a l l i a n c e s ;
we sh o u ld make an o f f e r to a l l n a t i o n s to come i n on
e q u a l t e r m s . 8?
In e s s e n c e , A t t le e d e v is e d a p l a n to p o o l th e s t r o n g e s t
f o r c e s th ro u g h th e League o f N a tio n s in 1934. In c o n t r a s t ,
he d e v is e d a p la n to p o o l ato m ic in f o r m a tio n which was th e
s t r o n g e s t m i l i t a r y fo rc e i n 1945 th ro u g h th e U n ited N a tio n s .
A t t l e e ' s a d d re ss d e m o n s tra te d t h a t B r i t a i n u n s e l f
i s h l y d e s i r e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n t r o l o f atom ic energy. With
only a few w ords, A t t l e e e x p r e s s e d th e p r o g r e s s i v e , s o c i a l
i s t i c concept o f concern f o r th e e n t i r e w o rld . The e d i t o r
o f The New R ep u b lic rem arked:
I f we [America] c o n tin u e a lo n g t h i s n a t i o n a l i s t i c ro a d ,
G re at B r i t a i n w i l l ta k e s i m i l a r a c t i o n . . . . G reat
B r i t a i n , we know [from A t t l e e ] , B r i t i s h p u b l i c o p in io n
i s f a r in advance o f Am erican i n demanding t h i s s o l u
t i o n . . . . 88
C l i f t o n U tley in The L i s t e n e r a g re e d t h a t A t t l e e ' s c o n t r i
b u tio n s to th e Anglo agreem ent, were o u t s ta n d in g . U tle y
s a id :
To me i t i s an i n s p i r i n g document which a t one s t r o k e
sh o u ld do much t o c l e a r th e i n t e r n a t i o n a l atm osphere
and b re a k the c u r r e n t w o rld im p a sse. The g re a t con
t r i b u t i o n s o f y o u r B r i t i s h Prim e M i n i s t e r to t h i s
document are c l e a r th ro u g h o u t i t s t e x t , and I t r u l y
f e e l t h a t we Am ericans owe him a v a s t d eb t o f g r a t i
tu de . 89
131
Thus, A t t l e e ' s a d d re ss to Congress in a d d i t i o n to th e r h e t
o r i c o f th e p r i v a t e c o n fe re n c e s was marked in th e f i n a l
document approved by the th r e e heads of S t a t e .
The e d i t o r o f The New York Times a ls o rem arked a t
A t t l e e ' s c o n s i d e r a b le c o n t r i b u t i o n to w o rld p e a c e :
Of a l l th e s e [peace] p r o p o s a l s , Mr. A t t l e e ' s p la n f o r
coping w ith th e atom ic bomb i s u n d o u b ted ly th e most
s i g n i f i c a n t , as a l l o th e r s may depend on i t . And i t
d e riv e s s p e c i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e from th e a p o c a ly p t i c
v i s i o n o f th e h o r r o r s o f the n e x t w ar. . . . I f ,
t h e r e f o r e , Mr. A t t l e e ' s p r o p o s a l is l i m i t e d to th e
p o o lin g o f fundam en tal s c i e n t i f i c in f o r m a tio n i t i s
l i k e l y to f i n d American ap p ro v a l and s u p p o r t, e s p e c i
a l l y i f i t accom p lishes i t s purpose o f r e s t o r i n g
i n t e r - A l l i e d c o o p e r a t i o n .90
A t t l e e rem inded Am ericans in h i s ad d re ss to Congress t h a t
Am erican had been s p a r e d many h o r r o r s o f World War I I , b u t
in a f u t u r e war a l l th e w o rld would pay th e p r i c e o f a n n i
h i l a t i o n . Then he m entioned b r i e f l y h i s p r o p o s a l f o r p eace.
His c o n s t r u c t i v e s u g g e s tio n in a d d it i o n to h i s w arning s o f
a n o th e r war d e m o n stra te d h i s p o s i t i v e p e r s o n a l i t y w hich
p e r s i s t e n t l y p u rs u e d p e a c e .
The seco n d c o n s t r a i n t A t t l e e fa c e d was to convince
Am ericans o f B r i t a i n ' s need f o r f i n a n c i a l a id . B r i t a i n ' s
econom ic n e ed s were obvious t o B r ito n s . The U n ite d S t a t e s
emerged from th e war as the s o le g r e a t c r e d i t o r n a t i o n .
L o g i c a l l y , A t t l e e had to ap p ea l to U n ite d S t a t e s p r o s p e r i t y .
He s u b t l y m en tio n ed B r i t a i n ' s r e l a t i v e p o v e rty th ro u g h
r e f e r e n c e s to th e s p a re d a t t a c k on American s o i l , to th e
la c k o f a f u t u r e econom ic r i v a l r y betw een th e U n ite d S t a t e s
132
and B r i t a i n , and to a g e n e r a l B r i t i s h d e s i r e f o r American
f r i e n d s h i p . The l a t t e r r e q u e s t was p a r t o f a t a s k t h a t was
n o t always e a s y . B r i t i s h p r i d e h a te d to a d j u s t to the r o le
o f j u n i o r p a r t n e r , b u t th e c o u n t r y 's economic e x h a u stio n
becau se o f th e war com pelled i t . 9^
A t t l e e e x p la in e d th e i n c r e d i b l e s e r io u s n e s s of
B r i t a i n ' s f i n a n c i a l p rob lem s in c e Lend-Lease was sto pped .
He w r o t e :
W e were c lo s e l y i n t e g r a t e d w ith th e U n ite d S ta te s
economy th ro u g h th e o p e r a t i o n of L end-L ease, and t h i s
had meant t h a t we had n o t had to w orry abou t our su p
p l i e s o f food and raw m a t e r i a l s o r about our o v e rse a s
paym ents. Now, in a moment, a l l t h i s was b ro u g h t to
an end. I do n o t know w h e th e r P r e s i d e n t Truman could
have c o n tin u e d Lend-Lease f o r a re a s o n a b le p e r io d in
o r d e r to give us tim e f o r r e d e p lo y in g our i n d u s t r y ,
b u t in f a c t he d id n o t . I doubt i f th e American admin
i s t r a t i o n r e a l i z e d how s e r i o u s was th e blow i t s t r u c k .
W e were fa c e d a t once w ith an a c u te c r i s i s . Loans
were e s s e n t i a l to t i d e us o v e r a v ery d i f f i c u l t
p e r i o d . 93
With t h i s c r i s i s c l e a r l y in m ind, A t t l e e f e l t enormous
p r e s s u r e s to se c u re American a c c e p ta n c e o f a lo a n . However,
he r e a l i z e d th e n a tu r e o f h i s au dience in America a t t h a t
tim e , and t h e r e f o r e made h i s a p p e a l f o r funds very i n d i r e c t
o r s u b t l e . His a n a l y s i s o f the American audience in 1945
was e x p re s s e d in h i s M em oirs;
The le a d in g o f f i c i a l s a t the S t a te D epartm ent and
the T re a su ry were s y m p a th e tic . But American p u b lic
o p in io n was p r e - o c c u p i e d w ith i t s own p o s t-w a r problem s
and i t d id n o t w ant to be rem inded t h a t p e r head o f
p o p u l a t i o n th e B r i t i s h h a d made a much l a r g e r c o n t r i
b u tio n to v i c t o r y th a n th e U n ite d S t a t e s . Moreover i t
was s u s p ic io u s o f a n y th in g t h a t seemed l i k e l y to b r in g
to o la r g e or too p erm an en t an e n ta n g le m e n t in European
133
a f f a i r s . . . . The American people w anted to g e t on
w ith t h e i r own a f f a i r s and re tu r n to " n o r m a l it y ” as
soon as th e y c o u l d . 94
C o n se q u e n tly , A t t l e e f e l t h i s sta te m e n t would be more v a l u
a b le to th e B r i t i s h economy i f he g ained t r u s t in th e
Labour governm ent by A m ericans. D isc u ssio n o f th e t h i r d
c o n s t r a i n t showed t h a t A t t l e e devoted m ost o f h i s sp e ec h to
j u s t i f i c a t i o n o f Labour p a r t y p r i n c i p l e s and p o l i c i e s .
P e rh ap s A t t l e e ' s la c k o f d i r e c t s ta te m e n t on B r i t
i s h f i n a n c i a l a i d d e m o n stra te d a f a m i l i a r stu b b o rn B r i t i s h
p r id e and an a f f e c t i o n f o r s u b t l e t y when r e q u i s i t i o n i n g
fu n d s. N e v e r t h e l e s s , A t t l e e ' s speech prom pted Raymond
Moley to say :
A t t l e e ' s t r a i n i n g and background have n o t e n a b le d him
to sp eak a t le n g t h o f th o se b ig i n t e r n a t i o n a l q u e s t io n s
which w ould have i n t e r e s t e d us more. B r i t a i n ' s a p p l i
c a tio n f o r a l o a n , th e tr o u b le s o f the moment i n th e
e m p ir e 's f a r r e a c h e s , P a l e s t i n e and R u ss ia r e l a t i o n s he
to u ch ed upon only l i g h t l y . . . .93
However, A t t l e e th o u g h t i t more im p o r ta n t to gain
American t r u s t o f Labour p h ilo so p h y and program i n hopes
Americans w ould e v e n t u a l l y r i s k f i n a n c i a l s u p p o rt o f th e
B r i t i s h economy. C o n tra ry to M oley's s u g g e s t i o n , A t t l e e ' s
t r a i n i n g and backgrou nd q u a l i f i e d him t o speak a t g r e a t
le n g th on any o f th e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s u b j e c t s Moley m entioned.
A t t l e e was J u n i o r Prime M i n i s t e r during the w a r, s t u d i e d
B r i t i s h economy w e l l f o r o v e r twenty y e a r s and was once an
economics p r o f e s s o r , and a ls o was f a m i l i a r w ith Common
w e a lth r e l a t i o n s h i p s and p ro b lem s. A. J . P. T a y lo r r e
134
marked t h a t A t t l e e was e l e c t e d by B r ito n s because o f h is
em phasis on dom estic i s s u e s . ^ B r ito n s sim ply w anted an
im proved Anglo-American r e l a t i o n s h i p , and American loan o r
a id f o r the dom estic econom ic p ro b le m s, more in fo rm a tio n on
atom ic e n e rg y , and agreem ent on th e e s t a b lis h m e n t of a
U n ite d N a tio n s . Each o f th e s e A t t l e e m entioned in h i s ad
d r e s s . I f Moley were c o r r e c t on American c u r i o s i t y and im
m a t u r i t y , t h a t Americans p r e f e r r e d more s e n s a t i o n a l t a l k o f
c r i s e s around th e w o rld , th e n A t t l e e d id n o t accommodate
th e American audience i n t h a t r e g a r d .
The f i n a n c i a l c irc u m s ta n c e s o f B r i t a i n were complex.
Given tim e and a i d , th e governm ent hoped to r e s t o r e th e
s h a t t e r e d economy. But Labour had h a rd ly tak e n o f f i c e when
th e American le n d - l e a s e program was a b r u p tly ended on Sep
tem ber 2, 1945. The m easure to end th e program was a c c o rd
in g to the term s o f th e c o n t r a c t , b u t i t d id n o t p e rc e iv e
th e consequences in B r i t a i n o r giv e th e B r i t i s h government
an o p p o r tu n ity to su g g e st a l t e r n a t i v e s . The d e c is io n
shocked th e B r i t i s h governm ent and i t s p e o p le . Labour had
to seek lo an s to t i d e th e c o u n try o v e r u n t i l in d u s t r y c o u ld
be r e b u i l t and e x p o rts re v iv e d and expanded, which seemed
to be the o nly way o f q u ic k ly e f f e c t i n g a b a la n c e o f p a y
m ents. L a te r in J u l y , 1948, a lo an o f $ 3 ,7 5 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 a t
2 p e r c e n t was f i n a l l y g r a n te d by th e U n ite d S t a te s on the
c o n d itio n t h a t w ith in a y e a r s t e r l i n g would be made con
v e r t i b l e and tr a d e d i s c r i m i n a t i o n ended. A second loan o f
135
$ 1 ,2 5 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 from Canada r e l i e v e d im m ediate a n x i e t i e s and
p r o v id e d some tim e f o r p la n n e d re c o v e ry . From 1948 to 1950,
th e f i n a n c i a l s i t u a t i o n was e ased by th e M a rs h a ll P la n of
the U n ite d S t a t e s , which was in e f f e c t , a re su m p tio n o f
l e n d - l e a s e .9?
Many o t h e r q u e s tio n s were r a i s e d a t th e t a l k s w ith
Truman, which p re c e d e d A t t l e e ' s a d d re ss to C on g ress. They
co n cern ed th e problem s o f f u t u r e w orld t r a d e , th e n a tu r e o f
r e l a t i o n s w ith R u s s ia , and th e k in d o f F ar E a s t t h a t was to
emerge from th e w ar. M oreover, o t h e r q u e s t io n s r a i s e d a t
the c o n fe re n c e s w ere: what tr a d e c o n c e ssio n s h o u ld be
g r a n te d by B r i t a i n in exchange f o r l e n d - l e a s e a id g iv en
d u rin g th e war? What was B r i t a i n to do about th e B re tto n
Woods agreem ent f o r an I n t e r n a t i o n a l Bank? What were p o s
s i b l e f u t u r e dan g ers in the F ar E ast? A ll o f th e s e q u e s
t i o n s , p ro b a b ly as t e c h n i c a l and i n t r i c a t e as th e atom ic
bomb q u e s t i o n , demanded th e a t t e n t i o n o f th e c o n f e r e e s .
A t t l e e o nly v a g u e ly answ ered s e v e r a l o f th e s e i s s u e s in h is
a d d re s s . No doubt th e s e q u e s tio n s w eighed h e a v i l y on h i s
mind.
A t t l e e ' s t h i r d c o n s t r a i n t in h i s a d d re ss to Con
g re s s was th e s u s p ic io n o f Americans tow ard s o c i a l i s m .
Most o f A t t l e e ' s sp eech concerned th e aims and p h ilo s o p h y
o f th e Labour p a r t y . The c o n te n t was w e ll a d a p te d to th e
American au d ie n ce w hich showed s ig n s o f d i s t r u s t o f b o th
s o c i a l i s m and n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n . T his n e g a tiv e a t t i t u d e was
136
th e p rim a ry in f lu e n c e on A t t l e e ’ s sp e ec h . I t had to be
overcome b e fo re any m e a n in g fu l j o i n t d e c is io n s were p o s
s i b l e . "Apathy, m i s t r u s t , and c o n fu s io n hung o ver the r e
l a t i o n s between th e A l l i e d p o w e r s ." 98 A t t l e e s a i d , "The
atm osphere in W ashington was te n s e and e x c i t e d . " 99 The way
to make a f r e s h s t a r t seemed to be th ro u g h b e t t e r Anglo-
Am erican u n d e rs ta n d in g . No r e l a t i o n s h i p w ould have been
p o s s i b l e w ith o u t American com prehension o f L abo ur’ s domes
t i c and f o r e ig n p o l i c i e s . A t t l e e s t r e s s e d t h a t "Labour was
a p a r t y o f a l l c l a s s e s . "100 A t t l e e a tte m p te d to p e rsu ad e
Am ericans by a li g n i n g h i s p a r t y w ith " th o se who fou ght f o r
Magna C h a rta , and Habeas C o rp u s, w ith th e P ilg r im F a th e rs
and w ith the s i g n a t o r i e s o f th e D e c la r a tio n o f Indepen
dence. "101 He a ls o r e - a s s u r e d Am ericans t h a t S o c i a l i s t s
were n o t going to d e s tro y "freed o m o f th e i n d i v i d u a l , f r e e
dom o f sp e ec h , freedom o f r e l i g i o n and freedom o f the
p r e s s . "102 th e n asked f o r freedom to p la n the B r i t i s h
economy because t h i s was w hat m ost o f th e B r i t i s h e l e c
t o r a t e d e s i r e d and Am ericans s h o u ld t o l e r a t e . ^ 93 Not much
d i s c u s s i o n o f n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n was w a r ra n te d ; p ro b a b ly the
l e s s s a i d th e b e t t e r . A t t l e e c lo s e d w ith o t h e r elem ents
Anglos had in common: la n g u a g e , co m radeship, democracy,
and C h r i s t i a n p r i n c i p l e s .
M oreover, a n o th e r im p o r ta n t f a c t o r in overcoming
t h i s problem o f American s k e p t i c i s m was A t t l e e ' s mere p r e s
e n ce. A t t l e e ' s m ild manner p e r s o n a l i z e d an unknown, fe a re d ,
137
r a d i c a l p a r t y o f s o c i a l i s t s which he le d . He r e p r e s e n t e d
the r e a s o n a b le r a d i c a l . A ccording to th e E a r l o f W oolton,
A t t l e e showed q u a l i t i e s o f le a d e r s h ip t h a t im p re sse d b o th
Americans and B r i t o n s . He g o t along w e ll w ith P r e s i d e n t
Truman and o t h e r o f f i c i a l s , who had always r a t h e r f e a r e d
th e d o m in a tin g p e r s o n a l i t y o f Mr. C h u r c h il l . Am ericans
g e n e r a l l y found i t much e a s i e r to t a l k w ith Mr. A t t l e e . 1 0 5
A nother e d i t o r i a l i s t added, ’’A t t l e e and th e man he flew th e
A t l a n t i c t o see had much in common. P r e s i d e n t Truman, to o ,
was m ild -m an n ered . . . ."106 A rth u r K rock, a n o te d colum
n i s t , in te r v ie w e d A t t l e e and w ro te , ”My only im p re s s io n s o f
Mr. A t t l e e a re t h a t he i s a v e ry s i n c e r e , h o n o r a b le , and
com p assio n ate man, and a good p o l i t i c i a n ; a l s o , t h a t in h i s
own way a v e ry s k i l l f u l p a r l i a m e n ta r y f a c t o r . " 1 ° 7 News
a n a l y s t Raymond Moley added, ’’Good o ld Clem’ A t t l e e d id as
w e ll on t h i s v i s i t as any B r i t i s h Prime M i n i s t e r m ight have
don e. "1® ®
Raymond Moley a ls o e x p la in e d t h a t A t t l e e r e v e a l e d
h i m s e lf h o n e s t l y f o r what he was: a p ra g m a tic law y er o f
m oderate t a l e n t s whose l i f e work was d i r e c t e d by a deep
e m o tio n a l urge to h e lp th e w orking c l a s s . 1^® Moley added:
T hat b e in g A t t l e e ' s p a t t e r n o f l i f e , i t i s u n d e r s t a n d
a b le t h a t in h i s ad d re ss to Congress he sh o u ld have
been a t p a in s to r e v e a l th e h a rm le s sn e ss of h i s p a r t y ' s
aim s. I t i s n ' t v e ry r a d i c a l , he e x p la in e d . HO
O bviously Labour p a r t y i d e a l s were q u i t e r a d i c a l compared
to e s t a b l i s h e d th o u g h ts in Am erica a t th e tim e. A t t l e e
138
t r i e d to convey t h a t the Labour p h ilo s o p h y o f d em o c ratic
s o c i a l is m b e li e v e d i n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l means o f r i s i n g to
power and s e r v in g th e p e o p le . M oreover, t h i s "n o t very
r a d i c a l " p a r t y w anted freedom , economic and s o c i a l j u s t i c e
f o r a l l i t s c i t i z e n s , th e r i c h and th e p o o r . m His choice
of words and id e a s were w e ll a d a p te d to American e a r s .
The U n ite d N a tio n s 1946
A t t l e e ' s a d d re ss to th e U n ite d N a tio n s G eneral
Assembly m eeting on Ja n u a ry 10, 1946, in v o lv e d a unique
r h e t o r i c a l problem :
1. th e d i s u n i t y of the U n ite d N a tio n s members
2. th e atom ic bomb c o n t r o v e r s i e s
3. th e la c k o f hope f o r th e f u t u r e
The B r i t i s h U n ite d N a tio n s P r e p a r a t o r y Commission
and i t s E x ec u tiv e Committee b u s ie d th em selv es s e t t i n g th e
scene f o r th e f i r s t s e s s io n o f th e G eneral Assem bly, w hich
was to open i n J a n u a ry , 1946, in London. D ra fty C e n tr a l
H a l l , W estm in ster, was r e p a i n t e d a c h a s te cream , and new
brown c a r p e t s were l a i d . In an ap p ro v ed co n fe ren c e form a
t i o n , f o r t y - f o o t - l o n g r e f e c t o r y t a b l e s , each of which would
s e a t th r e e d e l e g a t i o n s , were re a d y f o r th e d e le g a te s o f the
f i f t y - o n e convening n a t i o n s . ^ 2 A t t l e e p la y e d the r o l e o f
h o s t . He a ls o assumed r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r th e e n te r ta in m e n t
and p r o v i s i o n s f o r th e v a r io u s d e l e g a t e s .
A t t l e e h e lp e d to w r i t e th e U n ite d N atio n s C h a r te r
139
in San F r a n c is c o in 1945. His p re se n c e a t i t s d i f f i c u l t
b i r t h made him an a d v o c a te o f c a r e f u l n u r t u r i n g r a t h e r th a n
s u r g i c a l s t r e n g t h e n i n g . The U n ited N ations C h a r te r and
O r g a n iz a tio n was the r e s u l t of much compromise. A t t l e e , as
an im p o rta n t com prom iser in h i s own p a r t y , u n d e rs to o d th e
d i f f i c u l t i e s in v o lv e d in such a c tio n . His speech u rg ed no
h a r s h , u n re a s o n a b le a c tio n s by member d e le g a tio n s a t t h i s
c o n v en tio n w hich m ight d i s t u r b the u n ity o f the group.
A t t l e e s a i d , " I hope th e p ro c e e d in g s o f t h i s c o n fe re n c e
w i l l be an im ated by th e same . . . c o o p e ra tiv e atm osphere
as has c h a r a c t e r i z e d th e work o f the P r e p a ra to ry Commis
s io n .
An o r g a n i z a t i o n l i k e th e U n ited N ations had been a
concern o f A t t l e e ’ s s o c i a l i s t p h ilo so p h y f o r some tim e. As
a d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s t and a p a c i f i s t , he s u p p o rte d th e
League o f N a tio n s , b u t he was a ls o p a i n f u l l y aware o f i t s
f a u l t s . As a L a b o u r i te , h i s b e l i e f s in the fu n d am en tals o f
human r i g h t s , human w e l f a r e , c o l l e c t i v e s e c u r i t y , and s e l f -
d e te r m in a tio n f o r c o lo n ie s and sm all c o u n t r i e s , were a ls o
in v o lv e d in h i s d e s i r e f o r an e f f e c t i v e and s tr o n g U n ite d
N atio n s O r g a n iz a tio n . His d e s i r e to see s o c i a l is m i n t e r
n a t i o n a l i z e d was e v id e n t in h i s a d d re ss. He m entioned th e
U n ite d N a tio n s i n h i s 1945 e l e c t i o n b r o a d c a s t and h i s a d
d re ss to th e U n ite d S t a t e s Congress in November, 1945. H is
a d d ress to th e opening s e s s io n o f the G eneral Assembly e x
p r e s s e d th e i n t e r n a t i o n a l i d e a l s of dem o cratic s o c i a l i s m ,
140
A t t l e e f ir m ly b e l i e v e d t h a t n a ti o n s must work t o g e t h e r in
harmony. In 1941, he a tte n d e d th e c o n fe re n c e o f th e I n t e r
n a t i o n a l Labour O rg a n iz a tio n in New York and s a i d , "The
p ro blem s o f peace cannot be s o lv e d by one n a t i o n in i s o l a
t i o n . "114 He e x p re s s e d h is hopes f o r some w o rk a b le , p r a c
t i c a l k in d o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n to be i n s t i t u t e d
a f t e r th e war. Since t h a t tim e , the B r i t i s h gave t h e i r
g e n e r a l c o o p e r a tio n toward th e fo rm a tio n o f th e U n ite d Na
t i o n s . E s s e n t i a l l y , A t t le e b e l i e v e d t h a t t o s o c i a l i z e was
t o u n i f y i n t o a k i n d o f s o c i a l i s t i c commonwealth which was
h i s u l t i m a t e dream f o r many y e a rs p r e v io u s .
A t t l e e p a r t i c u l a r l y s u p p o rte d th e s o c i a l i s t p r i n
c i p l e o f c o l l e c t i v e s e c u r i t y . In th e House o f Commons in
A u g u st, 1945, he s a id :
C o l l e c t i v e s e c u r i t y i s n o t m erely a p ro m ise to a c t when
an emergency o c c u r s , b u t i t i s a c t i v e c o - o p e r a t i o n to
p r e v e n t em ergencies o c c u r r in g . . . . What I t h in k i s
r e q u i r e d i s a continuous d is c u s s io n o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l
a f f a i r s , n o t spasm odic a c tio n s a t tim es o f c r i s i s . 115
In th e s p e c i f i c case o f the U n ited N a tio n s ' c o l l e c t i v e s e
c u r i t y f o r c e , th e t a s k o f peace enforcem ent would be u n d e r
ta k e n by th e M i l i t a r y S t a f f Committee as soon as i t was s e t
u n d e r th e S e c u r ity C o uncil. T his phase o f th e U n ite d Na
t i o n s work was c o n s id e re d e s p e c i a l l y u r g e n t by A t t l e e , b e
cause o f th e d is o r d e r s and t r o u b le s t h a t k e p t b r e a k in g out
in v a r io u s p a r t s o f th e w o rld . However, A t t l e e s t r e s s e d
th e im p o rtan ce o f co n tin u o u s d i s c u s s i o n o v e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l
d i s p u t e s in th e g e n e r a l assem bly, to o . He em phasized in
141
h i s a d d re ss t h a t the U n ite d N a tio n s must become the main
d e te rm in a n t of i n t e r n a t i o n a l p e a c e -k e e p in g e f f o r t s .
A t t l e e fo rm e rly s u p p o r te d th e League o f N a tio n s ,
b u t in t h i s a d d re ss he ’’so u g h t to s t r e s s the im portance o f
th e n a ti o n s n o t making th e m ista k e t h a t l e d to the b r e a k
down o f the League o f N a t i o n s . ”116" In o th e r words, A t t l e e
s a i d e x a c tly what he t o l d th e U n ited S t a te s Congress a few
months e a r l i e r , "The U n ite d N a tio n s O rg a n iz a tio n must b e -
117
come the o v e r r i d i n g f a c t o r i n f o r e i g n p o l i c y . " I f u n i t y
were the g o a l, t h e U n ite d N a tio n s must have power. A t t l e e
m a in ta in e d , " I t was e s s e n t i a l to th in k g l o b a l l y , " H 8 i n
o r d e r t o p ro v id e ad eq u ate c o h e siv e n e s s i n the U n ited Na
t i o n s O rg a n iz a tio n . From a p r a g m a tic v ie w p o in t, he r e a l
iz e d l i t t l e c o u ld be done a t t h i s f i r s t m eeting b u t n e v e r
t h e l e s s an e f f o r t must be made to m a in ta in u n ity in th e
group. He a d m itte d in h is M em oirs, " . . . developm ent o f
i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n fid e n c e to such a l e v e l as to make the
U n ite d N ations a f u l l y e f f e c t i v e and p r a c t i c a l in s tr u m e n t
w as, even on th e most o p t i m i s t i c view , bound to tak e con
s i d e r a b l e t i m e . "119
M oreover, th e d i v i s i o n betw een th e S o v ie ts and th e
Anglo-Am ericans hampered th e u n ity o f th e U n ited N a tio n s .
A t t l e e e x p la in e d :
F ollo w in g on from San F r a n c is c o and Potsdam , our
p o l ic y was b a se d on s u p p o r t f o r th e U n ited N a tio n s and
an h o n e s t en d eav o r to work i n c lo s e harmony w ith the
U n ite d S t a te s ' and w ith S o v ie t R u s s ia . U n f o r tu n a te ly ,
we e x p e rie n c e d o p p o s i t io n everyw here from th e l a t t e r .
142
. . , As th e f r i c t i o n w ith R u ssia in c r e a s e d , B r i t a i n
n a t u r a l l y drew c l o s e r to the U n ite d S t a t e s . . . . Many
Am ericans shed t h e i r o ld i s o l a t i o n i s m and, w ith i t ,
some o f t h e i r l o n g - s e a t e d p r e j u d i c e a g a i n s t B r i t a i n as
a p r e d a t o r y i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r.120
The U n ite d S t a t e s c o n t r i b u t e d to th e d i v i s i o n by n o t r e c o g
n i z i n g Communist C hina, A t t l e e w rote:
E x t r a o r d i n a r i l y s t u p i d , though, th e r e f u s a l to r e c o g
n i z e Communist China; i t d o e s n 't g e t you anywhere
r e f u s i n g t o a c c e p t f a c t s . One has to remember, o f
c o u r s e , t h a t th e Am ericans have a g r e a t e m o tio n a l f e e l
in g a g a i n s t t h i s w ick ed Communist t h in g t h a t has s t o l e n
t h e i r love from them in China. China had been t h e i r
b ab y .121
C o n se q u e n tly , A t t l e e im plo red u n ity in th e U n ite d
N a tio n s O r g a n iz a tio n , b u t n a ti o n a l i s m was ram pant and th e
c o ld war was f l i c k e r i n g in th e f u t u r e . His sp e ec h ws a
n o b le e f f o r t f o r c o h e siv e n e s s or c o n s u b s t a n t i a l i t y .
A t t l e e ' s seco nd r h e t o r i c a l problem was th e c o n t r o
v e rs y o v e r th e ato m ic bomb. His speech to u ch ed many b a s e s .
I t was an i n d i c a t i o n o f B r i t a i n 's d e s i r e to b ro ad en th e
d i s c u s s i o n o f th e f i r s t U n ite d N ations - m ee tin g . The o r i g i
n a l i n t e n t i o n was to c o n fin e the f i r s t m eeting t o m a tte r s
l i k e e s t a b l i s h i n g th e S e c u r i t y C ouncil and e l e c t i n g a S e c
r e t a r y - G e n e r a l . But th e w orld was too f u l l of c o n tr o v e r s y
t o keep th e agenda a n t i s e p t i c . 122 The atom ic bomb was a
key i s s u e in th e e v o lv in g c o n tro v e rs y . B r i t a i n came to the
m ee tin g in a d e te rm in e d mood. A t t le e had r e c e n t l y a t t a i n e d
agreem ent in h i s t a l k s w ith Truman f o r c o o p e r a tio n on
s h a r e d atom ic in f o r m a tio n w ith the U n ited S t a t e s . A t t l e e
m a in ta in e d t h a t B r i t a i n ' s government was read y to s a c r i f i c e
143
a good d e a l , b u t n o t e v e r y t h in g , f o r w o rld c o l l a b o r a t i o n .
B r ito n s d id n o t hide t h e i r f e e l i n g t h a t a t Moscow, U n ited
S t a t e s S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e , James F. B y rn e s, had s a c r i f i c e d
to o much f o r too l i t t l e . The B r i t i s h w ere convin ced " t h a t
R u s s ia was n o t th e alm ighty, i r r e s i s t i b l e fo rc e w hich she
made h e r s e l f o u t to b e . "123
A p p a re n tly , th e r e was an u n d e r c u r r e n t o f o b j e c ti o n s
from s m a lle r n a tio n s to c o n tr o l o f th e ato m ic bomb in fo rm a
t i o n by th e S e c u rity C o u n c il. The ato m ic en erg y q u e s tio n
b ro u g h t no m ajor disag reem ent among th e b ig powers a t t h i s
s ta g e o f e s t a b l i s h i n g a commission and g a th e r in g in fo rm a
t i o n . The U n ited S t a t e s , B r i t a i n , R u s s ia , C hina, and
F ran ce were a l l sponsors o f th e p la n fram ed a t Moscow f o r
an Atomic Energy Commission, u n der w hich each o f th e e le v e n
n a t i o n s o f th e S e c u rity C ouncil would name a member o f th e
Commission who would s tu d y methods o f c o n t r o l and r e p o r t to
th e S e c u r ity C o u n cil. Some o f the s m a l l e r powers were p r e
p a r e d to argue t h a t the Commission s h o u ld be a t t a c h e d to
th e Assembly i n s t e a d . I t was d o u b t f u l , how ever, t h a t th ey
c o u ld c a r r y t h e i r p o i n t a g a i n s t th e combined i n f lu e n c e o f
th e Big F iv e . A t t l e e ' s opening a d d re ss resp o n d ed to th e s e
c o n c e rn s , and he s t r e s s e d the need f o r c o o p e r a tio n on th e
bomb t o p r e s e r v e p e ac e. He s a i d :
The developm ent o f p o w e rfu l weapons o f d e s t r u c t i o n
o p e r a t in g from d i s t a n t b a se s has d e s tr o y e d th e i l l u s i o n
o f i s o l a t i o n i s m . . . I welcome, t h e r e f o r e , the d e c i
s io n to re m it the whole p ro blem o f th e c o n tr o l of
atom ic en ergy to a commission o f th e U n ite d N atio n s
144
O r g a n iz a tio n . . . . Here i s an in v e n tio n f r a u g h t w ith
immense p o s s i b i l i t i e s , on the one hand o f dan g er and
on the o t h e r o f ad v an tag e to th e human r a c e . I t i s f o r
th e p e o p le s o f th e w o rld , thro u g h t h e i r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s ,
to make t h e i r c h o ic e betw een l i f e and d e a t h . 124
A t t l e e p r e s e n t e d a f e a s i b l e p la n i f o n ly members would co
o p e r a t e , and he had re a s o n to b e lie v e th e U n ite d S t a te s
would sh a re i t s atom ic s e c r e t s from h i s p a s t v i s i t to the
U n ite d S t a t e s in November. U n f o r t u n a t e ly , such s h a r in g
n e v e r came to p a s s u n t i l y e a r s l a t e r an i n e f f e c t i v e Atomic
Energy C o n tro l Commission was e s t a b l i s h e d in th e U n ite d
N a t i o n s .
A t t l e e ’ s t h i r d p ro blem was to overcome the p e s s i
mism o f th e d e l e g a t e s . D e s p ite c o n t r o v e r s i e s and t e n s i o n s ,
t h a t A t t l e e and o t h e r s e x p e r ie n c e d , th e r e was an u n d e n ia b le
hope f o r a b e t t e r w o rld . H o p e fu lly th e p r o g r e s s i v e p e a c e
makers had g a th e re d and would fo llo w in A t t l e e ’ s f o o t s t e p s .
Edward Murrow s t a t e d :
. . . th e m eetin g i n London o f some seven h u n dred r e p
r e s e n t a t i v e s o f f i f t y - o n e n a ti o n s i s more th a n j u s t
a n o th e r e f f o r t t o do w e ll what th e men a t V e r s a i l l e s
d id b a d ly .
I t i s th e l a s t ch an ce, th e b e g in n in g o f w hat may be
the f i n a l t e s t o f modern man h im s e lf . These h o p e fu l
i d e a l i s t s ag ree w ith Prime M i n i s t e r A t t l e e t h a t the
atom ic bomb was only th e l a s t o f a s e r i e s o f w a rn in g s.
And th ey see a t th e b a r o f judgm ent th e i n t e l l i g e n c e
and c o n sc ie n c e o f m an k in d .125
In a s e n s e , A t t l e e aimed to i n s p i r e hope among h i s U n ite d
N a tio n s c o lle a g u e s f o r w ith o u t hope th e r e was no f a i t h in
th e o r g a n i z a t i o n i t s e l f . W ithout f a i t h , no m eaning fu l
a c t io n c o u ld ta k e p l a c e .
145
A t t l e e ' s hope was t h a t i n t e r n a t i o n a l problem s and
r i v a l r i e s m ight a t l a s t f i n d t h e i r o u t l e t in th e U n ite d Na
t i o n s where th e y c o u ld be h a n d le d in an o r d e r l y and p e a c e
f u l manner. A t t l e e ^ s ad d re ss r e f l e c t e d th e London mood
t h a t was r e f r e s h i n g l y c o o l, t h a t i s , a f e e l i n g t h a t perhaps
n o t a g r e a t d e a l would be done, b u t t h a t som ething c e r
t a i n l y c o u ld be done. In the w orld o f 1946, t h a t "some
th in g " m ight be a good d e a l. For th e ra v a g e s o f war were
o b v io u s to v i s i t o r s in London. Peace was A t t l e e ' s u ltim a te
hope in h i s a d d re s s , and th e b a t t l e - s c a r r e d c i t y o f London
was i t s a p p r o p r i a te sc e n e . The d e le g a t e s d u rin g t h e i r im
p o r t a n t m eetin gs had a c o n s t a n t re m in d e r o f the r u i n s o f
th e war by view ing th e ru b b le and w a ste i n th e c i t y o f Lon
don. A t t l e e asked them n o t t o f o r g e t th e p a in and s u f f e r
in g o f war by o c c a s i o n a l l y lo o k in g o u t th e windows a t war-
t o r n London, and ap p ea le d to them " t o s t r i v e tow ard peace
renew ed by the h a t r e d o f w a r . "1^6 h o s t and head o f the
B r i t i s h n a t i o n , A t t l e e ' s words and o v e rto n e s were d i r e c t e d
to w ard i n s p i r i n g hope and optim ism among th e d e l e g a t e s . In
a s e n s e , he a p p e a le d to th e members to r i s e above th e p r e s
e n t c o n f l i c t s and seek a u n i v e r s a l i d e a l o f peace f o r a l l
m ankind.
Summary
What has been s a i d abo ut th e k in d s of a u d ie n ce s
A t t l e e c o n fr o n te d i n h i s advocacy' o f d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m ?
146
To answer t h i s q u e s t i o n , an au dien ce p r o f i l e was drawn up.
Unemployment was a p ro b lem in the t h i r t i e s . The poor and
d e s t i t u t e were w ith o u t much money o r s u f f i c i e n t c l o t h e s .
Most of G reat B r i t a i n p r o f e s s e d to be C h r i s t ia n b e fo r e and
du rin g th e second W orld War. B rito n s v a lu e d fa m ily l i f e .
They were c o n s e r v a tiv e d r e s s e r s and a p o l i t e , c i v i l i z e d
p e o p le . By th e f o r t i e s , a t l e a s t a grammar sch o o l e d u c a
t i o n was th e norm. Economic c o n d itio n s f o r the m a jo r ity
were n o t to o b ad in th e t h i r t i e s . R eal income ro s e 20 p e r
cen t and a few more l u x u r i e s o f l i f e were p ro v id e d . A f t e r
the w ar, th e av erage e l e c t o r s u f f e r e d a sh o rta g e o f goods
and h igh p r i c e s . Most B r ito n s by 1945 were in s k i l l e d o c
c u p a tio n s and l i v i n g m ain ly in London r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s .
The e l e c t o r a t e ’s p rim a ry concern was hou sing (41%) and f u l l
employment (15%), e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r th e unemployment p ro b lem
o f the t h i r t i e s . The B r i t i s h n a t i o n f e l t u n i te d a f t e r th e
war. A t t l e e s a i d t h a t p ro b a b ly th e bombs d id more th a n nay
law to fo rc e p e o p le to u n i t e . There was a la r g e number o f
servicem en o b v io u s ly , and t h e i r r e l a t i v e s a t home w a itin g
a n x io u s ly . M oreover, t h e r e were two and one h a l f m i l l i o n
more v o tin g women th a n men i n 1945.
More i m p o r t a n t l y , how d id A t t l e e i d e n t i f y w ith th e
common man in h i s a u d ie n c e s ? F i r s t , he had a program f o r
unemployment, and t h a t program had worked d u rin g the w ar.
Second, A t t l e e a c t u a l l y l i v e d w ith th e poor in Limehouse.
147
He n o t only a s s o c i a t e d w ith them, he l i v e d as one o f them.
Almost e v e ry speech he d e li v e r e d m entioned h i s l i n k to
Limehouse. Next A t t l e e p r o f e s s e d to be C h r i s t i a n . He s a i d
t h a t C h r i s t i a n i t y i n s p i r e d s o c i a l is m , and more p a ssa g e s
were q u o te d from th e B ib le on s o c i a l i s t i c soapboxes th an
any s o u r c e . A t t l e e , to o , v a lu e d fa m ily l i f e , b u t had l i t t t e
tim e f o r i t because o f h is com plete d e v o tio n to h is p a r t y .
A t t l e e was c e r t a i n l y an innocuous d r e s s e r . His c o lo r o f
s k i n , h a i r , and c lo th e s were a l l n e u t r a l l i k e th e c lo th e s
o f a commoner. He n e v e r sto o d o u t in a crowd. L ik e w ise ,
h i s advocacy on the f i r s t im p re ss io n was alm ost p e d e s t r i a n .
He was n o t known f o r h i s g r a c e f u l g e s t u r e s , d e e p -to n e d
v o ic e , o r dynamic p e r s o n a l i t y . He was known f o r h is h a rd
work, d e d i c a t i o n , h o n e s ty , and m odesty. In o t h e r w ords,
A t t l e e d e m o n stra te d adm irable moral v a l u e s , th e C h r i s t i a n
v i r t u e s t h a t average B rito n s a p p r e c i a te d . Since most
B r ito n s had l i t t l e e d u c a tio n in th e t h i r t i e s and s l i g h t l y
more in the f o r t i e s , A t t l e e ' s p h ilo s o p h y o f sp e ak in g sim ply
and c l e a r l y was very a p p r o p r ia te f o r h i s l i s t e n e r s . For
th o se who p r o g r e s s e d m o d era te ly in th e t h i r t i e s in term s o f
econom ic and s o c i a l c irc u m s ta n c e , A t t l e e had a somewhat
o p t i m i s t i c view , which he n e v e r l o s t i n h i s long y e a rs o f
s t r u g g l e . F o r exam ple, t h i s hope f o r th e n e a r p r e s e n t and
th e f u t u r e was shown in h is book and h i s a d d re s s to the
U n ite d N a tio n s . Since th e e l e c t o r a t e was i n t e r e s t e d p r i
m a rily in d o m estic i s s u e s , A t t l e e was to o . He c o r r e c t l y
148
gauged th e a t t i t u d e o f th e au dien ce and a d ap ted a c c o rd in g ly .
Since th e B r i t i s h p e o p le were u n i t e d a f t e r the w ar, A t t l e e
in e f f e c t o f f e r e d h i m s e l f as th e l e a d e r o f th e harm onious
B r i t i s h team. His calm , l o g i c a l approach was q u i te u n lik e
th e dom ineering p e r s o n a l i t y of C h u r c h il l . In a d d i t i o n ,
A t t l e e had been a se rv ice m a n h im s e lf in th e f i r s t World
War. He became a m ajor and knew th e h a rd s h ip s o f war p e r
s o n a l ly . He a p p e a le d to serv icem en in t h r e e o f the fo u r
s e l e c t i o n s s t u d i e d . F i n a l l y , A t t l e e must have had some
appeal to a t t r a c t fem ale v o t e r s . S p e c u la tio n would p e rm it
th e o b s e r v a tio n t h a t he was always a very c i v i l i z e d g e n t l e
man, j u s t a l i t t l e above a v i o l e n t argument because o f h is
r e a s o n a b le ap proach . He spoke d i r e c t l y to m others and
s w e e th e a r ts o f se rv ice m e n i n h i s e l e c t i o n a d d re s s . In
p o l i t i c s he t r e a t e d th e sex es e q u a lly .
In c o n c lu s io n , A t t l e e looked and a c te d l i k e a com
moner. But he was shrew d. Where he could n o t i d e n t i f y
w ith them in a p p earan ce and p e r s o n a l exam ple, he a p p ealed
to them w ith s o c i a l i s t i c m easures and v a lu e s . For exam ple,
A t t l e e c o n t i n u a l l y p r a i s e d th e rank and f i l e o f th e Labour
p a r t y . He i n s i s t e d t h a t he fo llo w e d th e w i l l of the m a jo r
i t y . In a s e n s e , he was one o f them, b u t he a ls o was above
them in term s o f power and i n f l u e n c e . He had c a r e f u l l y
c u l t i v a t e d an au d ie n ce in G re at B r i t a i n . He was a s i g n i f i
c a n t Labour e n t i t y , and he knew i t .
149
F o o tn o tes
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3W. J . S ta n k ie w ic z , C r i s i s in B r i t i s h G overnm ent:
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5A t t l e e , The Labour P a rty in P e r s p e c t i v e , pp. 7-8.
^ A t t l e e , As I t Happened, pp. 136-140.
? I b i d . , p . 136.
^Anthony Eden, F acing th e D i c t a t o r s ; Memoirs (Bos-'
t o n , M a ss.: Houghton M i f f l i n Co. , 1962), p . 377.
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l^ S h in w e l l , The Labour S t o r y , p. 158.
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l ^ T a y l o r , o p . c i t . , p . 413.
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17lb id . , p . 266.
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2QI b i d . , p . 124.
150
2^Winston C h u r c h i l l , While E ngland S le p t (New York:
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22I b id .
23I b i d . , p . 19
24T a y lo r, o p . c i t . , p . 399.
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2 ?A. J . A l l e n , The E n g lis h V o te r (London: The
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don : M a cm illa n , 1966), p . 145.
2^ A lle n , o p . c i t . , p . 94.
3^ A t t l e e , As I t Happened, p . 170.
^ T a y l o r , op. c i t . , p . 600.
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54I b i d . , p. 3.
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J e n k i n s , Purpose and P o l i c y , p . 5.
3 7 ib id .
3Si b i d . , p . 11.
39c. N. Worswick and P. H. Andy, The B r i t i s h Econ-
151
omy: 1945-1950 (Oxford: The C larendon P r e s s , 1952), p . 44.
^ H u b e r t Douglas H enderson, The In ter-W a r Years and
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4I f l i n n , o p . c i t . , p . 370.
42T a y lo r , op. c i t . , p . 595.
43I b i d . , pp . 596-597.
44I b i d . , p . 595.
43D a lto n , Memoirs: The F a t e f u l Y ears, 1 9 31 -194 5,
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4^Alan B u llo c k , The L ife and Times of E r n e s t Bevin
(London: W illia m Heinemann, L t d ., 1960), I I , 375.
4 7 d e m e n s , The Man from L im ehouse, pp. 71-76.
48 E llen W ilk in so n c i t e d in M ichael F o o te , A neu rin
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4^ E lle n W ilk in so n c i t e d in F o o te , A neurin Bevan,
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33Henry P e l l i n g , A S h o rt H is to r y o f th e Labour P a r t y ,
(London: M acm illan and C o ., L t d ., 1965), p . 93.
34A t t l e e c i t e d in P e l l i n g , A S h o rt H is to r y o f th e
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5^ J e n k in s , P urpose and P o l i c y , pp. 10-11.
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3 7J e n k i n s , P urpose and P o l i c y , pp. 3, 7.
152
• ^ A n e u r i n Bevan c i t e d by F o o te , A neurin Bevan,
p. 507.
89A t t l e e , As I t Happened, p . 203.
^ A n th o n y Eden, Days f o r D e c isio n (London: Faber
and F a b e r, L t d . , 1949), p . 68.
^ J e n k i n s , Mr. A t t l e e , p . 250,
6 2 v i r g i n i a Cowles, Winston C h u r c h il l ; The E ra and
The Man (New York: The U n iv e rs a l L ib r a r y , G r o s s e t and
D u n lap , 195 6), p . 354.
G^Aneurin Bevan c i t e d by M ichael F o o te , A n e u rin
Bevan, p . 50 7.
64Murrow, In Search of L i g h t , p . 200.
^ A t t l e e , As I t Happened, p . 198.
^ C h u r c h i l l , " E le c t i o n B ro a d c a st, The Times (London),
June 4, 1945, p . 1.
67McCallum and Readman, The B ritish General Election
of 1945, p . 154. :
68I b i d . , p . 155.
6 9 j. r . Clynes c i t e d by Clemens, The Man from Lime
house , p p . 65-66.
70Byrum Carter, The Office of Prime M inister (Prince
ton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1 9 5 6 ), p . 95.
7lMcCallum and Readman, o p . c i t . , p . 181 .
7 2 i b i d . , p . 242 .
73E a r n e s t W atkins, The C autious R e v o lu tio n : B r i t a i n
Today and Tomorrow (New Y o rk : F a r r a r , S tro u s and C o .,
1950) , p . 260.
74A ttlee, As I t Happened, p . 201.
75I b i d . , p . 102.
76A ttlee, The Twilight o f E m p ire, p . 224.
77ibid.. , pp . 242-243.
153
78a . L. Winant c i t e d by Clem ens, The Man from Lime
house , p . 121.
7^ciem ens, The Man from L im ehouse, p . 121.
SOlbid., p . 124.
8 l A t tl e e c i t e d by "The P r e s i d e n c y ," Time, XLVI,
No. 21 (November 19, 1945), 1.
^ A t t l e e in " A t t le e Says Bomb Cannot Be Banned,"
The New York T im es, November 13, 1945, p . 1.
83I b i d .
84 j o i n t s ta te m e n t by C. A t t l e e , H. Truman, M. King,
c i t e d by Clemens, The Man from L im ehouse, p . 131.
83Brand, op . c i t . , p. 259.
^ F r a n c i s W illia m s, ed. A Prime M i n i s t e r Remembers
(London: Heinemann, 1961), p . 118.
87Attlee cited in House of Commons Statement on
July 13, 1945, by Hugh Dalton, P ractical Socialism for
Britain
88"The World Must C hoose," The New R e p u b li c , CXIII,
No. 21 (November 19, 1945), 665.
89ciifton U tley, "The Atom and the World, The L i s
tener, XXXIV, No. 880, p . 20.
90"prOposals to Russia" (E d ito r ia l), The New York
Times, November 13, 1945, p. 20.
9lG. D. H. Cole and Raymond P o s t g a t e , The Common
P e o p le , 1746-1946, p . 680.
92l . D. E p s t e i n , B r ita in - - U n e a s y A lly (C hicago,
I l l i n o i s : The U n iv e r s ity o f Chicago P r e s s , 1 954 ), pp. 10,
34-35.
®3A t t l e e , As I t Happened, p . 211.
^ A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f E m p ire , p . 132.
^Raym ond Moley c i t e d by Clem ens, The Man from Lime
house , pp. 127-128.
154
9 6 T ay lo r, op . c i t . , p . 595.
" B r a n d , o p . c i t . , pp. 239-241.
" M o le y c i t e d by Clem ens, The Man from Lim ehouse,
p . 123.
" A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f E m p ire, p . 103.
lO O A ttlee, "A ddress to U.S. C o n g re s s ," The New York
T im es, November 14, 1945, p . 4.
101 I b id .
IQZi b i d .
1 0 3 ib id .
104I b i d .
lOSThe E a r l o f W oolton, The Memoirs o f th e R t. Hon.
E a r l o f Woolton (London: C a s s e l l § C o ., 1959) , p . 359.
106"Three w ith a S e c r e t , " ( E d i t o r i a l ) , Newsweek,
XXVI, No. 21 (November 19, 1945 ), 34.
107Arthur Krock cited by Clemens, The Man from Lime
house , p. 130.
108Raymond Moley c i t e d by Clem ens, The Man from
Lim ehouse, p. 12 7.
109lbid.
11QIb id .
H l - A t t l e e , "A ddress to C o n g re s s ," o p . c i t . , p . 4.
H2"United Nations," Time, XLVII, No. 2 (January 14,
1946), 23.
H ^ A t t l e e , "A ddress to th e U n ite d N a t io n s ," The New
York T im es, J a n u a ry 11, 1946, p . 3.
l l 4Clement A t t l e e , "A ddress to I . L . O . , " 1941 Annual
R e p o rt o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l Labour O r g a n i z a t i o n , p . 89.
llS Q e o ffre y Goodwin, B r i t a i n and th e U n ite d N atio ns
(New York: M anhattan P u b l i s h i n g Co. , 1957), p . 47.
155
H ^ A t t l e e , As I t H appened, p . 240.
H 7 lb id .
H ^ A t t l e e , T w i li g h t o f E m p ire , p . 230.
^ l ^ I b i d . , p . 160.
IZ ^ A ttle e t As I t H appened, pp. 238-239.
l ^ l A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f E m p ire , p . 238.
l 22Tim e, op. c i t .
123I b i d .
l ^ A t t l e e , "A ddress to UN," o p . c i t . , p . 3.
125Murrow, op. c i t . , p . 111.
1 2 6 A ttle e , As I t H appened, p p . 240-241.
CHAPTER IV
DIRECT PURPOSES AND REASONABLE RHETORIC
The N ature o f R h e to r ic a l Acts
and Purposes
The p u rp o se o f a p a r t i c u l a r r h e t o r i c a l a c t may be
e x p lo r e d from a v a r i e t y o f p e r s p e c t i v e s : from th e h i s t o r y
of a com m unicator’ s p a s t r h e t o r i c a l e f f o r t s ; from b io g r a p h
i c a l d a ta c o n c e rn in g th e p h ilo s o p h y , p e r s o n a l i t y , r e p u t a
t i o n , and a m b itio n s o f the comm unicator; from e x p l i c i t
s ta te m e n ts and i m p l i c i t assum ptions made by the communica
t o r ; from c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f tim e , p l a c e , and c irc u m s ta n c e o f
the com m unication; and, from au dience re sp o n se to th e com
m u n ic a tio n . Each o f th e s e p e r s p e c t i v e s w i l l be p u r s u e d in
t h i s c h a p te r .
P urpose and the a c t i t s e l f are o f t e n i n e x t r i c a b l y
combined, b e ca u se p u rp o se s are g e n e r a l l y th e m o ti v a ti o n a l
f o r c e s b e h in d a c t s . Such i s th e case w ith Clement A t t l e e
and h i s advocacy o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m . I f he had n o t
b e l i e v e d so p ro fo u n d ly in d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m , he would
n o t have g iv e n h i s l i f e to th e c au se . When he moved to
E a s t London, h i s r h e t o r i c became one o f the s t r e e t s ; h i s
p rim a ry au d ie n ce was th e man on the s t r e e t c o rn e r . S p eak
ing to g a in p r a i s e and a d m ira tio n was n o t h i s aim. He had
156
157
b u t one d r iv in g g o a l: advancement of d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m .
F ollow ing th e le a d o f Kenneth B u rk e 's view o f
r h e t o r i c , our focus o f a t t e n t i o n in exam ining A t t l e e ' s a d
vocacy o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m was (1) w hat was done in
th o u g h t and deed, and (2) why i t was done. The f i r s t stu d y
in v o lv e d a n a ly s is o f A t t l e e ' s d is c o u rs e i t s e l f . From th e
a c t u a l speech es in c lu d e d in th e a p p en d ices o f t h i s s tu d y ,
an o b j e c t i v e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f the c o n te n ts o f A t t l e e ' s
sp e e c h e s and w r i t i n g s on b e h a l f o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m was
acc o m p lish e d . T his a n a l y s i s in c lu d e d th e e f f e c t o f A t t l e e 's
r h e t o r i c on h i s a u d ie n c e . However, d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s o f
i n d i v i d u a l p a r t s o f A t t l e e ' s s p e e c h e s , th e shades o f mean
in g s o f i n d i v i d u a l w ords, th e numerous modes o f i d e n t i f i c a
t i o n , and s t r a t e g i e s o f p e r s u a s io n which m ight have been
c o n s id e r e d h e re in th e e x a m in a tio n o f A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c ,
have been r e l e g a t e d to C h a p te r V where th e a n a l y s i s o f the
means o f inducem ent e v id e n t i n A t t l e e ' s v a r io u s speech es
and w r i t i n g s , seemed t o l o g i c a l l y f a l l . The second concern
o f th e a n a l y s i s in th e p r e s e n t c h a p te r was ex am in a tio n o f
A t t l e e ' s m u lt i p le p u rp o se s f o r d e l i v e r i n g p a r t i c u l a r
s p e e c h e s . Such e x a m in a tio n c e n te r e d on A t t l e e ' s m o tiv a tio n
f o r the a c t o f s p e a k in g .
The s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h i s c h a p te r i s d e te rm in e d by
th e im portance o f s tu d y in g a c t and p u rp o se d i r e c t l y . P r e
v i o u s l y we d is c u s s e d the a g en t and th e scen e o f A t t l e e ' s
a d d re s s e s on d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m . T his c h a p te r fo c u se d on
158
what th e agent d id a t th e r h e t o r i c a l s c e n e , and why he d id
i t . Thus, t h i s c h a p t e r fo c u s e d on the a c t u a l a c t i t s e l f
and the purpose f o r t h a t a c t . Such a n a l y s i s was v i t a l to
stu d y the e sse n c e o f A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c : th e message and
i t s e f f e c t and h i s s in g le - m in d e d p u rp o se o f e s t a b l i s h i n g a
s o c i a l i s t commonwealth.
Thus, A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c s h a l l be examined in the
f o u r works s e l e c t e d f o r a t t e n t i o n i n t h i s stu d y o f h i s a d
vocacy on d e m o c ratic s o c i a l i s m . Each s e c t i o n s h a l l con
s i d e r th e r h e t o r i c a l a c t , i t s p u r p o s e s , and e f f e c t s .
The Labour P a r t y in P e r s p e c tiv e
A t t l e e ' s o b j e c t i v e i n The Labour P a r ty in P e rs p e c
t i v e was to f i l l a gap i n Labour w r i t i n g s and t r y to u n ite
the p a r t y th ro u g h th e b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s o f d e m o cratic s o
c i a l i s m . In the p r e f a c e A t t l e e s a i d he w anted " to t r a c e
th e o r i g i n s and h i s t o r y o f th e S o c i a l i s t and Labour movement
in B r i t a i n and t o s e t o u t th e p r i n c i p l e s o f the Labour
P a r ty and th e p o l i c y w hich i t s h o u ld fo llo w when r e t u r n e d
to p o w e r."1
In h i s a u to b io g ra p h y A t t l e e e x p la in e d more f u lly h i s
f e e l i n g s about th e book:
In 19 37 I u n d e rto o k a more c o n s id e r a b le t a s k . The
v e ry e n t e r p r i s i n g p u b l i s h e r V ic to r G ollancz had e s t a b
l i s h e d th e L e f t Book C lub, w ith a v e ry c o n s id e ra b le
membership . . . Most o f th e p u b l i c a t i o n s s u p p lie d to
s u b s c r i b e r s were w hat we s h o u ld now c a l l "fe llo w
t r a v e l l i n g " in o u tlo o k , and I welcomed the o p p o r tu n ity ,
a t h i s s u g g e s t i o n , o f w r i t i n g a book t h a t would t r y to
159
s e t o u t th e g e n e r a l p o s i t i o n o f th e Labour p a r t y . I
t h e r e f o r e w ro te The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e . . . .
In c o n s id e r in g th e f u t u r e , I s e t o u t the programme I
th o u g h t a Labour governm ent in power should' c a r r y o u t.
In 1945 I had th e p l e a s u r e o f s e e in g t h a t programme
im plem ented. I r e c a l l on o cca sio n 'w h e n we were in
o f f i c e . A Lobby j o u r n a l i s t was ashed how he always
seemed to be a b le t o a n t i c i p a t e the n e x t move o f the
governm ent. He r e p l i e d , M I re a d The Labour P a r ty in
P e r s p e c t i v e ." A new e d i t i o n , w ith a forew ord by
F r a n c is W illiam s d e a l i n g w ith th e h i s t o r y o f th e p a r t y
sin c e 1937, was p u b l i s h e d in 1949.2
A t t l e e a d d re s s e d a t l e a s t t h r e e audien ces w ith h is
book: th e Labour p a r t y , th e g e n e r a l p u b l i c , and f u t u r e
B r ito n s . His main c o n ce rn was th e Labour p a r t y and i t s
d iv id e d f a c t i o n s , f o r L a b o u r ite s in g e n e r a l r a t h e r th an
th o se l e f t of c e n t e r . His hope was to u n i te th e p a r t y i n to
a c o h e s iv e , w orkable f o r c e to compete w ith th e C onserva
t i v e s and win th e f a v o r o f th e n a t i o n . He in te n d e d to a t
t r a c t w id e sp re a d i n t e r e s t in th e p a r t y and i t s program w ith
th e book by " s e t t i n g th e r e c o r d s t r a i g h t " in re g a r d to
Labour p o l i c y and L abour h i s t o r y . T his e x p la n a tio n was to
be th e groundwork f o r w in n in g v o te s in f u t u r e cam paigns.
A t t l e e w anted th e g e n e r a l p u b l i c to comprehend Labour as a
resp o n se to th e s o c i a l and economic c o n d itio n s o f i t s
tim es and as an answ er to th e needs o f p e o p le in a l l w ork
in g c l a s s e s r a t h e r th a n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y and t h r e a te n i n g
p o l i t i c a l f o r c e . He r e p r e s e n t e d th e p a r t y as the v o ice o f
th e p e o p le , a l l th e p e o p le . A t t l e e r e a l i z e d t h a t a r e v o
l u t i o n in B r i t i s h i n s t i t u t i o n s r e q u i r e d r e v o l u t i o n in th e
th in k in g o f p e o p le a t l a r g e . A t t l e e ' s s ta te m e n t in h i s
160
forew ord to The Labour P a r ty i n P e r s p e c tiv e a ls o c l e a r l y
i n d i c a t e d t h a t he was w r i t i n g to f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s . He
foresaw a Labour p o l i c y and program f o r new L a b o u r ite s and
f o r G re at B r i t a i n i n g e n e r a l. Ten y e a r s a f t e r h i s book was
p u b lis h e d , i t was r e l e v a n t , i f n o t more r e l e v a n t , th a n in
1937. His program had s t a r t e d to become a r e a l i t y . He had
r i s e n to th e p l a c e where he and h i s p a r t y co u ld be th o u g h t
w orthy o f th e o f f i c e o f prim e m i n i s t e r .
The Labour P a r t y in P e r s p e c tiv e was A t t l e e ' s most
p o p u la r and renown book. I t was a ls o h i s "most comprehen
s iv e s ta te m e n t on th e p r i n c i p l e s and methods o f d e m o c ra tic
s o c i a l i s m . " P u b lis h e d by G ollancz in the summer o f 1937,
and c i r c u l a t e d as th e book o f the month to members o f th e
L e f t Book C lub, i t s o l d o v e r 59,000 c o p ie s b e f o r e th e w a r.^
A f t e r th e w ar and th e Labour e l e c t i o n v i c t o r y o f 1945, i t
was r e - i s s u e d w ith a new forew ord and i n s t r u c t i o n s , b u t
w ith the same b a s i c t e x t as in 1937. Again th e book was a
s u c c e s s . Thousands o f cop ies were s o l d , i n d i c a t i n g the
c o n tin u in g p o p u l a r i t y o f th e p r i n c i p l e s and methods o f
d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m t h a t A t t l e e e x p re s s e d , U n dou btedly ,
A t t l e e ' s r e p u t a t i o n as prim e m i n i s t e r a ls o i n f l u e n c e d th e
s a l e o f h i s book. R eaders w anted to know where B r i t a i n was
h eaded in term s o f d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m .
A t t l e e was one o f th o se i n d i v i d u a l s whose s t a t u r e
grew c o n s id e r a b ly even a f t e r he had s e rv e d h i s p rim a ry r o l e
in h i s t o r y . H is p o p u l a r i t y p a r a l l e d th e p o p u l a r i t y o f h i s
161
book. W illiam s r e p o r te d t h a t :
The Labour P a rty in P e r s p e c t i v e , a lth o u g h i t was recog-
n i z e d as s i g n i f i c a n t when i t f i r s t a p p e a re d , has even
g r e a t e r im portance now: as an h i s t o r i c a l document and
a work o f g r e a t p o l i t i c a l f o r e s i g h t , as a guide to the
b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s and p o l i c i e s w hich have inform ed the
Labour G overnm ent's p o l i c y so f a r and w i l l c o n tin u e to
in fo rm i t i n the f u t u r e , and as a key to th e p e r s o n
a l i t y o f th e Prime M i n i s t e r and th e fo u n d a tio n s upon
which h i s l e a d e r s h ip so s e c u r e l y r e s t s . 5
A t t l e e a c c u r a t e l y p r e d i c t e d e v e n ts d e s p i t e a war t h a t p er^
m anently a l t e r e d much o f the p o l i t i c a l and economic w orld of
h i s day. M oreover, o ld e r L a b o u rite s c o n ten d ed t h a t h i s
p o l i t i c a l t e s t i m e n t was o f v a lu e to newer g e n e r a tio n s who
had j o i n e d th e p a r t y , and knew l i t t l e o f th e c o n d itio n s
u n d e r which th e p a r t y was s t a r t e d .
A t t l e e ' s so u rc es were v a r i e d . His p e r s u a s io n demon
s t r a t e d t h a t he was w e ll re a d . He p ro m in e n tly c i t e d Ber
t r a n d R u s s e l l , R ob ert Owen, C a r l y l e , R u sk in , C h a rle s
D ic k en s, K eir H a rd ie , Sydney and B e a t r i c e Webb, and th e
B ib le . However, most id e a s were h i s own. In o t h e r w ords,
A t t l e e ' s o r i g i n a l i t y of id e a s was e v i d e n t in h i s a p p e a ls in
a d d i t i o n to h i s w e l l - r e a d background p a r t i c u l a r l y o f o th e r
s o c i a l i s t w r i t i n g s .
The b a s i c theme o f A t t l e e ' s book was th e c o n s ta n t
p r o g r e s s o f d e m o c ratic s o c i a l is m . He rev ie w ed th e p a s t ,
p r e s e n t , and f u t u r e in l i g h t o f slow and g ra d u a l change and
grow th r a t h e r th an sudden d i s r u p t i o n s . A ccording to one
r e v ie w e r , A t t l e e sought
to s e t th e Labour p a r t y i n a p e r s p e c t i v e w hich s tr e tc h e s
162
forw ard i n t o the f u t u r e as w e ll as backward i n t o th e
p a s t , and w hich b a la n c e s a programme o f p o l i c y f o r
the n e x t Labour Government a g a i n s t an a n a ly s is o f th e
c irc u m s ta n c e s w hich b ro u g h t th e p r e s e n t p a r t y i n to
b e in g .^
A t t l e e e x p l i c i t l y em phasized the c o n tin u a l growth
of d e m o c ratic s o c i a l i s m . E a rly in th e book, A t t l e e a t
tem pted to d e fin e th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e Labour p a r t y to
e a r l i e r re fo rm in g movements. He s a i d t h a t
the dom inant n o te o f th e h i s t o r y of t h i s co u n try i s i t s
c o n t i n u i t y . I t i s o u r n a t i o n a l h a b i t to look f o r p r e c e
d e n ts in th e p a s t f o r e v ery s te p forw ard which we make
. . . The Labour p a r t y i s th e i n h e r i t o r o f th o se who
fo u g h t f o r l i b e r t y in the p a s t . . . . I t s aim i s th e
same as t h a t o f th o s e who have gone b e f o r e . I t seeks
to f r e e th e human s p i r i t , b u t i t s immediate o b j e c t i v e s
are th o se w hich modern c o n d itio n s d i c t a t e . 7
A ccording to A t t l e e , s o c ia lis m was e s s e n t i a l l y the
outcome o f economic and s o c i a l c o n d itio n s . The dom inant
issu e th ro u g h o u t th e n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu ry was p o l i t i c a l l i b
e r t y , w hereas th e i s s u e o f th e tw e n ti e t h c e n tu ry was e c o
nomic freedom and s o c i a l e q u a l i t y . L ib e r ty was n o t to be
o b ta in e d i n d i v i d u a l l y b u t c o l l e c t i v e l y . The b a s i c cause o f
s o c i a l and econom ic e v i l s was the p r i v a t e ow nership o f th e
means o f l i f e . T hus, th e l o g i c a l s o l u t i o n was p u b l i c own
e r s h i p . ^
In o r d e r f o r d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m to f l o u r i s h , two
elem ents were r e q u i r e d :
. . . f i r s t , th e e x is te n c e o f a developed C a p i t a l i s t
system , and se c o n d , th e emergence of someone who w i l l
make a s y n t h e s i s o f th e d i s c o n te n ts o f the w a g e -e a rn e rs
and r e l a t e them t o a common c au se . For a S o c i a l i s t
movement t o develop i n t o a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p o l i t i c a l
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p a r t y th e r e must be a d e m o c ra tic c o n s t i t u t i o n , w ith a
f r a n c h i s e s u f f i c i e n t l y wide to make p o s s i b l e the
achievem ent of p o l i t i c a l power by the m a s s e s .9
T h u s, in th e opening remarks o f The Labour P a rty in P e r
s p e c t i v e , A t t l e e t r i e d to " i n d i c a t e th e p a r t i c u l a r c o n d i
t i o n s which have g iven to th e B r i t i s h Labour movement i t s
d i s t i n c t i v e c h a r a c t e r . " 1® A t t l e e slo w ly and r a t i o n a l l y
e x p la in e d how th e Labour p a r t y d e v e lo p e d . He p o in te d to
v a r io u s so u rc e s o f th e e a r l y t w e n t i e t h c e n tu ry which gave
r i s e to th e Labour p a r t y . I t was th e y o u n g e st o f th r e e
g r e a t B r i t i s h w orking c la s s movements; th e o t h e r two were
th e Trade Union and C o o p e rativ e movements. U nlike s o c i a l
ism on th e c o n t i n e n t , B r i t i s h d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s t s d id n o t
fo llo w a s i n g l e g o sp e l of a s i n g l e p r o p h e t , such as K arl
Marx. M oreover, in no o th e r s o c i a l i s t movement had C h r i s
t i a n th o u g h t caused such a p o w e rfu l e f f e c t , th e B ib ie was
f u l l of r e v o l u t i o n a r y te a c h in g s which s u p p o r te d p a r t y
p r i n c i p l e s . 11
U n t i l World War I , A t t l e e m a in ta in e d t h a t th e La
b o u r p a r t y was s t i l l p r i m a r i l y a T rade Union body w ith o u t
any t h e o r e t i c a l fo u n d a tio n . The war was a tu r n in g p o i n t in
th e h i s t o r y o f th e p a r t y , b ecau se i t r e v e a l e d grave d i s s e n
s io n s betw een p a r t y members. However, th e war seemed to
s h a t t e r th e L ib e r a l p a r t y . F i r s t , th e Labour p a r t y became
f u l l y o rg a n iz e d on a t e r r i t o r i a l b a s i s . Second, i d e o l o g i -
1 2
c a l advances were made tow ard th e a d o p tio n o f s o c ia lis m .
In 1918, th e o b j e c ts o f the Labour p a r t y were s e t out_______
164
a p p ro x im a te ly as th e y s ta n d today:
P a r ty O b je cts
National
T ~ . To o r g a n is e and m a in ta in in P a rlia m e n t and in th e
c o u n try a P o l i t i c a l Labour P a r t y , and to e n s u re th e
e s t a b l is h m e n t o f a C o n s titu e n c y Labour P a rty in e v ery
C ountry C o n s titu e n c y and e v ery P a r lia m e n ta r y Borough,
w ith s u i t a b l e d i v i s i o n a l o r g a n i s a t i o n in th e s e p a r a t e
C o n s t i t u e n c ie s o f D iv id ed Boroughs.
2. To c o - o p e r a te w ith th e G eneral Council o f the
T rades Union C o n g re ss, o r o t h e r K indred O r g a n is a t i o n s ,
in j o i n t p o l i t i c a l o r o t h e r a c t io n in harmony w ith the
P a r ty C o n s i t u t io n and S ta n d in g O rders.
3. To give e f f e c t as f a r as may be p r a c t i c a b l e to th e
p r i n c i p l e s from tim e to time approved by th e P a r ty
C o n fe re n c e .
4. To se c u re f o r th e w orkers by hand o r by b r a i n th e
f u l l f r u i t s o f t h e i r i n d u s t r y and the most e q u i t a b l e
d i s t r i b u t i o n t h e r e o f t h a t may be p o s s i b l e , upon th e
b a s i s o f th e common ow nership o f the means o f p r o d u c
t i o n , d i s t r i b u t i o n , and exchange, and the b e s t o b t a i n
a b le system o f p o p u la r a d m i n i s t r a t io n and c o n tr o l o f
e ach i n d u s t r y o r s e r v i c e .
5. G e n e ra lly t o prom ote the P o l i t i c a l , S o c i a l , and
Economic E m a n cip atio n o f the P e o p le, and more p a r t i c u
l a r l y o f th o se who depend d i r e c t l y upon t h e i r own e x e r
t i o n s by hand o r by b r a i n f o r th e means of l i f e .
In ter-D o m in io n
( T . To c o - o p e r a te w ith th e Labour and S o c i a l i s t o r g a n i
s a t i o n s in th e Dominions and the D ependencies w ith a
view to p ro m o tin g th e p u rp o se s o f the P a r t y , and to
ta k e common a c t i o n f o r th e prom otion o f a h ig h e r s t a n
d a rd o f s o c i a l and economic l i f e f o r th e w orking p o p u
l a t i o n of th e r e s p e c t i v e c o u n t r i e s .
I n t e r n a t i o n a l
1~. To c o -o p e r a te w ith th e Labour and S o c i a l i s t o r g a n i
s a t i o n s i n o t h e r c o u n tr i e s and to a s s i s t i n o r g a n i s in g
a F e d e r a tio n o f N a tio n s f o r th e m aintenance o f Freedom
and P e a ce , f o r th e s e t t l e m e n t o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l d is p u t e s
by C o n c i l i a t i o n o r J u d i c i a l A r b i t r a t i o n , and f o r such
I n t e r n a t i o n a l L e g i s l a t i o n as may be p r a c t i c a l b e .
A t t l e e em phasized th e common goals and common h i s
to r y o f L a b o u rite s to prom ote u n i t y w ith in th e p a r t y . In
s h o r t , A t t l e e a tte m p te d (1) to in fo rm B rito n s about th e
growth s t r u g g l e s o f th e Labour p a r t y , and (2) to convince
165
th e p u b l i c t h a t Labour was a l e g i t i m a t e resp o n se to solve
s o c i a l and economic problem s o f i t s tim e s .
A t t l e e then o u t l i n e d th e h i s t o r y o f th e p a r t y sin c e
1918, and a n a ly z e d the two Labour Governments w hich h e ld
o f f i c e . In th e f i r s t p l a c e , A t t l e e co n te n d ed t h a t Mr.
MacDonald made the g r e a t e r r o r o f f a i l i n g to m a in ta in the
n e c e s s a r y c o n ta c t w ith th e rank and f i l e and th e Trade
U nions. A t t l e e , by i m p l i c a t i o n , d is c o u n te d some o f th e
r a s h s ta te m e n t s which le a d in g members o f th e p a r t y made in
th e e a r l y t h i r t i e s . For exam ple, Oswald Mosley c a l l e d
MacDonald a t r a i t o r and l i a r and Mosley form ed a s e p a r a te
p a r t y . 15 However, A t t le e b o ld ly cla im e d t h a t MacDonaldism
was e s s e n t i a l l y F a s c i s t in i t s p h i l o s o p h y . ^ The r e v u ls io n
from MacDonaldism "cau sed the p a r t y to le a n r a t h e r too f a r
tow ard a c a t a s t r o p h i c view o f p r o g r e s s and to em phasize un
duly th e c o n d itio n s o f c r i s e s w hich were b e in g e x p e r i
en ced . In o th e r w ords, A t t l e e r e j e c t e d a n y th in g b u t a
r e a s o n a b le p r o g r e s s io n tow ard th e s o c i a l i s t commonwealth.
A t t l e e wrote a t a tim e when p a r t y l e a d e r s h i p was
s u b j e c t e d to se v e re c r i t c i s m from i m p a tie n t L e ft-w in g mem
b e r s and from o th e r s who were grow ing r e s t i v e und er what
th e y c o n s id e r e d the dom ination o f Trade U n ion s. He w is e ly
en co u rag e d " c o n s t r u c t iv e c r i t i c i s m , " b u t w arned c r i t i c s o f
th e d an ger o f c a r r y in g t h e i r c r i t i c i s m t o such le n g th s t h a t
th e s o c i a l i s t r e v o l u t io n became " in e s s e n c e C o n s e r v a tiv e ."
A t t l e e rem inded l i s t e n e r s o f th e r e v o l u t i o n a r y n a tu r e o f
166
o b j e c t i v e s , and t h a t n o t to be f u l l y s a t i s f i e d w ith on ly a
few refo rm s.I®
A t t l e e d e n ie d i n d u s t r i a l dom ination o f th e p a r t y :
"There is a r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e i r p a r t n e r s h i p in a c t io n on
b e h a l f of the w o rk e rs, and t h e i r freedom o f a c tio n in t h e i r
r e s p e c t i v e s p h e r e s . " ! 9 T his ap peal prom oted u n i ty in th e
p a r t y . He arg ued t h a t v a rio u s f a c t i o n s h e lp e d c r e a t e th e
c o n s t i t u t i o n o f the Labour p a r t y en d o rsed in 1937 th ro u g h a
b a la n c e of f o r c e s . 29 T h is argum ent was a s u b t l e inducem ent
to approve o f the method o f e q u a l i t y o p e r a t in g w ith in th e
p a r t y and the goal o f a c h ie v in g e q u a l i t y e co n o m ic ally and
s o c i a l l y o u ts id e o f th e p a r t y .
A t t l e e th en u se d h i s t o r i c a l evid ence to s u p p o rt h i s
g e n e ra l o p in io n t h a t th e Labour p a r t y l i v e d by th e method
o f c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a c t i o n s and c o n s i s t e n t l y r e j e c t e d the
v i o l e n t t a c t i c s o f o t h e r s o c i a l r e v o l u t io n s around th e
w orld. L a b o u r's methods were re a s o n a b le p e rs u a s io n and
and c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a c t i o n . The s p e c i f i c n o n v io le n t means
to achieve L a b o u r's o b j e c t i v e s were th e g e n e ra l s t r i k e and
th e b a l l o t box. A t t l e e i n s i s t e d t h a t "so long as th e
w orkers have i t in t h e i r power to ach ieve t h e i r ends by use
o f th e b a l l o t box, th e y have no r i g h t to seek to o b ta in
them by o th e r m e a n s." 2! With such argum ents, A t t l e e c le a r ly
sought the a p p ro v a l o f L a b o u r's m ethods.
S o c i a l i s t th o u g h t was r e v o l u t i o n a r y , b u t th e means
to achieve L a b o u r's ends were c o n s t i t u t i o n a l and n o n v io le n t.
167
M oreover, from a t h e o r e t i c a l v ie w p o in t, A t t l e e e x p la in e d
t h a t B r i t i s h s o c i a l i s t s re c o g n iz e d th e c o n f l i c t betw een
c l a s s e s , b u t th ey had n o t a d o p ted th e c la s s war as a th e o ry
o f s o c i e t y . In a d d i t i o n , A t t l e e b e li e v e d t h a t most B rito n s
were u n l i k e l y to a c c e p t Communism o r F ascism , b e cau se b o th
system s a p p e a le d to the p o l i t i c a l l y im m ature, and were d i s
t a s t e f u l t o B r ito n s who had e x p e rie n c e d y e a r s o f p e r s o n a l
freedom and p o l i t i c a l d e m o c r a c y . ^2
A d i f f e r e n c e in method s e p a r a t e d Communists from
L a b o u r i te s , th e d i f f e r e n c e o f ends s e p a r a t e d L ib e r a l s from
L a b o u r i te s . A t t l e e argued f o r the r e c o g n i t i o n o f a p a r ty
d i s t i n c t from th e L ib e r a l p a r t y . He w anted B r ito n s to un
d e r s t a n d t h a t even in a c o a l i t i o n , a d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s t
c o u ld n o t hope to make a su c c e ss o f a d m i n i s t e r i n g the C a p i
t a l i s t system because he d id n o t b e l i e v e in i t . He s a i d ,
f o r example:
There a re th o se who w i l l say t h a t t h i s i s a p la y in g
w ith w ords; t h a t we are a l l S o c i a l i s t s now; t h a t th e r e
i s no a b s o lu te S o c ia lism o r C a p ita lis m ; t h a t i t i s a l l
a m a tte r o f d egree and so f o r t h . I can n o t a c c e p t t h i s .
S o c ia lis m to me i s n o t j u s t a p ie c e o f m achinery o r an
economic sy stem , b u t a l i v i n g f a i t h t r a n s l a t e d in to
a c t i o n . I d e s i r e the c l a s s l e s s s o c i e t y , and th e s u b
s t i t u t i o n o f th e m otive of s e r v i c e f o r t h a t o f compe
t i t i o n . I m u st, t h e r e f o r e , d i f f e r in my o u tlo o k from
th e man who s t i l l c lin g s t o th e p r e s e n t s y s te m .23
A t t l e e ' s rem arks on a c o a l i t i o n were p r o p h e t i c .
Two y e a r s a f t e r h i s book a p p e a re d , Labour j o i n e d a c o a l i
t i o n and was f o r c e d to d e fin e i t s r o l e as te m p o r a r ily co
o p e r a t i v e w ith th e C o n se rv a tiv e s in o r d e r to win th e war
168
and save the n a ti o n . At th e end o f th e c o a l i t i o n , L abou r's
goal was s o c ia lis m , n o t refo rm ed c a p i t a l i s m . A t t l e e ' s a t
tem pt t o make Labour a d i s t i n c t p a r t y fo r c e d B rito n s to
re c o g n iz e t h a t Labour was n o t m erely an o f f s h o o t o f the
L ib e r a l p a r t y , and n o t a s u p p o r t e r o f c a p i t a l i s m . L ab o u r's
end was a s o c i a l i s t commonwealth.
A t t le e c l a r i f i e d L a b o u r's co ncept o f s o c i a l i s t com
m onwealth; i t in v o lv e d : (1) g r e a t e r freedom f o r the i n d i
v i d u a l , which meant few er r e s t r i c t i o n s in h i s food, h i s
c l o t h i n g , h is amusements, and h i s o c c u p a tio n , (2) a sense
o f s e c u r i t y f o r the v a s t m a j o r it y in term s o f a job and
s u f f i c i e n t money to keep e v ery c i t i z e n and h i s fam ily a t a
r e a s o n a b le s ta n d a r d o f l i v i n g , (3) e q u a l i t y in th e sense o f
a b o l i t i o n o f c la s s e s and c l a s s d o m in a tio n , (4) democracy in
term s o f an i n d i v i d u a l 's a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n in s o c i e t y
and p o l i t i c s w ith a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r ch o o sin g government
p e r s o n n e l and p o l i c y , (5) common ow nership o f a l l la n d and
a l l th e m ajor i n d u s t r i e s , (6) s c i e n t i f i c in v e n tio n and
t e c h n i c a l p ro g re s s employed f o r th e g e n e r a l good, (7) a
b e a u t i f u l e x te r n a l e n v ir o n m e n t- - ! . e . , p a r k s , f o r e s t s , r i v -
e r s - - a n d (8) n a ti o n a l i s m , o r a commonwealth, as opposed to
im p e ria lis m in term s o f f o r e i g n a f f a i r s . 2 4
Next A t t l e e o u t l i n e d th e ta s k s f o r a f u tu r e Labour
governm ent. One o f th e b e s t ways to r e a s s u r e l i s t e n e r s o f
th e f u t u r e o f an o r g a n i z a t i o n i s to s u g g e s t a p la n o f a t-
ta c k on the problem s o f s o c i e t y . A t t l e e d id so s k i l l f u l l y .
169
The Labour P a r t y 's chance of p o l i t i c a l power seemed
rem ote; n e v e r t h e l e s s , A t t l e e as a s o c i a l i s t a u th o r advo
c a te d c l e a r l y and l o g i c a l l y th e s te p s t h a t a Labour G overn
ment ought to ta k e . His s h o r t term program n a t u r a l l y d e
pended on th e s t a t e o f a f f a i r s a t home and abroad when
Labour would be r e t u r n e d to power. N o n e th e le s s , A t t l e e s e t
f o r t h a p r a c t i c a l program f o r th e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f a s o
c i a l i s t commonwealth, as fo llo w s : Cl) in th e m achinery o f
governm ent, the most e s s e n t i a l change was th e p r o p e r a l l o
c a tio n o f tim e , e s p e c i a l l y on com m ittees, by the use o f an
a g reed t i m e t a b l e , (2) to f u r t h e r c u r t a i l the power o f the
House o f Lords i n o r d e r to p r e s e r v e th e power of th e p e o p le
in g e n e r a l, (3) to s t r e a m li n e the C a b in e t's work, (4) to
c o n v e rt th e Bank o f E ngland i n t o a S ta te i n s t i t u t i o n , (5)
to give the Government power to p u rc h a se c o m p u lso rily w h a t
e v e r lan d i t r e q u i r e s f o r w h atev er p u rp o se , (6) to compen
s a te those p r i v a t e owners h u r t d u rin g th e t r a n s i t i o n tow ard
the S o c i a l i s t commonwealth, (7) to n a t i o n a l i z e c o al and
power, (8) to n a t i o n a l i z e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , (9) to p ro v id e
adequate p e n s io n s upon r e t i r e m e n t , (1)) to embark on a
v ig o ro u s program o f a g r i c u l t u r a l developm ent, and (11) to
p ro v id e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n f o r th e d i s t r e s s e d a reas. 25 With
t h i s p l a n , th e Labour p a r t y had come o f age. I t w as, a c
c o rd in g to th e r h e t o r i c o f The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e ,
t h a t o f an e s t a b l i s h e d i n s t i t u t i o n in B r i t i s h l i f e .
Like a good d e b a t e r , A t t l e e a n t i c i p a t e d such o b j e c
170
t i o n s as G overnm ent's lo s s of money in th e above u n d e r ta k
i n g s , th e la c k o f s k i l l e d management, and th e la c k o f i n i
t i a t i v e . He ch arged th e s e c o m p lain ts were f a l l a c i e s and
re a s o n e d to o p p o s ite c o n c lu sio n s i n o r d e r to s u b s t a n t i a t e
h i s Labour program . F i r s t , A t t l e e argu ed a g a i n s t th e lo s s
o f money. He s a i d th e r e a l i s s u e was p r o v i d in g r e q u i r e d
s e r v i c e s f o r th e p u b l i c , n o t a l o s s o r g a in o f money. He
re a s o n e d t h a t th e community ran th e ro ad s a t a heavy e x
p e n s e , b e cau se roads were n e c e s s a r y ; Labour m a in ta in e d many
p u b l i c s e r v i c e s were n e c e s s a r y ; Labour m a in ta in e d many p u b
l i c s e r v i c e s were n e c e s s a r y . For exam ple, a N a tio n a l
T r a n s p o r t Board m ight f i x f a r e s , and a t th e end o f th e y e a r
a l a r g e sum, o r no p r o f i t , o r even a l o s s w hich m ight be
made up from some o th e r s o u rc e , would be handed o v e r to th e
Exchequer j u s t as th e P o s t O ffic e d id .
The second o b j e c t i o n A t t l e e a n t i c i p a t e d was th e
la c k o f s k i l l e d management. He s a i d t h a t the r a i l w a y s , f o r
exam ple, had a b o a rd o f d i r e c t o r s u n s k i l l e d in t r a n s p o r t a
t i o n , s o , in e f f e c t , th e b o a rd a p p o in te d men o f t e c h n i c a l
a b i l i t y to do th e work. These same s k i l l e d w o rk ers would
o p e r a t e j u s t as w e ll u n d er a b o a rd a p p o in te d by th e commu
n i t y . More i m p o r t a n t l y , th e r e would be a change o f o b j e c
t i v e b e c a u se th e b o a rd o f d i r e c t o r s was r e s p o n s i b l e to co n
s i d e r o n ly th e i n t e r e s t s o f th e community a t l a r g e . T h ird ,
A t t l e e answ ered the charge o f la c k o f i n i t i a t i v e . He r e a
soned t h a t such a charge f a l s e l y assumed t h a t th e r e a lr e a d y
171
was i n i t i a t i v e i n p r i v a t e e n t e r p r i s e . However, to o o f te n
i n i t i a t i v e was la c k in g ; f o r exam ple, A t t l e e p o i n t e d to the
u n w illin g n e s s o f p r i v a t e e n t e r p r i s e to u t i l i z e s c i e n c e , and
g e n e ra l c o n se rv a tis m in b u s i n e s s . He p ro m ised t h a t Labour
would make f a r g r e a t e r use o f s c i e n c e , and l i b e r a l i z e the
o p e r a t io n s o f b u s i n e s s . ^
A t t l e e , in h i s s tr o n g e t h i c a l t r a d i t i o n , appealed
to L a b o u rite s courage and backbone f o r a f u t u r e Labour gov
ernm ent:
The s u b j e c t s o f n a t i o n a l i s a t i o n must be n o t th o se about
w hich th e re i s l i t t l e c o n tr o v e r s y b e cau se th ey are n o t
v i t a l , b u t th o se which are r e a l l y v i t a l f o r th e t r a n s
fo rm a tio n o f s o c i e t y . . . . The Labour Government w i l l
n o t d i s s i p a t e i t s s t r e n g t h when r e t u r n e d to power by
d e a lin g only w ith m inor m a t t e r s . I t w i l l p ro c e e d a t
once w ith m ajor m easures w h ile i t s mandate i s f r e s h . 27
When A t t le e was in o f f i c e , he n e i t h e r f a i l e d h i s p h ilo so p h y
n o r th e r u l e s w hich he f o rm u la te d when in O p p o s itio n .
A t t l e e approached th e pro blem s o f f o r e i g n p o l ic y
w ith th e a s s e r t i o n t h a t a l l s o c i a l i s t s s h o u ld r e j e c t the
d o c tr i n e s o f m i l i t a r i s m and im p e r ia lis m . T h is n o n - a g g r e s
s iv e a t t i t u d e was an e s s e n t i a l p a r t o f A t t l e e ' s r o le as a
r e a s o n a b le r e v o l u t i o n a r y . S o c i a l i s t s s t r o n g l y s u p p o rte d
p e a c e f u l e f f o r t s o f th e League o f N a tio n s and o t h e r such
i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s s i n c e 1918. T hus, i n e f f e c t ,
A t t l e e u rg ed L a b o u rite s to a p p ly p r i n c i p l e s o f d e m o cratic
s o c i a l is m i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y , f o r exam ple, to such b o d ie s as
th e commonwealth.2 8
172
A t t l e e c a u t i o u s l y app ro ach ed th e ex tre m e ly c o n t r o
v e r s i a l i s s u e o f w h e th e r E ngland sh o u ld rearm . The Labour
p a r t y was p ro fo u n d ly p a c i f i s t i c . Walking a m iddle ro ad ,
A t t l e e arg ued t h a t com plete a b o l i t i o n o f a l l armed f o r c e s
was i m p r a c t i c a l and would n o t c o n t r i b u t e to w orld p e ac e.
F ig h tin g s e r v i c e s s h o u ld be o r g a n iz e d , he h e ld , a c c o rd in g
to common se n se and d e m o c r a tiz a tio n . Even an i n t e r n a t i o n a l
p o l ic e fo r c e in th e League o f N atio n s would be d e s i r a b l e
f o r w orld P e a c e . 2^ A t t l e e chose to argue p o s i t i v e l y f o r
p e a c e , a d v o c a tin g some arms b u i ld - u p r a t h e r th an r e j e c t i n g
rearmament o r condoning a march tow ard war.
A t t l e e ' s numerous r e f e r e n c e s to th e im portance o f
th e rank and f i l e in The Labour P a rty in P e r s p e c tiv e cannot
be e x a g g e ra te d . He c o n t i n u a l l y r e tu r n e d to h is a f f e c t i o n
a te a f f i l i a t i o n w ith th e common man; t h i s ap p ea l was h is
most common one. He re a s o n e d t h a t the cause f o r the p r o
g re ss o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m was due to th e q u a l t i y o f th e
rank and f i l e . They were r e s p o n s i b l e f o r th e comeback
a f t e r MacDonaldism. They m ust be in c lo s e communication
w ith Labour l e a d e r s . They w ere th e hope f o r the f u t u r e .
What im p re ssed A t t l e e most i n h i s p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r as a
Labour man was t h a t th e m ovem ent's " s t r e n g t h depends n o t on
the b r i l l i a n c e o f i n d i v i d u a l s , b u t on th e q u a l i t y o f the
rank and f i l e . "30 These f r e q u e n t , h o n e s t compliments
th ro u g h o u t A t t l e e ' s t e x t were a tte m p ts to make th e common
man f e e l v a lu a b le and n e c e s s a r y in th e maze o f p o l i t i c a l
173
m achinery and to i n c r e a s e A t t l e e ' s e th o s .
A t t l e e m a in ta in e d t h a t "where th e S o c i a l i s t c re e d
i s expounded sim p ly and c l e a r l y i t g a in s a d h e re n ts in a l l
31
c l a s s e s . " He s t r o n g l y b e l i e v e d in and p r a c t i c e d c l a r i t y
and s i m p l i c i t y o f e x p r e s s io n . Simple and c l e a r in f o r m a tio n
on d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m , he th o u g h t, d i s p e l l e d the f e a r s o f
s o c i a l i s m as a c r e e p i n g , u n c o n tr o l la b l e r e v o l u t i o n ; he
so u g h t to im p la n t th e i d e a ' t h a t i t was a resp o n se to p e o
p l e ' s n e e d s; i t was a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l method o f r e v o l u t i o n .
T his i s th e e s s e n t i a l meassage o f A t t l e e ' s p o l i t i c a l t e s t a -
m ent, The Labour P a r t y in P e r s p e c t i v e .
1945 E le c t i o n B ro ad cast
W inston C h u r c h i l l , i n th e a ttem p t t o win r e - e l e c
t i o n in J u n e , 1945, d e l i v e r e d the f i r s t a d d re s s i n the
d e b ate b r o a d c a s t s : C h u r c h i l l 's "G estapo sp eech " o f June 4,
1945, s e t th e s ta g e f o r A t t l e e ' s r e j o i n d e r th e f o llo w in g
n i g h t . A t t l e e was p ro b a b ly a t h i s b e s t when r e p l y i n g to an
o p pon ent. C e r t a i n l y , on t h i s o c c a s io n , he e x c e ll e d . He
began by s e t t i n g a s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t to n e from Mr.
C h u r c h il l and by s e t t i n g an example fo r a l l h i s s u p p o r t e r s
in th e campaign.
A t t l e e s t a t e d what h i s purpose was in t h e s e w ords:
I had p r e p a r e d a speech t h a t was i n te n d e d to be a c a r e
f u l e x p o s i t i o n o f the Labour programme, w ith very
l i t t l e p a r t y p o le m ic s in i t . The u n e x p e c te d v i o l e n t
a t t a c k by the Prime M i n i s t e r on h i s l a t e c o lle a g u e s and
on a l l t h a t th e y s to o d f o r r a i s e d th e q u e s t i o n as to
174
what l i n e I sh o u ld fo llo w . I d e c id e d n o t to a l t e r my
o r i g i n a l s c r i p t b u t only to add a few words o f comment
on the l i n e tak en by my o ppo nent. . . .32
S ince p e r s u a s io n o f the e l e c t o r a t e was th e prim ary
go al of th e b r o a d c a s t s , audience a n a l y s i s was e x tre m e ly im
p o r t a n t . C h u r c h i l l ’ s p r i n c i p a l e r r o r was t h a t he .m isjudged
h i s a u d ie n c e . He em phasized f o r e i g n p o l i c y i s s u e s when th e
e l e c t o r a t e was more concerned w ith d o m e stic i s s u e s , a c c o rd
ing to the B r i t i s h i n s t i t u t e o f P u b lic O pinion p o l l s . The
r e s u l t s o f th e 1945 p o l l l i s t e d in o r d e r th e co ncerns o f
th e e l e c t o r a t e as: H ousing, 41 p e r c e n t ; F u l l Employment,
15 p e r c e n t ; S o c ia l S e c u r i t y , 7 p e r c e n t ; N a t i o n a l i z a t i o n ,
6 p e r c e n t ; I n t e r n a t i o n a l S e c u r i t y , 5 p e r c e n t . C h u r c h il l 's
second e r r o r was t h a t he spoke in a p u g i l i s t i c to n e . He
re p ro a c h e d Labour and L ib e r a l p a r t i e s f o r p l a c i n g p a r t y
b e f o r e co u n try and le a v in g the c o a l i t i o n . He a t t a c k e d s o
c i a l i s m as a g e sta p o regime and a p la n f o r b a n k ru p tc y o f
the n a t i o n . A ccording to p o l i t i c a l a n a l y s t s , Readman and
McCallum, most B r ito n s did n o t tak e h i s w a rn in g about
Labour s e r i o u s l y ; th e e l e c t o r a t e f e l t t h a t C h u r c h il l
s t r e s s e d p e t t y p a r t y p o lem ics f o r the sake o f p o l i t i c s .
However, many l i s t e n e r s m ight have d is m is s e d th e s e m is g iv
in g s were i t n o t f o r Mr. A t t l e e ' s a d d re s s th e n e x t n i g h t ,
w hich "c a u g h t and c r y s t a l l i z e d t h e i r i n c i p i e n t and w av erin g
d i s a p p r o v a l . " 33 A t t l e e im m ediately m en tio n ed C h u r c h i l l 's
a d d re s s and th en c l e v e r l y underm ined i t . In a few w ords,
A t t l e e e f f e c t i v e l y d e s tr o y e d C h u r c h i l l 's argum ents:___________
175
When I l i s t e n e d to the Prim e M i n i s t e r ’s sp eech l a s t
n i g h t in which he gave such a t r a v e s t y o f th e p o l ic y
o f the Labour p a r t y , I r e a l i z e d a t once what was h i s
o b j e c t . He w anted th e e l e c t o r s to u n d e rs ta n d how
g r e a t was the d i f f e r e n c e betw een W inston C h u r c h ill th e
g r e a t le a d e r in war o f a u n i t e d n a t i o n , and Mr. C hur
c h i l l the p a r t y l e a d e r o f th e C o n s e rv a tiv e s . He f e a r e d
l e s t those who had a c c e p te d h i s le a d e r s h ip in war might
be tem pted o u t o f g r a t i t u d e t o fo llo w him f u r t h e r . I
than k him f o r h a v in g d i s i l l u s i o n e d them so th o ro u g h ly .
The voice we h e a rd l a s t n i g h t was t h a t o f Mr. C h u rc h ill,
b u t the mind was t h a t o f Lord B e av e rb ro o k .36
A t t l e e c l e a r l y d iv id e d C h u r c h i l l , th e s u c c e s s f u l war le a d e r,
from C h u r c h i l l , th e in a d e q u a te p e a c e tim e l e a d e r . A t t l e e ' s
s t r a t e g y was a compliment to C h u r c h il l and a blow a t th e
same tim e. M oreover, i n one s e n t e n c e , A t t l e e named th e
r e a l v i l l a i n o f th e sp e e c h , Lord B eaverbrook. I t was b e t
t e r t o a tt a c k Beaverbrook th a n C h u r c h i l l , b u t by p o i n t i n g
t o B eaverbrook, C h u r c h ill d id n o t ap p ea r to be h i s own man.
In o th e r w ords, someone m a n ip u la te d C h u r c h il l . H e n c e fo rth ,
B eaverbrook was h e ld r e s p o n s i b l e f o r many o f the a ll e g e d
i n i q u i t i e s o f the Tory p a r t y . ^
A p p a re n tly , A t t l e e view ed h i s au dience as b e in g
t h o u g h tf u l and r e a s o n a b le . A t t l e e s a i d , "The in f lu e n c e o f
th e r a d i o , has I th in k o p e r a t e d to make th e e l e c t i o n a u d i
ences more th o u g h tf u l and more d e s i r o u s o f l i s t e n i n g to
s o l i d r e a s o n i n g . E v i d e n t l y , th e e l e c t i o n r e s u l t s showed
a p p ro v a l o f A t t l e e ' s q u i e t r e a s o n in g and th e l o g i c a l exp o
s i t i o n o f a p o s i t i v e p o l i c y . M oreover, th e Labour program
was p r i m a r i l y concerned w ith d o m estic i s s u e s , which were
e x a c t l y what th e e l e c t o r a t e w anted to h e a r ab o u t.
176
A t t l e e a s s e r t e d he was in th e same p o s i t i o n as
C h u r c h il l , a d d re s s in g th e e l e c t o r s " f o r the f i r s t tim e f o r
f iv e y e a rs as a P a r ty l e a d e r . " 39 However, in sh a rp con
t r a s t , A t t l e e t a c t f u l l y p a i d t r i b u t e to a l l h i s c o lle a g u e s
i n th e l a t e Government. T h e ir com radeship d u rin g th e war
was a g r e a t te s tim o n y to B r i t i s h democracy and th e p o l i t i
c a l m a tu r ity o f G re at B r i t a i n . A t t l e e ' s g e n e r o s i t y h e lp e d
to b u i l d h is own r e a s o n a b le n e s s in c o n t r a s t to th e meanness
of C h u r c h ill th e p r e v io u s n i g h t .
C h u r c h i l l 's e m o tio n a l, f e a r - a r o u s i n g a p p e a ls were
a ls o r e f u t e d by A t t l e e e a r l y in h is b r o a d c a s t . He com
mented:
He ( C h u r c h ill) has f o r g o t t e n t h a t th e S o c i a l i s t th e o ry
was d e v elo p ed by R o b e rt Owen in B r i t a i n long b e fo r e
K arl Marx. A u s t r a l i a , New Z ealand and th e S ca n d in a v ia n
c o u n tr i e s have had S o c i a l i s t governm ents f o r y e a rs
. . . The men and women I have seen are n o t s c a r e d .
They a re s t u f f e d w ith courage and c o n f i d e n c e .40
A t t l e e u t i l i z e d h i s t o r i c a l appeal to s e t the r e c o r d
s t r a i g h t . A t t l e e c l e a r l y s t a t e d th r e e tim es t h a t C h u r c h ill
had f o r g o t t e n h i s t o r i c a l f a c t s . He contend ed t h a t Labour
p r a c t i c e c o n ta in e d as much Methodism as i t d id M arxism .41
A t t l e e a tte m p te d to c o r r e c t C h u r c h i l l 's Gestapo con cep t o f
the Labour P a r t y .
A t t l e e c o n tin u e d , q u i e t l y and p a t i e n t l y , to j u s t i f y
L a b o u r's w ith d ra w a l form th e C o a l i t i o n u n t i l th e end o f th e
Jap an ese w ar. His s t y l e d is p la y e d an e l e g a n t s i m p l i c i t y
and d i r e c t n e s s : " I s h o u ld l i k e to d e al f o r a m inute or two
177
w ith th e re a s o n f o r hav in g t h i s e l e c t i o n , f o r I n o t i c e
th e r e i s some m is u n d e rs ta n d in g and some d e l i b e r a t e m is r e p
r e s e n t a t i o n . " His approach was p r a c t i c a l . His unadorned
r h e t o r i c was c o n s i s t e n t w ith th e g e n e r a l image A t t l e e
w anted to p o r t r a y : th e calm , r a t i o n a l , h o n e s t a d v o cate f o r
s o c i a l i s m . A t t l e e argued t h a t both p a r t i e s a g re e d i t would
be wrong to c o n tin u e th e p r e s e n t P a rlia m e n t beyond th e end
o f th e German w ar. The l i f e o f the p r e s e n t House o f Com
mons had a lr e a d y l a s t e d n e a r l y ten y e a r s . Labour o f f e r e d
to c o n tin u e u n t i l th e end o f autumn when a more a c c u ra te
r e g i s t e r , w hich in c lu d e d th e se rv ice m e n , would be a v a i la b l e .
However, the heavy p r e s s u r e of the C o n se rv a tiv e p a r t y
f o r c e d C h u r c h il l to r e f u s e th e Labour o f f e r and demand an
im m ediate e l e c t i o n . ^ C o n se q u e n tly , t h i s e x p la n a t i o n p u t
th e blame a c c u r a t e l y and c o n v e n ie n tly on C h u r c h il l and the
C o n s e r v a t i v e s .
A t t l e e p ro c e e d e d to u n fo ld th e p o l i c y o f h is p a r t y
in a t y p i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p a t t e r n . A t t l e e u t i l i z e d s e v
e r a l exam ples to prove each p o i n t , and th en he s t a t e d a
l o g i c a l g e n e r a l i z a t i o n o r c o n c lu s io n .
A t t l e e q u ic k ly d is p o s e d of f o r e i g n p o l i c y s t a t e
m ents. He e x p re s s e d hope t h a t th e r e w ould be c o n tin u e d
agreem ent on the main l i n e s o f f o r e ig n p o l i c y o f b o th p a r
t i e s . A t t l e e a s s u re d th e e l e c t o r a t e t h a t Labour would do
i t s utm o st to win th e war a g a i n s t Japan and b r i n g s o l d i e r s
home as soon as p o s s i b l e . He prom ised w h o le h e a rte d Labour
1 7 8
s u p p o r t to th e U n ited N a tio n s and hoped th e C o n se rv a tiv e s
would agree w ith h i m . ^
The second p a r t o f Labour p o l i c y A t t l e e d is c u s s e d ,
co n cerned th e dom estic sc e n e . The a u d ie n ce was e v id e n tly
v e ry i n t e r e s t e d w ith t h i s p a r t i c u l a r i s s u e , and A t t l e e rea d
th e tim es r i g h t . A t t l e e s t r e s s e d th e main c la s h betw een
p a r t i e s o v e r dom estic p o l i c y . S o c i a l i s t s would n o t le a d
th e p e o p le a s t r a y as C h u r c h il l s u g g e s te d . A t t l e e s a i d
C h u r c h il l was d i r e c t e d i n d o m estic p o l i c y by a n o th e r m a s te r
mind o f th e C o n s e r v a tiv e s , P r o f e s s o r F r i e d r i c h A ugust van
Hayek, c u r r e n t l y p o p u la r w ith e d u c a te d C o n s e r v a tiv e s , p a r
t i c u l a r l y C h u r c h ill. A t t l e e c o n c i s e ly e x p la in e d L a b o u r's
d o m estic p o l i c y in t h r e e a r e a s : F i r s t , Labour w anted to
r e t a i n some economic c o n t r o l s i n s t i t u t e d d u rin g the war in
o r d e r to g ive d i r e c t i o n to th e n a t i o n a l l i f e . For exam ple,
a f a i r p r i c e l e v e l sh o u ld be s u s t a i n e d . Second, A t t l e e
s a i d , "we must c o n tr o l th e use o f th e la n d and have power
to a c q u ir e what the n a t i o n o r th e l o c a l c o u n c il n e e d , p ay
in g a f a i r p r i c e . . . T h ir d , c e r t a i n b a s i c i n d u s t r i e s
such as t r a n s p o r t , c o a l, g a s , e l e c t r i c i t y , ir o n and s t e e l
were r i p e f o r c o n v ersio n to p u b l i c s e r v i c e . M oreover,
A t t l e e encourag ed l i s t e n e r s to h e a r d i s t i n c t rem arks on
L a b o u r's d o m estic p o l i c y in th e f o llo w in g b r o a d c a s ts by h is
c o ll e a g u e s . A t t l e e ' s em phasis on d o m e s tic p o l ic y seemed to
be a w ise s t r a t e g y . P eop le were t i r e d o f th e war and i n
t e r n a t i o n a l a f f a i r s ; th ey were e a g e r to s o lv e t h e i r domestic
179
p ro b le m s. ^
F i n a l l y , A t t l e e so u g h t s u p p o r t o f e l e c t o r s o f e v ery
c l a s s . He u rg e d a l l v o t e r s to " g iv e Labour th e pow er, i t
can and w i l l le a d t h i s c o u n try th ro u g h th e dangers and d i f
f i c u l t i e s o f th e tim e i n t o a h a p p ie r and s e c u r e r f u t u r e . " 4 9
In the a re a s he m en tio n ed , and in th e s o c i a l s e r v i c e s ,
h e a l t h , e d u c a tio n , and s c i e n c e , which h i s c o lle a g u e s in->
te n d e d to d i s c u s s f u r t h e r in f u t u r e b r o a d c a s t s , th e Labour
p a r t y so u g h t to se rv e a l l th e p e o p le . A t t l e e a s s e r t e d t h a t
L a b o u r's app eal was n o t n arrow o r s e c t i o n a l , l i k e th e Con
s e r v a t i v e upper c l a s s p a r t y . In A t t l e e ' s co n clu d in g r e
m arks, only th e Labour p a r t y would
. . . p r e s e r v e and enhance th e b e a u ty of our c o u n try to
make i t a p l a c e where men and women may l i v e f i n e l y and
h a p p il y , f r e e to w o rsh ip God in t h e i r own way, f r e e to
speak t h e i r m inds, f r e e c i t i z e n s o f a g r e a t c o u n t r y . 50
A t t l e e ' s f i n a l s ta te m e n t was a ls o a p e r s u a s iv e a tte m p t to
d e s tr o y C h u r c h i l l 's i n s i n u a t i o n t h a t Labour e n d o rse d G es
tap o m ethods.
Lord Moran r e c o r d e d an i n t e r e s t i n g e v a l u a t i o n o f
A t t l e e ' s a d d re s s :
June 5, 1 9 4 5 - - A t t l e e , th e p oor Clem o f th e war y e a r s ,
did h is p ie c e t o n i g h t and d id i t w e l l. P erhaps h i s
y e a rs i n Bermondsey have b ro u g h t home to him t h a t
p o l i t i c s are more th a n a game. At any r a t e as I l i s
te n e d i t became p l a i n t h a t one ounce o f G l a d s t o n e 's
m oral f e r v o r was w o rth a ton of s k i l l e d i n v e c t i v e and
t h i s in s p i t e o f th e h an d icap of A t t l e e ' s d e l i v e r y .
I t i s c l e a r t h a t th e Prime M i n i s t e r i s on the wrong
t r a c k ; Macks and Brendan are h is a d v is o rs and he w i l l
n o t l e a r n from anyone e l s e . For the f i r s t tim e th e
the th o u g h t w ent th ro u g h my head t h a t he may l o s e th e
electio nT i> i
180
To compare A t t l e e to G ladstone was s i g n i f i c a n t , f o r G lad
s to n e was one o f the g r e a t e s t o r a t o r - s t a t e s m e n o f th e n i n e
t e e n t h c e n tu ry .
Readman and McCallum a ls o a n a ly z e d th e e l e c t i o n
b r o a d c a s t s ; th ey concluded:
The p o l i c y of th e Labour p a r t y as expounded i n th e s e
b r o a d c a s ts was more com pact, c o n c r e t e , and c o - o r d i n a te d
th a n t h a t o f th e C o n se rv a tiv e p a r t y . Mr. A t t l e e opened
w ith a g e n e r a l e x p o s i ti o n o f t h r e e main p la n k s o f th e
Labour p l a t f o r m , v i z . : p la n n in g i n th e p u b l i c i n t e r e s t
v e rs u s P r i v a t e E n t e r p r i s e , C o n tr o ls , and N a t i o n a l i z a
t i o n . . . . The tone [was] s e t by Mr. A t t l e e and
a d o p te d by h i s s u p p o r te rs i n th e Labour p a r t y . . .52
A t t l e e was a s u p e r i o r d e b a te r . His f o r e n s i c s k i l l s were
e v id e n t in h i s a d d re s s . His message was i n tu n e w ith th e
tim e s and w e ll a d ap ted to h i s a u d ie n c e ; i t e x c e l l e d i n sim
p l i c i t y , c l a r i t y , and d i r e c t n e s s . His approach was h o n e s t
and s i n c e r e , and h i s d e d ic a t i o n to th e p a r t y and th e p e o p le
was a p p a r e n t.
How im p o rta n t were th e BBC e l e c t i o n b r o a d c a s t s in
th e campaign? A lf r e d H a v ig h u rs t d e c l a r e d :
The h e a r t o f th e e l e c t i o n campaign was a s e r i e s o f
e v e n in g b r o a d c a s t s , ten by th e C o n s e r v a tiv e s , t e n by
th e Labour and fo u r by th e L i b e r a l s . The B.B.C. e s t i
m ated t h a t th e average l i s t e n i n g a u d ie n c e was a b o u t 45%
o f th e e n t i r e a d u l t p o p u l a t i o n , w ith C h u r c h i l l ’ s ad
d r e s s e s a t t r a c t i n g only s l i g h t l y l a r g e r a u d ie n c e s th an
th e o t h e r s . 53
The Times of June 5th s t a t e d , ’’A ll p a r t i e s e x p e c t th e s e
b r o a d c a s t speeches to be o f g r e a t im p o rtan c e i n i n f l u e n c i n g
th e e l e c t o r a t e , and g r e a t a t t e n t i o n i s b e in g c o n c e n tr a te d
on them.
181
Readman and McCallum s u g g e s te d t h a t th e f i r s t two
campaign a d d re sses b r o a d c a s t on B.B.C. were " p i v o t a l e v en ts
in th e h i s t o r y o f the e l e c t i o n . . . and th e y e x e r c is e d a
p ro fo u n d in flu e n c e on th e su b s e q u e n t developm ent o f the
campaign, and perhaps on th e f i n a l v e r d i c t o f the e l e c
t o r a t e . " ^ The g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n o f 1945 was one o f the
g r e a t e s t tu rn o v e rs in p a r l i a m e n t a r y h i s t o r y sin c e th e tim e
o f th e g r e a t Reform B i l l o f 1832.56 The s t r e n g t h o f the
p a r t i e s in the House was a lm o s t r e v e r s e d as th e r e s u l t o f
the e l e c t i o n , and the L i b e r a l s , who m ight have been a b a l
an cin g f a c t o r , were re d u c e d t o o nly tw elv e m e m b e r s .
J . F. S. R oss, in E l e c t i o n s and E l e c t o r s , c l e a r l y showed
L a b o u r's s t r e n g t h in th e f o l lo w in g t a b l e :
M AKE UP OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, JULY, 194558
S o c i a l i s t s C e n te r O p p o sitio n
Labour 393 L i b e r a l s 12 C o n se rv a tiv e s 189
I .L .P . 3 In d e p e n d e n ts 14 U l s t e r U n io n is ts 9
Communists 2 I r i s h N a tio n a l 2
Common W ealth 1 N a t i o n a l i s t s 2 L ib e r a l N a tio n a l 13
T o ta l 399 28 213
Why d id Labour win by so l a r g e a m a jo r ity ? In A t t l e e 's
a ssessm ent:
I t h i n k , f i r s t o f a l l , p e o p le w anted a p o s i t i v e new
p o l ic y and n o t an a tte m p t to go back to th e o ld . S e c
o n d ly , th e re was by t h a t tim e a good d e a l o f f e e l in g
among many p eople a g a i n s t w hat was f e l t to be th e one-
man b u s in e s s C h u r c h ill was ru n n in g . And th e re was a
182
g r e a t d e a l o f s u s p ic i o n o f th e f o r c e s b e h in d him --
B eaverbrook in p a r t i c u l a r . I always th o u g h t C h u r c h il l
was l e d a s t r a y by Beaverbrook and Brendan Bracken in
th e E l e c t i o n . He had a g r e a t o p in io n o f B eaverbrook ,
who h ad b ro u g h t down two Governments, and he l i s t e n e d
to him and B racken on how to f i g h t th e E le c t i o n and
they c o m p le te ly m isju d g e d the p u b l ic mood. A ll the
t a l k a b o u t a Labour G estapo and th e r e l a t i o n s betw een
th e P a r l ia m e n t a r y P a r ty and th e N a tio n a l E x e c u tiv e
which C h u r c h il l d i d n ' t u n d e rs ta n d a t a l l - - a m i s c a l c u l a
t i o n and q u i t e c o n t r a r y to th e g e n e r a l mood o f p e o p le ;
a f r i g h t f u l m is ta k e . And even th o se who would have
l i k e d C h u r c h il l w e r e n 't p re p a r e d to have him i f i t
meant h a v in g th e T o rie s to o . They remembered p re - w a r
unemployment. They d i d n ' t want th e T o rie s a g a in . I
remember one good woman who came to the comm ittee rooms
i n my c o n s t i t u e n c y and s a i d she w anted to vo te f o r
C h u r c h i l l . They t o l d h e r he w a s n 't s ta n d in g t h e r e , So
she s a i d , "Oh, who i s s ta n d in g ? " They t o l d h e r , "Mr.
A t t l e e , " and she s a i d , "H e 's a l l r i g h t , I ' l l v o te f o r
him. I'm n o t g o in g to v o te f o r any C o n s e r v a tiv e s ."
There was a l o t o f t h a t f e e l i n g . 59
Thus, A t t l e e p r e s e n t e d a p o s i t i v e new p o l ic y i n h is e l e c
t io n a d d re ss and he r e p r e s e n t e d h im s e lf as th e l e a d e r o f a
team r a t h e r th a n a d i c t a t o r o f a one-man o p e r a t io n . His
r h e t o r i c met th e n e ed s o f th e p e o p le and h i s r h e t o r i c met
w ith s u c c e s s .
A neurin Bevan a n a ly z e d th e e l e c t i o n r e s u l t s as
f o llo w s :
The c o u n try n e e d e d new men and new m easu res. I t g o t
b o th . The r e s u l t was one o f the most rem arkable r e
c o v e r ie s on r e c o r d . Looking back o v e r th e p e r i o d , i t
i s now p o s s i b l e to see th e c h ie f re a s o n f o r our s u c
c e s s . I t was s e l f - c o n f i d e n c e and th e s t r e n g t h t h a t
comes from i t . T h at s e l f - c o n f i d e n c e was founded i n th e
b e l i e f t h a t we knew what had to be d o n e . 60
However, A t t l e e was n o t d i r e c t e d by s e l f c o n fid e n c e , b u t
r a t h e r a d e d i c a t i o n t o th e cause o f s o c ia lis m . Edward R.
Murrow co n clu d ed th e s u c c e s s f u l r e s u l t s were " i n l a r g e mea
183
s u re due to the women o f B r i t a i n f o r t h e r e were about two
1
and a h a l f m i l l i o n more women th an men v o t i n g . . . ." 1
A t t l e e p e r s u a s i v e l y a p p e a le d to m o th e rs, w iv e s , and sw e e t
h e a r t s o f s o l d i e r s when he i n s i s t e d t h a t th e servicem en be
s e n t home as soon as p o s s i b l e . A t t l e e a ls o u sed a c o l o r f u l
m etapho r to d e m o n stra te th e i n e q u a l i t y o f women under the
C o n s e rv a tiv e go vern m en t's r u l e .
Two days fo llo w in g the e l e c t i o n r e t u r n s , Clement
A t t l e e r e t u r n e d t o Potsdam accom panied by h i s new F o re ig n
S e c r e t a r y , E r n e s t B evin. Only se v e n ty -tw o h o u rs b e f o r e ,
th e y o c c u p ie d th e c o n fe ren c e t a b l e w ith C h u r c h il l and Eden.
A t r a n s f e r o f power as smooth as i t was momentous had taken
p l a c e . " A t t le e and h i s F o re ig n S e c r e t a r y p r e s e n t e d them-'
s e l v e s to th e w orld as symbols o f t h i s p e a c e f u l r e v o l u t io n
[o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m ] ."62
A ddress to the U n ite d S t a t e s Congress
Clement A t t l e e ' s p u rp o se i n sp e a k in g to th e U n ited
S t a t e s Congress in November, 1945, was tw o fo ld . F i r s t , he
t r i e d t o s t r e n g th e n A l l i e d t i e s a f t e r th e war in o r d e r to
p ro v id e a b a s i s f o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o o p e r a tio n i n th e con
t r o l o f atom ic energy and th e e s t a b l is h m e n t o f th e U n ited
N a tio n s . Second, A t t l e e t r i e d to s a t i s f y th e u rg e n t need
f o r American u n d e rs ta n d in g o f L a b o u r's p r i n c i p l e s and m eth
ods o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m p a r t i c u l a r l y in o r d e r to o b ta in
a U n ite d S t a t e s loan f o r th e w a v erin g B r i t i s h economy.
184
A t t l e e ' s m issio n was one o f in fo r m in g , c o o p e ra tin g ,
com prom ising, p e rs u a d in g and b a r g a i n i n g . P a r t o f h is r h e
t o r i c a l problem was t h a t , "We w e r e n 't in a p o s i t i o n to b a r
g a in . "63 A t t l e e p la y e d th e r o l e o f d ip lo m a t, in a d d itio n
to Prime M i n i s t e r , P a r ty l e a d e r , and p e ac e-^ se ek e r. He
p la y e d them a l l w e ll. G e n era l r e a c t i o n s to A t t l e e ' s h o n e st
and f o r t h r i g h t c h a r a c t e r , h i s p u rp o se f o r s p e a k in g , and the
sp eech i t s e l f were f a v o r a b l e .
A t t l e e ' s a d d re ss to C ongress was the c u lm in a tio n o f
s e v e r a l p re v io u s r h e t o r i c a l e f f o r t s . A lthough A t t le e ac-*
q u ie s c e d in the d e c is io n to drop th e bomb, he was conscious
t h a t no one a t Potsdam r e a l i z e d i t s f u l l p o t e n t i a l . Fol^
lowing the bombing o f H iro sh im a, he s e n t a le n g th y p e rs o n a l
te le g ra m to P r e s i d e n t Truman s p e c u l a t i n g on the meaning o f
the atom ic bomb in i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s . A t t l e e s a id
t h a t war sh o u ld be b a n is h e d and t h a t th e atom ic bomb should
be h a rn e s s e d to promote peace and j u s t i c e in th e w o r l d . ^
Truman r e p l i e d im m ediately t h a t he p ro p o se d to make a
b r o a d c a s t to th e American p e o p le c o v e rin g th e p o i n ts A t t le e
had in mind and was a ls o se n d in g recom m endations to Con
g re s s f o r making atom ic e n erg y a fo rc e f o r p e a c e . ^ By th e
end o f Septem ber, A t t l e e f e l t th e time had come to d isc u ss
p r o p o s a ls more f u l l y w ith P r e s i d e n t Truman; t h e r e f o r e ,
A t t l e e s e n t Truman a lo n g , p r i v a t e l e t t e r which concluded
w ith a p ro p o sa l f o r an e a r l y m e e tin g . E ig h t days l a t e r ,
185
Truman, who s h a r e d A t t l e e ’s a n x i e t i e s , announced to Con
g re ss t h a t he p ro p o s e d t o i n i t i a t e d is c u s s io n s " f i r s t w ith
our a s s o c i a t e s in t h i s d i s c o v e r y , G reat B r i t a i n and Canada.
. . . A t t l e e p l a y e d th e r o l e o f s o o th s a y e r to h i s i n
t e r n a t i o n a l a u d ie n c e . He fo resaw g r e a t tu r m o il and p re ^
d i e t e d a h o l o c a u s t i c d e s t r u c t i o n u n le s s i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a
t io n s were c o n s i d e r a b ly im proved.
I t m ight w e ll be t h a t many p e o p le d id n o t y e t r e a l i s e
t o what an e x t e n t i t had now become n e c e s s a r y to r e
a d j u s t our i d e a s , b u t s c ie n c e a p p lie d to w a rfa re m ight
d i s c o v e r o t h e r weapons even more t e r r i b l e th an th e
atom ic bomb and th e q u e s t i o n t h a t fa c e d them was n o t so
much how th ey c o u ld c o n t r o l t h i s new and d e v a s t a ti n g
f o r c e as what k in d o f s o c i e t y was n e c e s s a ry i n a w o rld
where a few bombs m ight u t t e r l y d e s tr o y g r e a t c i t i e s ,
th e work o f c e n t u r i e s o f human en d ea v o r. U nless . . .
we can d e v ise human r e l a t i o n s h i p s o t h e r than th o se
w hich have o b t a i n e d th ro u g h o u t th e a g e s, d e s t r u c t i o n on
an u n b e lie v a b le s c a l e may f a l l upon o u r c i v i l i s a t i o n . 67
A t t l e e ' s genuine c o n ce rn f o r im proved i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a
t i o n s h i p s and th e m ain ten an ce o f c i v i l i z e d s o c i e t y was
forem ost in h i s e n t i r e d i s c u s s i o n w ith Truman and M ackenzie
King. A t t l e e u rg ed t h a t peace was an a b s o lu te n e c e s s i t y
f o r s u r v i v a l . His g o a l was to convince th e American p u b l i c
t h a t d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m was a t r u s tw o r th y form o f g o v e rn
ment. M oreover, A t t l e e w anted Americans to b e li e v e Labour
would w is e ly u t i l i z e a lo an from th e U n ite d S t a t e s . U n fo r
t u n a t e l y , American p u b l i c o p in io n was p r e o c c u p ie d w ith i t s
p o s t-w a r p ro b lem s. Am ericans d id n o t want to be rem inded
t h a t th e B r i t i s h h a d made a much l a r g e r c o n t r i b u t i o n to
v i c t o r y th an th e U n ite d S t a t e s p e r head o f p o p u l a t i o n .
186
M oreover, Americans were s u s p ic i o u s o f a n y th in g t h a t seemed
l i k e l y to b r in g to o la r g e o r to o p erm an en t an e n ta n g le m en t
i n European a f f a i r s . A ccording t o A t t l e e , in some h ig h
p l a c e s th e p o s t- w a r b e l i e f t h a t Am erican and R u ss ia could
g e t a lo n g t o g e t h e r i f B r i t a i n d id n o t i n t e r f e r e was s t i l l
s t r o n g . 68
D e s p ite g r e a t odds a g a i n s t s u c c e s s f u l l y p e rs u a d in g
A m erican s, A t t l e e i n s i s t e d everyone n e ed ed to b e t t e r under-'
s t a n d w hat th e Labour p a r t y m eant. He p a r t i c u l a r l y w anted
them to know L a b o u r's u l ti m a t e o b j e c t i v e was th e c r a t i o n o f
a s o c i e t y b a se d on s o c i a l j u s t i c e , a s o c i a l i s t commonwealth.
T his go al c o u ld be a t t a i n e d only by n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n . Eco
nom ic c o n t r o l s were n o t ends i n th e m s e lv e s , and d e m o c ra tic
s o c i a l i s m was n o t reform ed c a p i t a l i s m . Much o f B r i t a i n ' s
econom ic p r o g r e s s d u rin g w artim e was due to s o c i a l i s t i c
m e a su re s. I f th ey worked in w a rtim e , th e y would a ls o work
d u rin g p e a c e tim e in o rd e r to a t t a i n s o c i a l j u s t i c e .
E ngland was in need o f an Am erican lo a n . Hence, i t
was im p e r a tiv e t h a t A t t l e e made A m ericans u n d e rs ta n d the
69
v a lu e and freedom s und er d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m . T his em
p h a s i s prom pted one e d i t o r to comment: "Mr. A t t l e e d evo ted
th e main body o f h is speech t o th e aims and u n d e rly in g p h i
lo so p h y o f th e Labour p a r t y o f w hich he i s h e a d . " ^
A t t l e e was w e ll aware t h a t h i s sp eech to Congress
was p ro b a b ly h i s p r i n c i p a l c o n ta c t w i t h th e American p u b lic .
Both th e p u b l i c and th e l e g i s l a t o r s showed keen i n t e r e s t in
187
" t h i s q u i e t , s tu d io u s man who had su c ceed ed the c o lo u r f u l
Mr. C h u r c h i l l . " '7! The e d i t o r o f The New York Times r e -
m arked,
Mr. A t t l e e i s n o t a C h u r c h i l l , b u t the s p e c i a l q u a l i
t i e s w hich d i s t i n g u i s h him f i t him p e rh a p s a l l the
b e t t e r f o r th e p r o s a i c and p a i n s t a k i n g work t h a t is
n e c e s s a r y to c o n v e rt w ar i n t o p e a c e .
Upon e n t e r i n g th e House, A t t l e e r e c e iv e d a s ta n d in g
o v a tio n . A f te r S peaker Sam Rayburn i n tr o d u c e d him, "an^
7 ^
o t h e r th u n d e r o f ap p la u se sw ept th e a s s e m b ly .n /J A t t le e
was i n t e r r u p t e d by a p p la u se in r e f e r e n c e s to C h u r c h ill,
R o o s e v e lt, th e Magna C h a r ta and th e D e c la ra tio n o f In d ep en
dence . The Prime M i n i s t e r h e ld th e c lo s e a t t e n t i o n o f
everyone th ro u g h o u t th e sp e e c h . At th e end of h i s a d d re s s ,
he ag ain r e c e iv e d a s t a n d i n g o v a tio n from th e l i s t e n i n g
a u d ie n c e . 74
A t t l e e began w i t h a s ta te m e n t o f g r a t i t u d e f o r th e
o p p o rtu n ity t o a d d re ss C o n g re ss. He r e c a l l e d C h u r c h i l l 's
a d d re ss to C ongress i n 1944 d u rin g th e w ar, and s t r e s s e d
h i s own c lo s e a s s o c i a t i o n w ith C h u r c h il l . A ttle e then
g r e e t e d Americans on b e h a l f o f C h u r c h il l . He had words o f
p r a i s e f o r such Am ericans as R o o s e v e lt, Truman, E isenhow er,
M acA rthur, N im itz , and a l l A l l i e s who h e lp e d win th e w ar.
A t t le e r e f e r r e d to Am erica as the m ig h tie s t power
on e a r t h and how i t t h r e a t e n e d no one in term s o f t e r r i
t o r i a l a g g ran d izem en t. T h is a p p e a l was b a sed on n a t i o n a l
ism . A t t l e e q u ic k ly added t h a t Am erica f o r t u n a t e l y was
188
s p a re d th e d e s t r u c t i o n o f h e r la r g e c i t i e s , u n lik e th e h o r
r o r o f th e b l i t z in B r i t a i n , he im p lie d . He a s s e r t e d t h a t
A m erica’ s n a t u r a l b o u n d a rie s o f m ountains and se a s no
lo n g e r w ould save h e r from such weapons as th e ato m ic bomb,
because e v e ry n a t i o n now f a c e d th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f t o t a l a n
n i h i l a t i o n .
I n s t e a d o f em ph asizing th e d e s t r u c t i o n and n e g a tiv e
a s p e c ts o f w a r, A t t l e e , th e " o p t i m i s t i c " r e a l i s t and p a c i
f i s t , d i r e c t e d A m e ric a 's a t t e n t i o n to p e a c e f u l e f f o r t s . He
argued: " I h o l d , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t o u r U n ited N a tio n s O rga
n i s a t i o n , in w hich I p ro fo u n d ly b e l i e v e , must be so m ething
more th a n an agreem ent betw een governm ents. I t m ust be an
e x p r e s s io n o f th e w i l l o f the common people in e v e ry coun-^
try.»»75 p h is was A t t l e e ' s only r e f e r e n c e to th e p r i v a t e
d i s c u s s i o n s betw een P r e s i d e n t Truman, th e Prime M i n i s t e r o f
Canada, and h i m s e l f . The th r e e le a d e r s a g re e d t h a t A t t l e e
a t t h i s tim e s h o u ld n o t e la b o r a t e h i s p la n f o r t r a n s f e r r i n g
the s e c r e t s o f th e atom ic bomb to the U n ited N a tio n s S e c u r
i t y C o u n cil o r th e s u g g e s tio n c r e d i t e d to him f o r p o o lin g
a l l s c i e n t i f i c d i s c o v e r i e s o f m i l i t a r y p o t e n t i a l w i t h t h a t
* • 7 6
o r g a n i z a t i o n . ' u
A t t l e e s k i l l f u l l y in tr o d u c e d the s u b j e c t o f th e
meaning o f L ab our. He s a i d :
P e rh ap s I m ight a s s i s t today in removing some m is a p p r e
h e n s i o n s . I come b e fo r e you as the Prime M i n i s t e r of
G re a t B r i t a i n , b u t in accordance w ith our c o n s t i t u
t i o n a l p r a c t i c e I am a l s o a p a r t y l e a d e r , th e l e a d e r o f
189
a m a jo r ity r e c e n t l y r e t u r n e d to power in th e House o f
Commons. I wonder how much you know about th e B r i t i s h
Labour p a r ty ? W e are n o t always v e ry w e ll in fo rm ed on
th e p o l i t i c s o f o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . I d o u b t, in f a c t ,
w h eth er very many B r i t i s h c i t i z e n s know the e x a c t d i f
fe r e n c e betw een a R e p u b lica n and a Dem ocrat. You have
h e a rd t h a t we are S o c i a l i s t s , b u t I wonder j u s t what
t h a t means to y o u ? 77
A t t l e e then p ro ce ed e d to in fo rm Am ericans j u s t as he s a i d
he would. Such an i n t r o d u c t i o n was c l e v e r , b u t th e r e are
many Americans who do n o t know th e d i f f e r e n c e between a
R e p u b lic a n and a D em ocrat. M oreover, the d i f f e r e n c e b e
tween a Tory c a p i t a l i s t and a Labour s o c i a l i s t was more
p ro fo u n d th an A t t l e e ’s analog y to D em ocratic and R ep u b lican
d i f f e r e n c e s .
A t t le e s t r o n g l y em phasized t h a t d e m o c ra tic s o c ia l- '
i s t s w anted no im pingem ent on th e f o u r freedom s: freedom
o f th e i n d i v i d u a l , s p e e c h , r e l i g i o n , and th e p r e s s . He
a s s e r t e d t h a t L a b o u r's c o n c e p ts were i n l i n e w ith the Magna
C h a rta , Habeas C o rp u s, and th e D e c l a r a t io n o f In d e p e n d e n c e .
A t t l e e a s s o c i a t e d Labour p r i n c i p l e s w ith th e American way
o f l i f e . However, h i s argum ent on freedom o f r e l i g i o n and
th e p r e s s in B r i t a i n was n o t v e ry s t r o n g . But h i s e x p la n a
t i o n o f L a b o u r's g o a ls and a c t i v i t i e s con firm ed th e p r e s
ence o f freedoms u nder h i s p a r t y .
In the 1945 E l e c t i o n B r o a d c a s t, A t t l e e rem inded
l i s t e n e r s t h a t Labour drew s u p p o r t from a l l c la s s e s in
G re a t B r i t a i n . He a ls o em phasized t h i s i s s u e b e fo re the
C ongress o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s . He u se d h i m s e l f as a p e r
190
so n a l example o f a s o c i a l i s t who came from the upper c l a s s .
The s o c i a l work he d id in Limehouse convinced him t h a t s o
c i e t y must be b u i l t on a j u s t e r fo u n d a tio n th an c a p i t a l and
t r a d i t i o n a l c l a s s d i s t i n c t i o n s . P e rs o n a l te s tim o n y a t t h i s
p o i n t was s tr o n g e v id e n c e and h e lp e d A t t le e ^ s e th o s .
A t t l e e d i s c u s s e d L a b o u r’ s view o f f o r e ig n a f f a i r s .
E s s e n t i a l l y he a p p l i e d s o c i a l i s t p r i n c i p l e s i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y ,
p a r t i c u l a r l y th e p r i n c i p l e o f th e b ro th e rh o o d o f man w i t h
o ut d i s t i n c t i o n o f c re e d o r r a c e . He s t r e s s e d t h a t th e
U n ite d S t a t e s and B r i t a i n s h o u ld n o t have any undue e c o
nomic r i v a l r y , b e c a u se t h e r e was ample need f o r i n d u s t r i a l
p ro d u c ts in th e w o rld . In o t h e r w ords, a U n ited S ta te s
lo an to G re at B r i t a i n w ould n o t harm U n ited S t a t e s t r a d e .
A t t l e e f u r t h e r a s s e r t e d t h a t B r i t a i n ’ s economic
p l i g h t was d i f f e r e n t from A m erica’ s , b u t he i n s i s t e d th e r e
could be u n i ty d e s p i t e d i v e r s i t y . More i m p o r ta n tly , B r i
ton s and Am ericans s h a r e d a lo ve f o r democracy, a common
la n g u a g e , and memories o f com radeship in a g r e a t a d v e n tu r e ,
a r e s p e c t f o r r u l e o f law , and th e v a l i d i t y o f c i v i l i z e d
moral p r e c e p t s f o r s o c i e t y .
In c l o s i n g , A t t l e e rem inded l i s t e n e r s , B r i t i s h and
A m erican, o f a m oral o b l i g a t i o n :
Man’s m a t e r i a l d i s c o v e r i e s have o u tpaced h i s m oral
p r o g r e s s . The g r e a t e s t t a s k t h a t faces us today i s to
b r i n g home to a l l p e o p le , b e fo re i t is too l a t e , t h a t
o u r c i v i l i z a t i o n can o n ly s u r v iv e by th e a c c ep tan c e and
p r a c t i c e in i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s and in our n a t i o n a l
l i f e o f th e C h r i s t i a n p r i n c i p l e we are members one o f
a n o t h e r . 78
191
T his was a d i r e c t a p p e a l f o r a l l men to d i r e c t t h e i r v i o
l e n t a c t i o n s to w ard p e a c e f u l e f f o r t s . A t t l e e ’ s em phasis on
C h r i s t i a n i t y was n o t s u r p r i s i n g in l i g h t of h i s r e l i g i o u s
backgrou nd and b e l i e f s .
A f t e r h i s sp e e c h , A t t l e e went to an in fo rm a l l u n
cheon w ith members o f the S enate and House F o re ig n P o lic y
Com m ittee, " t h a t seemed to have s tr e n g th e n e d th e im p re ss io n
made by h i s fo rm al a d d re s s .
R e a c tio n to A t t l e e ' s sp eech was m ixed, b u t g e n e ra lly
f a v o r a b l e . His a d d re ss was c o n s id e re d "a m ajor p ro n o u n ce -
o n
m e n t." A c co rd in g to one j o u r n a l i s t , "Clem ent A t t l e e ' s
p rim a ry end was to a s s u re Am ericans t h a t Labour had n o t
81
even re m o te ly c o n s id e r e d d e s t r u c t i o n of freedom . . . ."
and he seemed t o a cco m p lish t h a t end f a i r l y w e l l . A n o th e r
w r i t e r e x p la in e d A t t l e e ' s su c c e s s in a c h ie v in g h i s p u r p o s e ,
as f o llo w s :
No one w i l l doubt e i t h e r the s i n c e r i t y o f th e p u r
pose o f Mr. A t t l e e and h i s p a r t y . . . .
Once a g a in a B r i t i s h Prime M in is te r has ap p ea re d
b e f o r e th e C ongress o f th e U n ite d S ta te s to o u t l i n e th e
p o l i c i e s and aims o f h i s Government. I t is a token o f
th e s p e c i a l bonds u n i t i n g th e American and B r i t i s h
p e o p le s t h a t th e p r e s e n c e of a B r i t i s h Prime M i n i s t e r
b e f o r e th e American p a r l i a m e n t is no lo n g e r u n u s u a l,
b u t r a t h e r l i k e th e v i s i t o f a f r i e n d and r e l a t i v e come
to d is c u s s what b o th p e o p le re c o g n ize more and more as
t h e i r common d e s t i n y . 82
The r e a c t i o n o f Congress was f a v o r a b l e , d e s p i te
A t t l e e ' s la c k o f C h u r c h i l l 's k in d o f o r a t o r i c a l f l o u r i s h :
" t h e r e can be no doubt t h a t th e j o i n t s e s s io n found Mr.
A t t l e e ' s e x p o s i t i o n im p re s s iv e and t h a t th e a d je c t i v e ________
192
c e r t a i n l y a p p l i e s to th e man who d e l i v e r e d i t ." ® ^ A number
o f members o f C ongress and a t l e a s t one member o f th e Cab-
i n e t who d e c l in e d to be named, c a l l e d i t a f i n e sp e ec h .
However, some R e p u b lic a n s rem arked t h a t th ey c o n s id e r e d a
p la n n e d economy and th e freedom o f th e i n d i v i d u a l to be in -
c o m p a tib le . F r e d e r i c k B a rk le y , in The New York T im es,
gave a f u l l r e p o r t on r e a c t i o n s to A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c :
In fo rm al comments on th e B r i t i s h Prime M i n i s t e r 's
sp eech t h e r e were many a p p la u d in g v o i c e s , a lth o u g h some
members h i n t e d p r i v a t e l y t h a t th e y d id n o t l i k e Mr.
A t t l e e ' s p o l i t i c s and s u s p e c te d h i s p u rp o se s in coming
h e r e .
"But he i s a g u e s t o f o u r s , " s a i d one p o t e n t Repub-'
l i c a n House member, "and we c a n ' t be c r i t i c a l o f a
g u e s t . "
C o n tr a r iw is e was th e o f f - t h e - r e c o r d comment o f a
p o t e n t Dem ocrat.
"He t o l d us we a re the g r e a t e s t c o u n try in th e
w o rld ; he p a i d a g r e a t t r i b u t e to h i s own p r e d e c e s s o r ,
C h u r c h i l l , o f an o p po sin g p a r t y ; he p r a i s e d R o o s e v e lt,
and our le a d in g g e n e r a l s , and how anyone can s n i f f I do
n o t s e e . "
"He r e v e a l e d a co m parativ e u n d e rs ta n d in g o f f o r e i g n
a f f a i r s , " s a i d S e n to r C o n n a lly , "and gave me, a t l e a s t ,
a b e t t e r id e a o f th e p o l i c i e s o f h i s own p a r t y th a n I
had b e f o r e ."
R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Bloom c a l l e d the a d d re ss "a warmly
human sp e ec h w h ich , I f e e l s u r e , w i l l a i d a b e t t e r
u n d e rs ta n d in g betw een our two c o u n t r i e s . I e s p e c i a l l y
l i k e d h i s em phasis t h a t th e f u t u r e o f th e w o rld depends
on th e s u c c e s s o f th e U n ite d N a t i o n s ," Mr. Bloom s a i d .
Somewhat sh a rp was th e comment o f S e n a to r S t y l e s
B r id g e s , R e p u b lic a n o f New H am pshire, t h a t i t was "an
a tte m p t to j u s t i f y th e Labor Government o f B r i t a i n and
a g e s t u r e tow ard i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o o p e r a t i o n ."
S e n a to r Edward V. R o b e rts o n , R e p u b lica n o f Wyoming
and a n a t i v e o f B r i t a i n , s a i d t h a t "he made i t v e ry
p l a i n t h a t B r i t a i n w i l l have a p la n n e d economy b u t t h a t
th e S o c i a l i s t p a r t y th e r e i s n ' t the r a d i c a l r e d we are
a p t to t h in k i t . "
On th e House s i d e , R e p r e s e n ta tiv e C h r i s t i a n A. H er-
t e r , R e p u b lic a n o f M a s s a c h u s e tts , s a i d " i t to ok g r e a t
c o u ra g e , when B r i t a i n is a sk in g us f o r a l o a n , to t e l l
193
us i t p la n s t o n a t i o n a l i z e some o f i t s m ajo r i n d u s
t r i e s . ’1 R e p r e s e n ta tiv e A. L. M i l l e r , R e p u b lic a n of
N e b rask a, s a i d he f e l t th e sp eech would have u n f a v o r
a b le e f f e c t s on B r i t a i n ' s r e q u e s t f o r t h i s l o a n . 53
A t t l e e ' s a d d re ss t o Congress and h i s p r i v a t e d i s
c u s s io n s w i t h Mackenzie King and Truman le d t o a v e r b a l
agreem ent and s ta te m e n t to th e p r e s s . The ag reem ent em
b o d ie d m ost o f th e p r i n c i p l e s A t t le e p ro p o se d : t h a t a
U n ite d N a tio n s Commission on Atomic Energy w hould be e s t a b
l i s h e d ; t h e r e sh o u ld be f u l l and e f f e c t i v e c o o p e r a tio n in
th e f i e l d o f atom ic en erg y between th e th r e e A nglo-A m erican
n a t i o n s . U n f o r t u n a t e ly , the hopes e n g en d ered were soon
v i o l a t e d by th e d e v e lo p in g h o s t i l i t y betw een R u s s ia and th e
W e s t . ^ A lthough B r i t i s h s c i e n t i s t s c o n t r i b u t e d g r e a t l y to
th e developm ent o f atom ic en erg y , th e a c t u a l work had been
done in Am erica and in f o r m a tio n was n o t exchanged a f t e r the
w ar. A t t l e e r e p o r te d :
W e h ad re a c h e d . . . a s a t i s f a c t o r y a g reem en t f o r
f u t u r e c o o p e r a tio n in th e f i e l d o f atom ic e n e rg y . B ut,
as som etim es happens in d e a lin g w ith o u r Am erican
f r i e n d s , th e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n p ro p o se s b u t t h e C ongress
d i s p o s e s .87
In h i s M em oirs, A t t l e e con tin u ed :
I d o n 't blame Truman. He showed h i m s e l f v e ry aware
o f th e need f o r c o -o p e r a tio n i n our W ashington t a l k s
and we d id in f a c t f i x up what lo o k ed l i k e a p retty -
good a g reem en t. The tr o u b le was th e y c o u l d n 't g e t i t
th ro u g h th e S e n a te . Once Congress p ro c e e d e d to p a ss
th e McMahon B i l l we h ad to go ahead on o u r own. And
a lth o u g h we were in v o lv e d in a v e ry much b i g g e r ex p en
d i t u r e th an i f w e’d had the h e lp and i n f o r m a tio n due to
us from A m erica, we a c t u a l l y g o t ahead o f them . . . in
t e c h n i c a l work g e n e r a l l y a t t h a t tim e . . . . W e had to
h o ld up o u r p o s i t i o n v i s - a - v i s t he A m ericans. W e
194
c o u l d n 't allow o u rs e lv e s to be w holly i n t h e i r h a n d s,
and t h e i r p o s i t i o n w a s n 't a w fu lly c l e a r a l w a y s . 88
C o n se q u e n tly , A t t l e e ' s p e r s u a s io n , d u rin g th e week o f d i s
c u s s io n s i n W ashington in November, 1945, was n o t s u c c e s s
f u l i n g a in in g atom ic energy in fo rm a tio n and c o o p e r a tio n
f o r peace in the long ru n .
Address t o the U n ited N a tio n s
In J a n u a ry , 1946, a group o f U n ite d N a tio n s d e l e
g a te s met in London. They were a " n e rv o u s , a n x io u s , d e t e r
m ined body o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s from f i f t y - o n e convening
n a t i o n s .
The o r i g i n a l i n t e n t i o n o f the assem b ly was to con
f i n e th e f i r s t m eeting to m a tte rs such as e s t a b l i s h i n g th e
S e c u r i t y C ouncil and e l e c t i n g a S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l . But the
w o rld was to o f u l l o f c o n tro v e rsy to keep t h e agenda f r e e
o f c o n f l i c t . D e leg a te s from B r i t a i n , in p a r t i c u l a r , came
t o th e m ee tin g in a d eterm ined mood. They w a n te d to broaden
th e d i s c u s s i o n to in c lu d e the ty ran n y o f Communism, th e
t r u s t e e s h i p s o f c e r t a i n a re as of th e w o rld , th e p ro b lem o f
P a l e s t i n e , th e q u e s tio n o f European r e f u g e e s , and th e
a to m ic bomb.^O
Prime M i n is te r A t t l e e was one o f th e f i r s t sp e a k e rs
t o a d d re ss th e e n t i r e assem bly; i t was J a n u a r y 10 , 1946.
A t t l e e w an ted to welcome d e le g a te s on b e h a l f o f th e B r i t i s h
p e o p le . His c h ie f purpo se was to r e a f f i r m c l e a r l y th e p r i -
mary m is sio n of th e U n ited N a tio n s: to a c h ie v e and m ain
195
t a i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l p eace. He l a t e r s t a t e d t h a t h i s sp e
c i f i c p urpose was:
. . . to s t r e s s the im p ortance o f th e n a tio n s n o t
making the same m istake t h a t le d t o th e breakdown o f
the League o f N a tio n s . On t h i s p o i n t I s a id : "The
U n ited N ations O rg a n iz a tio n must become th e o v e r r i d i n g
f a c t o r in f o r e i g n p o l i c y . . . . " I concluded my ad
d re s s w ith r e f e r e n c e to our u l t i m a t e aim a s , "Not j u s t
th e n e g a tio n o f war b u t th e c r e a t i o n o f a w o rld of
s e c u r i t y and freedom , o f a w o rld w hich i s governed by
j u s t i c e and m oral la w ."91
A t t l e e ' s a d d re ss k e e n ly re -e m p h a siz e d th e g o a ls f o r the
U n ite d N a tio n s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s . A cco rd in g to an e d i t o r i a l
in The New York T im es:
I f the d e le g a te s who l i s t e n e d to Prime M i n i s t e r
A t t l e e ' s a d d re ss to th e UNO assem bly y e s te r d a y had been
u n c e r t a i n o f t h e i r m issio n th ey had b u t to look beyond
the windows o f W estm in ster H a l l. T h e re , as Mr. A t t l e e
s a i d , was " th e e f f e c t o f th e m a lic e our enemies wrecked
upon t h i s a n c i e n t c i t y . "92
In h is m em oirs, A t t l e e d i s c u s s e s two a s p e c ts o f h i s
a d d ress t o the U n ite d N a tio n s . F i r s t , he s a i d t h a t B rito n s
s u p p o rte d the U n ite d N atio n s and made an h o n e s t en deavor to
work in c lo s e harmony w ith th e U n ite d S t a te s and S o v ie t
R u s s ia . In e f f e c t , however, B r i t a i n drew c l o s e r to the
U n ite d S t a t e s . A t t l e e s a i d h i s a d d re s s h e lp e d "many A m eri
cans shed t h e i r o l d i s o l a t i o n i s m and , w ith i t , some of
t h e i r lo n g - s e a t e d p r e j u d i c e a g a i n s t B r i t a i n as a p r e d a t o r y
i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r .
A t t l e e ' s unique t a l e n t f o r making c o n c r e t e , compact
s t a te m e n t , in t h i s case c o n c e rn in g th e v e ry rea so n f o r the
a s s e m b ly 's m e e tin g , again form ed a p e r s u a s i v e e f f o r t to
196
in f lu e n c e h i s a u d ie n c e .
S c r u tin y o f t h i s s p e e c h , and many o th e r speech es by
A t t l e e , r e v e a l e d f r e q u e n t r e f e r e n c e s to p e a c e . A t t l e e was
b a s i c a l l y a p a c i f i s t . In th e ad d re ss to th e g e n e ra l assem
b l y , every word was c o n c e rn e d w ith the problem o f "making
a perm anent p e a c e . H e w anted the o r g a n i z a t i o n to adopt
p e a c e f u l g o a ls , a t t i t u d e s , and a c t i o n s . M oreover, th e
U n ited N a tio n s would n o t s u c c e e d , Mr. A t t l e e m a in ta in e d ,
"m erely by th e n e g a t i o n o f w a r . " ^ The e d i t o r o f The New
York Times n o te d t h a t "Mr. A t t l e e spoke by the book o f r e
c e n t h i s t o r y when he s a i d : 'W ith out s o c i a l j u s t i c e and
9 6
s e c u r i t y , t h e r e i s no r e a l fo u n d a tio n f o r p e a c e . ' . . ."
In o r d e r t o a t t a i n p e a c e , A t t l e e urged "w o rld
u n i t y , " e lo q u e n tl y and u r g e n t l y . 97 He b e lie v e d t h a t the
fundam ental r i g h t s o f man were a t the e sse n ce o f p r i n c i p l e s
and methods o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m .
A t t l e e ' s a d d re s s h a d " o v e rto n e s o f welcome, f r a n k
n e s s , and h o p e . " ^ 8 He was p e r f e c t l y f ra n k about th e d a n
gers of th e atom ic bomb. His hope, how ever, was t h a t th e
d e le g a te s would a llo w th e U n ite d N a tio n s to become th e m ost
im p o rta n t f a c t o r i n f o r e i g n p o l i c y . 99
A t t l e e ' s h o n e s ty and s i n c e r i t y were e v id e n t in h i s
opening rem arks o f welcome and compliments to Dr. Eduardo
Z u le ta A n g el, Chairman o f th e P r e p a r a to r y Commission and
Chairman o f th e A ssem bly. Angel was a r e s p e c te d man in th e
assem bly, t h e r e f o r e , t o com plim ent him, was f u l l y a c c e p t
197
a b le to t h i s p a r t i c u l a r audience.
A t t l e e u rg e d th e d e le g a te s t o a d o p t t h e same s p i r i t
as th e P r e p a r a t o r y Commission. The asse m b ly n e e d e d , he
s a i d , th e same sense o f urgency, the same p r a c t i c a l s p i r i t ,
and th e same c o o p e ra tiv e atmosphere. His a n a lo g y was
a p p r o p r i a t e t o th e common e x p e rie n c e s and g o a ls o f th e
U n ite d N a tio n s d e l e g a t e s .
A t t l e e a tte m p te d to make the d e l e g a t e s f e e l welcome
by re m in d in g them t h a t B rito n s t r u ly w a n te d t h e f i r s t g e n
e r a l assem bly m eetin g in t h e i r c o u n try . However, A t t l e e
a s s e r t e d t h a t th e b le a k and d e stro y e d c i t y o f London was a
b l a t a n t re m in d e r , as His M ajesty the King s a i d th e p re v io u s
n i g h t , o f th e n a tu r e o f the ta s k U n ite d N a tio n s d e le g a te s
so u g h t t o acco m p lish and the v i t a l im p o rta n c e o f th e i s s u e s
i n v o l v e d . ^^2 A t t l e e ' s appeals were c o l o r f u l and fir m .
In o r d e r to r e - e s t a b l i s h h i m s e lf n o t o n ly as th e
Prim e M i n i s t e r o f G re a t B r i t a i n , b u t, a ls o as a r c h i t e c t o f
th e U n ite d N a tio n s , A t t l e e r e f e r r e d t o th e days in San
F r a n c i s c o b e fo r e th e war was over when he was p a r t o f a
c o n fe re n c e from w hich the U n ited N a tio n s em erged. He m ain
t a i n e d t h a t a l l o f mankind had a c h o ic e : to se e k peace
th ro u g h t h i s g r e a t s t r u c t u r e o r to p r o g r e s s down th e p a th
to w a rd a t h i r d w o rld war which would o b l i t e r a t e c i v i l i z a
t i o n . T hese t h r e a t s o f World War I I I were a l s o e x p re s s e d
i n th e a d d re s s to th e U n ited S ta te s C on gress a few months
1 0 ^
p r e v i o u s . ±uo______________________ ____________________________________
198
A t t l e e urged a l l n a t i o n s to s e t a s id e p r i v a t e i n
t e r e s t s and i n d i v i d u a l n a t i o n a l a s p i r a t i o n s as they d id
d u rin g th e w ar. The same c o o p e r a tiv e s p i r i t was n e c e s s a ry
to a c h iev e th e perm anent c o n d itio n s o f peace th ro u g h th e
U n ite d N a tio n s . T his ap p ea l was an im p o rta n t one, b u t un
d o u b te d ly i t f e l l on many d e a f e a r s . As A t t l e e l a t e r i n d i
c a t e d , " P a r t l y b ecause t h e r e was an i n s u r g e n t n a ti o n a l i s m
a l l over th e w o r l d ."104 He r e a l i z e d th e n a tu r e of h i s
a u d ie n c e , b u t , n e v e r t h e l e s s , he had to make a p e rs u a s iv e
a tte m p t f o r th e s u r v i v a l o f mankind.
U nlike the League o f N a tio n s , " th e U n ite d N ation s
O r g a n iz a tio n must become th e o v e r r i d i n g f a c t o r i n f o r e i g n
p o l i c y . "105 He th o u g h t t h a t a l l n a t i o n s saw t h a t f a i l u r e
to cope w ith a c ts o f a g g re s s io n was th e o r i g i n o f w ar. And
war p ro v ed th e w e lfa re of e v e ry n a t i o n was dependent on the
w e lfa r e o f th e w o rld as a w h o l e . 1^6 T his argument was su p
p o r t e d by a m ixture o f h i s t o r i c a l a l l u s i o n , cause and e f
f e c t re a s o n in g , and an a p p e a l t o th e u n i t y o f mankind th e
w o rld ov er. A t t l e e s t r e s s e d th e u rgency o f th e p r e s e n t
p e a c e f u l m is s io n . G e o g ra p h ic a l b a r r i e r s no lo n g e r p ro v id e d
immunity from a t t a c k . The atom ic bomb was th e l a s t w arning
to mankind t h a t t o t a l a n n i h i l a t i o n was p o s s i b l e . A t t l e e
s u g g e s te d a p o l ic y o f s u b m ittin g th e atom ic energy problem
to a commission of th e U n ite d N a tio n s . A t t l e e had s u g
g e s te d a s i m i l a r p r o p o s a l to Truman and M ackenzie. The
commission would be an o f f s p r i n g o f th e S e c u r ity C o u n c il.
199
The s p i r i t o f d e te r m in a tio n marked th e su c c e ss o f
the tr a d e u n io n movement, he r e c a l l e d . Again A t t l e e u sed
h i s t o r i c a l a l l u s i o n to s u p p o r t h i s p o i n t and e x p re s s e d th e
hope t h a t man l e a r n e d from h i s p a s t m is ta k e s , such as th e
League of N a tio n s . Governments and p e o p le s everyw here must
su p p o rt th e U n ite d N a tio n s and freedom from f e a r , w a n t, and
war. I f n e c e s s a r y , A t t l e e s u g g e s te d , th e s a n c t i o n o f f o r c e
must be u sed in o r d e r t o s u p p o rt th e r u l e o f l a w . 1 0 8
A t t l e e ’ s s ta te m e n t t h a t man must l e a r n from p r e
vious su c c e s s and f a i l u r e s , u n d e rs c o re s h is r a t i o n a l e f o r
u t i l i z i n g numerous h i s t o r i c a l a l l u s i o n s to p ro v e h i s p o i n t s
th ro u g h o u t t h i s and o t h e r r h e t o r i c a l p i e c e s . T hat i s , i f
a u d ie n ce s a c c e p t th e p rem ise t h a t man must l e a r n from h i s
p a s t , th e n A t t l e e ’s a p p e a ls were e f f e c t i v e .
A t t l e e e x p la in e d h i s concern f o r the p e o p le in t h i s
way:
Every i n d i v i d u a l can be b ro u g h t to r e a l i s e t h a t the
th in g s t h a t a re d is c u s s e d i n c o n fe re n c e h e re a re th e
concern o f a l l and a f f e c t th e home l i f e o f e v ery man,
woman and c h i l d . W ithout s o c i a l j u s t i c e and s e c u r i t y
th e re i s no r e a l f o u n d a tio n f o r p e a c e , f o r i t i s among
the s o c i a l l y d i s i n h e r i t e d and th o se who have n o th in g
to lo s e t h a t th e g a n g s te r and a g g re s s o r r e c r u i t t h e i r
s u p p o r t e r s .109
Thus, in A t t l e e ' s scheme o f th o u g h t, th e s o c i a l i s t goal o f
s o c i a l j u s t i c e and s e c u r i t y was j u s t i f i a b l y so u g h t on an
i n t e r n a t i o n a l l e v e l , and th e work o f th e Economic and S o c ia l
C ouncil was v i t a l as th e work o f th e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l . HO
This a s p e c t o f th e sp e ec h i n d i c a t e d how A t t l e e view ed th e
200
i n t e r n a t i o n a l i m p l i c a ti o n s o f dem o cratic s o c i a l i s m . His
u l t i m a t e go al was an i n t e r n a t i o n a l s o c i a l i s t commonwealth.
A t t l e e ' s f i n a l s ta te m e n t sounded very much l i k e
L i n c o l n 's G e tty s b u rg A d d r e s s . A t t le e s a i d : "We who a re
g a th e r e d h e re today i n t h i s a n c ie n t home of l i b e r t y and
o r d e r a re a b le to meet t o g e t h e r because th o u sa n d s of b rav e
men and women have s u f f e r e d and died t h a t we may l i v e . " - ^ *
In h i s l a s t p e r s u a s iv e a p p e a l, A ttle e asked th e U n ite d Na
t i o n s d e le g a te s and th e w o rld p o p u la tio n to be p r e p a r e d to
make th e same s a c r i f i c e s as those who d ie d f o r p e a c e . W e
m ust s t r i v e to su c c e e d i n the name of peace f o r a l l mankind,
His c l o s i n g was s i m i l a r t o a b e n e d ic tio n .
Summary
A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c a l purp o ses were always d i r e c t e d
to w a rd th e e s t a b l is h m e n t o f a s o c i a l i s t commonwealth. A t t
l e e ' s d e s i r e to e s t a b l i s h a s o c i a l i s t commonwealth was
i d e a l i s t i c , b u t he made r e a l i s t i c gain s tow ard t h a t end
d u rin g h i s l i f e t i m e th ro u g h h i s advocacy o f d e m o c ra tic s o
c i a l i s m . His aim was an u n s e l f i s h one. His g o a l o f a
s o c i a l i s t commonwealth was to in su re s o c i a l and econom ic
j u s t i c e in th e w o rld . O bvio u sly , in each r h e t o r i c a l s e l e c
t i o n o n ly a sm all s te p forw ard a t the most was p o s s i b l e .
P erh ap s th e g r e a t e s t g a in f o r d em ocratic s o c i a l i s m i n A t t
l e e ' s r h e t o r i c to o k p la c e i n h is 1945 campaign b r o a d c a s t .
T his sp eech r e q u i r e d ap p ro v a l or r e j e c t i o n i n th e form o f a
201
v o t e . C o n se q u e n tly , the f i r s t Labour governm ent w ith a
l a r g e m a j o r it y in the House was fo rm u la te d .
A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m r e f l e c t e d
a m o tiv a tio n t h a t was s i n c e r e and h o n e s t and u s u a l l y q u i t e
s im p le . A t t l e e was n o t th e k in d of p e rs o n to u t i l i z e d e
c e p t iv e means f o r d e c e p tiv e end s. The c l o s e s t he came to a
h id d e n pu rp o se was in h i s a d d re ss to th e U n ite d S t a t e s Con
g r e s s i n 1945 when he so u g h t a p p ro v al by A m ericans in o rd e r
to g a in an American lo a n . A t t l e e ' s p u rp o se s w ere g e n e r a l l y
as f o r t h r i g h t as h is p e r s o n a l i t y . He r a r e l y e l a b o r a t e d on
h i s p u rp o s e . He u s u a l ly s t a t e d h i s o b j e c t i v e c l e a r l y , l o g
i c a l l y , sim p ly , and c o n c is e ly .
A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c a l a c ts were f o r th e most p a r t
h o n o ra b ly d e l i v e r e d . His concern fo r j u s t i c e and e q u a l i t y
f o r e v e ry man were e v id e n t in h i s advocacy o f d e m o c ra tic
s o c i a l i s m . A t t l e e was more concerned w ith p r o g r e s s tow ard
a s o c i a l i s t i d e a l th an h is own p e r s o n a l g lo r y as fo u n d er o f
a s o c i a l i s t commonwealth.
A t t l e e ' s remarks on d em o c ratic s o c i a l i s m were con
s t r u c t i v e and l o g i c a l . He used numerous argum ents b a se d on
s o l i d r e a s o n in g . His approach was o p t i m i s t i c and c o n s t r u c
t i v e , sim p le and c l e a r .
More i m p o r ta n tly , h i s r h e t o r i c always em phasized
s p e c i f i c p o l i c i e s to be fo llo w e d . His r h e t o r i c was d i r e c
t i v e , f o r m u la ti v e , p o lic y -m a k in g , and c o n c e rn e d w ith b o th
th e n e a r p r e s e n t and th e d i s t a n t f u t u r e . In a s e n s e ,________
202
A t t l e e was an o v e r s e e r o f th e p a s t and a so o th s a y e r o f th e
f u t u r e . His sp eech es were an a tte m p t to guide l i s t e n e r s
a c tio n s in the f u t u r e w ith th e wisdom from th e h i s t o r i c a l
p a s t .
In r e l a t i o n s h i p to C h a p te r I , t h i s c h a p te r showed
t h a t A t t l e e ' s advocacy u n d o u b ted ly r e f l e c t e d h is p e r s o n a l
i t y . He was l o g i c a l , t e r s e , d i r e c t , and o p t i m i s t i c . In
a d d it i o n h is r e a s o n a b le n e s s and common sense were n o t e
w orthy. Each of th e s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s d e s c rib e d A t t l e e ' s
p e r s o n a l i t y and h i s advocacy o f d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m . In a
s e n s e , h i s remarks w ere t r u e to h im s e lf or h is own c h a r a c
t e r . A t t l e e ' s p e r s u a s io n was n e v e r an a tte m p t to be more
or le s s th an he was p e r s o n a l l y .
A t t l e e was a s o c i a l w orker who tu r n e d p o l i t i c i a n .
His i d e a l s of s o c i a l j u s t i c e and e q u a l i t y rem ained th e same
as when he did s o c i a l work i n E a s t London. His means, how
e v e r , were p o l i t i c a l in n a t u r e . His sp e ak in g and w r i t i n g
were p r i m a r i l y c o n cern ed w ith d o m e stic and i n t e r n a t i o n a l
p o l i c y f o r the f u t u r e .
The e f f e c t o f A t t l e e ' s advocacy o f d em o c ratic s o
c ia li s m was g e n e r a l l y f a v o r a b l e . His e f f e c t s were n o t r o u s
in g or e m o tio n a l, n o r were h i s e n d s. His e f f e c t on h i s
v a rio u s audiences was g e n e r a l l y one o f re a so n a b le a p p ro v a l.
His re a d e rs o f The Labour P a r ty i n P e r s p e c t i v e , the B r i t i s h
e l e c t o r a t e of 1945, th e U n ite d S t a t e s Congress and A m eri
cans in 1945, and th e U n ite d N a tio n s d e le g a te s and w o rld
203
v iew ers in 1946, a l l a g re e d w ith A t t l e e ' s argum ents f o r th e
most p a r t . A t t l e e ' s l o g i c a l , calm approach was q u i t e u n
l i k e th e o r a t o r y o f W inston C h u r c h il l , H e rb e rt M o rris o n ,
E r n e s t Bevin o r Ramsay McDonald. Long-winded o r a t o r y w ith
e m o tio n a l h i g h l i g h t s made way f o r A t t l e e ' s l a c o n i c , r e a s o n
a b le , m o r a lly - to n e d advocacy o f d e m o cratic s o c i a l is m .
A t t l e e was n o t a f o r e n s i c g l a d i a t o r , b ut he was s k i l l f u l in
r e a s o n a b le r e t o r t . A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c was more s t r e a m l i n e d
and b u s i n e s s l i k e th an many p o l i t i c a l o r a t o r s . A f t e r th e
second w o rld war in p a r t i c u l a r , p ro b ab ly l e s s p o l i t i c a l
v e rb ia g e was n e ed ed and more p o lic y a c tio n was n e c e s s a r y .
A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c found i t s hour o f s u c c e s s .
204
F o o tn o tes
l A t t l e e , The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e and Twelve
Y ears L a t e r , Foreword.
2A t t l e e , As I t Happened, pp . 124-125.
3J e n k i n s , Mr. A t t l e e ; An I n te r im B io g ra p h y , p . 188.
4I b id .
‘’F r a n c is W illiam s in Forew ord, A t t l e e , The Labour
P a r ty in P e r s p e c tiv e and Twelve Years L a t e r , p . 9.
^The Times (London), August 10, 1937, e d i t o r i a l
p a g e .
^ A ttle e , The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e , p p . 20-22.
8I b i d . , pp. 15-21.
9I b i d . , pp. 22-23.
l O i b i d . ,
P-
33.
n I b i d . , pp. 24-28.
1 2I b i d . , pp. 42-44.
l ^ I b i d .,
pp. 45-47.
1 4 l b i d . , pp. 51-52.
I S l b i d . ,
P-
59.
• ^ I b i d . ,
P-
60.
1 7I b i d . , pp. 59-60.
1 8I b i d . ,
P-
65.
^9 I b id . ,
P-
72 .
2 0I b i d . , pp. 85-112.
2 1I b i d . ,
P-
117.
2 2I b i d . , pp. - 85-117.
2 3I b i d . ,
P-
132 .
205
24ib id . , pp. 139-160.
2 5 A ttle e , Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e and Twelve
Y ears L a t e r , p p . 168-198.
2 6I b i d . , pp. 189-191.
2 7I b i d . , p p . 166-176.
2® A ttlee, Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e , pp. 199-247.
2 9I b i d . , pp. 248-272.
3 0I b i d . , p . 13.
' 31I b i d . , p . 2 81.
32A ttle e , As I t H appened, p p . 198-199, 201 .
33McCallum and Readman, The 1945 B r i t i s h G eneral
E l e c t i o n , p . 142.
34I b id .
3 5 i b i d . , p . 143.
• ^ A t t l e e , ” 1945 E l e c t i o n A d d r e s s ," in J e n k i n s , P u r
pose and P o l i c y , p . 3.
37McCallum and Readman, o p . c i t . , p. 144.
S ^ A ttle e , As I t Happened, p . 198.
39A t t l e e , "1945 E l e c t i o n A d d r e s s ," in J e n k i n s , P u r
pose and P o l i c y , p . 3.
40lb id . , p p . 3-5.
4^See f o r exam ple, R obert W. S m ith, " R e lig io u s i n
f lu e n c e s in th e Background o f th e B r i t i s h Labour P a r t y , "
The S outh w estern S o c ia l S cien ce Q u a r t e r l y , M arch, 195 7,
_ 25 5 .
42J e n k i n s , Purpose and P o l i c y , p . 3.
43i b i d . , p . 45.
4 4 rb id ., p p . 5-6 .
45McCallum and Readman, op. c i t . , p . 150.
206
4 6 je n k in s , Purpose and P o l i c y , p . 7.
4 7I b i d . , pp. 8-9.
48l b i d. f p p . 5 t 6, 7.
4 9 r b i d . , p p . 1 0-1 1 .
89I b i d . , p . 12.
S l s i r C h arles W ilson [ L a te r Lord M oran], C h u r c h i l l :
Taken from th e D i a r i e s o f Lord Moran (B oston: Houghton
M i f f l i n , C o ., 1966), p . 2 71.
^M cC allum and Readman, op. c i t ., pp. 140-142.
53A lf r e d F. H a v ig h u rs t, T w e n tie th C entruy B r i t a i n
(E v an sto n , 111.: Row, P e te r s o n and Company, 1 962 ), p . SfoS.
54The Times (London), June 5, 1945, p . 9.
5 5I b i d . , p . 142.
56I b i d . , p p . 245-247.
57i b i d .
5 8 f. D. S. R o s s , E l e c t i o n s and E l e c t o r s (London:
Eyre and S p o ttis w o o d e , 1 95 5 ), p . 375.
59A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f E m p ire , p . 8.
60Bevan, In P la c e o f F e a r , p . 101.
GlMurrow, In S e a rc h o f L ig h t: 1 9 3 8 -1 9 6 1 , p . 200.
6 2 je n k in s , Mr. A t t l e e , p . 258.
6 3A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f E m p ire , p . 134.
64I b i d . , pp. 95-96.
^ I b i d . , p . 96 .
6 6I b i d . , p . 102.
6 7I b i d .
68l b i d . , p. 103.
207
^ 9A t t l e e , As I t H appened, p . 228.
^ " A t t l e e Sees Hope o f World in UNO," The New York
T im es, November 14, 1945, p. 4.
71"Warm Congress R e c e p ti o n ," The Times (London),
November 14, 1945, p . 4.
^ " M r. A t t l e e ' s S p e e c h ," The New York T im es, Novem
b e r 14, 1945, p . 38.
73"Attlee Sees Hope . . . ," op. c i t .
74l b i d . ; "Warm C ongress R e c e p ti o n ,” op. c i t .
75"Text o f A t t l e e ' s A d d r e s s ," The New York T im es,
November 14, 1945, p . 4.
7 6 "A ttle e in A ddress to C ongress Asks World U nity i n
UNO," The New York T im es, November 14, 1945, p. 1.
77"Text o f A t t l e e ' s A d d r e s s ," op. c i t .
78I b id .
79prederick Barkley, "Comment on Talk by A ttlee
Mixed," The New York Times, November 14, 1945, p. 4.
80'»British Labour P o l i c y , " The Times (London), Nov
ember 13, 1945, p. 4.
81"A.ttlee Sees Hope . . . ," op. c i t ., p . 4.
82n^r< A t t l e e ' s S p e e c h ," op. c i t .
83*'Warm Congress R e c e p ti o n ," op. c i t .
84Barkley, "Comment on Talk . . . ," op. c i t .
85I b i d .
S ^ A ttle e , T w ilig h t o f E m p ire , p . 104.
87Attlee, As I t H appened, p . 228.
88A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f E m p ire , pp. 104, 105, 118.
89 "U n ited N a t i o n s ," Time, XLVII, No. 21 (Ja n u ary 14,
1946), 23.
208
9 0I b i d .
" A t t l e e , As I t Happened, p . 239.
" "T o w n M eeting o f th e W o rld ,” The New York T im es,
Ja n u a ry 11, 1946, p . 1.
" A t t l e e , As I t Happened, p. 239.
" " T o w n M eeting . . . ," op. c i t .
9 5I b i d .
9 6I b i d .
9 7"UNO O p ened,” The New York T im es, Ja n u ary 11,
1946, p . 1.
98"World Assembly Begins I t s T a s k ,” The Times
CLondon) , Ja n u a ry 11, 1946, p . 4.
" i b i d .
100”A t t l e e ' s Speech to UNO,” c i t e d in J e n k in s ,
Purpose and P o l i c y , p . 130.
1 0 1I b id .
I b i d . , p . 131.
103lbid.
1 " A t t l e e , T w ilig h t o f E m p ire, p . 134.
l " j e n k i n s , Purpose and P o l i c y , p . 132.
106 I b id .
1Q7I b i d . , p . 133.
1 0 8I b i d .
1 0 9I b i d . , p . 134.
1 1 0I b i d .
i n I b id .
CHAPTER V
STRATEGIES OF REASONABLE REVOLUTION
The M a ste r S t r a t e g i e s ; E x p la n a tio n
and U n ific a tio ri
A ccording to Kenneth Burke, one is p e rs u a d e d by
i d e n t i f y i n g o n e s e l f or o n e 's ways w ith tho se o f h i s a u d i
e n c e . ^ Ways o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n range from v e ry f a m i l i a r and
sim p le forms to v e ry complex ones. F or exam ple, th e sim ple
way i n w hich a p o l i t i c i a n , when a d d re s s in g an a u d ie n c e of
f a r m e r s , w i l l s a y , " I was a farm boy once m y s e lf ." Here
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i s a "m eans." An example o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n
as an "end" may be seen in th e case of "th e m y s t i c 's devout
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w ith th e so u rc e o f a l l b e i n g . I d e n t i f i c a
t i o n as means and end was o p e r a t iv e in A t t l e e ' s advocacy o f
d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m .
This c h a p te r examines the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c modes o f
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n A t t l e e employed th ro u g h o u t h i s e f f o r t s to
r e v o l u t i o n a l i z e E n g lis h p o l i t i c a l i n s t i t u t i o n s . Of p a r t i c
u l a r i n t e r e s t s were h i s s t r a t e g i e s of p e r s u a s i o n , h i s o v e r
a l l p la n s o f a t t a c k on th e r h e t o r i c a l problem s he f a c e d in
g e t t i n g h i s id e a s a c c e p te d . S t r a t e g i e s encompass m a t t e r s
o f s t y l e and d i r e c t inducem ents of i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , th o se
" s i g n s " t h a t th e s p e a k e r 's id e a s are c o n s u b s t a n t i a l w ith
___________________________________ 209___________ ■ ________________
210
th e way members of th e audience c o n ceiv e o f th e m se lv e s and
o t h e r s .
S t r a t e g i e s , a cc o rd in g to Kenneth B urke, d e s ig n a te
th e s u b s ta n c e of communication s i t u a t i o n s ; th ey ’’name the
s t r u c t u r e and o u ts ta n d in g i n g r e d i e n t s , and name them in a
way t h a t c o n ta in s an a t t i t u d e tow ards th em ."^ He compared
s t r a t e g i e s w ith m i l i t a r y maneuvers d e s ig n e d to o rg a n iz e and
command th e army of o n e 's th o u g h ts and im ages, and to o r
g a n iz e them as to impose upon th e enemy th e tim e and p la c e
f o r f i g h t i n g p r e f e r r e d by o n e s e l f .
A t t i t u d e s were th e most im p o r ta n t components o f
language usage c o n sid e re d as sy m b o lic a c t io n or s t r a t e g y .
Burke s u g g e s te d , "A nother name f o r s t r a t e g i e s m ight be a t -
t i t u d e s . " ^ V i r g i n i a H olland e x p la in e d th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f
th e c o n cep t of s t r a t e g i e s t o r h e t o r i c in t h i s way, " . . .
th e s p e a k e r sym bolizes h i s a t t i t u d e s i n th e form o f s t r a t e
g i e s w ith w hich he hopes to m odify o r s u s t a i n the s i t u a
t i o n . " ^ M oreover, th e a t t i t u d e s e x p r e s s e d may n o t be con
s c i o u s l y re c o g n iz e d by th e s p e a k e r.
A sp e a k e r had no ch o ice as t o w h e th e r o r n o t to a c t
s t r a t e g i c a l l y . Such a c tio n was i n e v i t a b l e a c c o rd in g to
B urke, f o r "every document b e q u e a th e d us by h i s t o r y must be
t r e a t e d as a s t r a t e g y f o r encom passing a s i t u a t i o n ."^ But
th e r e were numerous s t r a t e g i e s to choose from. H olland
a s s e r t e d t h a t " th e r e a re j u s t as many s t r a t e g i e s which a
s p e a k e r may use to so lv e a s i t u a t i o n as t h e r e are ways
211
which the speaker has of reacting or responding to a s itu a
tion. "7
Burke s u g g e s te d a v a r i e t y o f s t r a t e g i e s e x i s t by
w hich communicators resp o n d to d i f f e r e n t communication s i t
u a t i o n s . For example:
. . . f o r s e l e c t i n g enemies and a l l i e s , f o r s o c i a l i z i n g
l o s s e s , f o r w ardin g o f f e v i l e y e , f o r p u r i f i c a t i o n ,
p r o p i t i a t i o n , and d e s a n c t i f i c a t i o n , c o n s o la tio n and
ven gean ce, adm onition and e x h o r t a t i o n , i m p l i c i t com
mands o r i n s t r u c t i o n s o f one s o r t o r a n o t h e r . 8
However he d iv id e d s t r a t e g i e s i n t o t h r e e p r i n c i p a l c a t e
g o r i e s : dream, p r a y e r , and c h a r t . These c a t e g o r i e s were
b a s i c a l l y f o r co n v en ien c e. There was much o v e rla p and i n
terd e p en d e n ce among them.
F i r s t , s t r a t e g i e s o f dream may r e v e a l u ncon scio u s
m o tiv a tio n . B u rk e 's concept o f dream depended h e a v i ly on
Freud. The dream s t r a t e g y f o r Burke was p r i m a r i l y a w ish-
f u l f i l l i n g d e v ic e .^ I t was th e " w ish , w ith i t s d i s g u i s e s ,
f r u s t r a t i o n s , and f u l f i l l m e n t s . " - ^ Burke d is c u s s e d a t
le n g th th e dream s t r a t e g y o f u n b u rd en in g . A sp e a k e r may
f e e l g u i l t y or d e f i c i e n t and th ro u g h a sym bolic p a t t e r n
must r i d h im s e lf o f th e b u rd e n . One n a t u r a l l y w rote about
t h a t which most d e ep ly e n g ro s s e d him, and n o th in g e n g ro s se d
a man more th an h i s b u r d e n s . H The s o u rc e s o f b urdens were
num erous, b u t th e most u n i v e r s a l so u rc e was the d i s o r d e r
and i n j u s t i c e found in a m an's s o c i a l system .
A t t l e e was a man b u rd en ed by th e s o c i a l i n j u s t i c e .
C o n s e q u e n tly , ele m e n ts o f th e dream s t r a t e g y o f te n app ear
212
in h is sp e ech es and e s s a y s . I f i t were im p o s sib le to r e
move th e burden of p h y s i c a l a c t i o n , a sp e a k e r may meet the
need o f un burdening by a sy m bolic means. He may r h e t o r i
c a l l y c le a n s e h i m s e l f in a number o f ways i n c lu d in g the
m im etics o f a b a t h , o r a s s o c i a t i o n w ith th in g s deemed r i t u
a l l y c le a n , or o f f e r i n g o f a s c a p e g o a t s a c r i f i c e . Burke
l a i d th e g r e a t e s t s t r e s s on th e l a t t e r of th e s e t h r e e . For
A t t l e e , the s c a p e g o a t was C o n se rv atism . A ccording to Burke,
the sp e a k e r may n e ed to sh a re h i s burden w ith an aud ien ce
1 2
or g e t o th e r s to unburden th em selv es in a s i m i l a r manner.
Burke s a id :
P a in i s a g r e a t i n c e n t i v e to e lo q u e n c e , s in c e i t p r o
v id e s one w ith an a l t a r o f p r e o c c u p a tio n to which he
must b r i n g a p p r o p r i a t e o f f e r i n g s - - a n d eloquence i s a
s t r a t e g y o f a p p e a l, a s o c i a l implement f o r in d u cin g
o th e r s to ag ree w ith u s . 13
A t t le e f e l t t e r r i f i c p a in from h i s e n c o u n te r w ith th e s o
c i a l l y and e c o n o m ic a lly d e p riv e d in Limehouse.
V i r g i n i a H o lla n d summed up the r e l a t i o n s h i p o f the
dream s t r a t e g y to r h e t o r i c , as fo llo w s:
He [a sp e a k e r] a t t a i n s a ’’c a t h a r s i s ” because he s t y l
i s t i c a l l y o r s y m b o lic a lly washes away h i s own f e e l i n g s
o f g u i l t r e g a r d in g th e s o c i a l h i e r a r c h y . . . by advo-^
e a t in g th ro u g h h i s s t r a t e g y f o r l i v i n g . . . a s t r a t e g y
or s o l u t i o n to th e s o c i a l problem . He la y s h is r i t u a l
or h is work a t th e a l t a r o f s o c i e t y , so to sp e ak , and
a b so lv e s h im s e lf from s i n b ecau se he has a t l e a s t made
th e a tte m p t to p r e s e n t a s o l u t i o n to th e s o c i a l
dilemma.
Second, s t r a t e g i e s o f p r a y e r were denoted as th e
comm unicative p e r s u a s iv e a c t s o f p e t i t i o n in s p e e c h e s . ^
P ra y e r m a s te re d th e s t r a t e g y o f naming a s i t u a t i o n in such
213
a way as to g a in th e s u p p o r t o f the a u d ie n ce . P ra y e r
s t r a t e g i e s were b e s t term ed by the s p e a k e r 's a t t i t u d e t o
ward h i s h e a r e r s , su c h as b e s e e c h in g , adm onishing, e x h o r t
in g , o r f l a t t e r i n g . U n lik e th e dream s t r a t e g y to encompass
a su b c o n scio u s s i t u a t i o n , the p r a y e r s t r a t e g y was e s s e n
t i a l l y an e x p r e s s io n of th e s p e a k e r 's a t t i t u d e s tow ard h i s
aud ience and h i s a tte m p t to encompass th e audience s i t u a
t i o n .
T h ird , th e c h a r t s t r a t e g y was the s p e a k e r 's a t t i -
t u d i n a l naming o f th e s i t u a t i o n in which he spoke, or i t
was an e f f o r t to encompass an e x i s t i n g s t a t e of a f f a i r s .
The c h a r t s t r a t e g y was a s ta te m e n t o f "th e r e a l i s t i c s iz in g -
up o f s i t u a t i o n s t h a t i s sometimes e x p l i c i t , sometimes im
p l i c i t in p o e t i c s t r a t e g i e s . a v i t a l p a r t o f c h a r tin g
was th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e s u b j e c t o f a speech to v a rio u s
symbols of a u t h o r i t y . Such symbols o f a u t h o r i t y in c lu d e d
God, p o l i t i c a l d o c t r i n e s , n a t u r a l law , r a c e , fa m ily , and
s e l f . For B urke, th e m ost im p o rta n t type o f a u t h o r i t y
symbol f o r th e r h e t o r i c i a n was id e o lo g y , which he d e fin e d
as " th e nodus o f b e l i e f s and judgm ents which the a r t i s t
can e x p l o i t f o r h i s e f f e c t s . "15 Symbols of a u t h o r i t y may
be symbols o f a c c e p ta n c e o r symbols of r e j e c t i o n . Some
c h a r t s t r a t e g i e s a s p e a k e r may use i n r e fe r e n c e to a u t h o r
i t y symbols in c l u d e d v e n g ean ce, e x p e c ta n c y , r e j o i c i n g ,
ennoblem ent, s e n t i m e n t a l i z i n g , b r u t a l i z i n g , s a t i r i z i n g ,
214
d eb u n k in g , r e s i g n a t i o n , and f a t a l i s m . Each c h a r t s t r a t e g y
e x p re s s e d an a t t i t u d e tow ard the s u b j e c t m a tte r d i s c u s s e d .
The naming o f s t r a t e g i e s need n o t be l i m i t e d to
th e s e t h r e e c a t e g o r i e s , however. Burke allo w ed c r i t i c s
g r e a t e r l a t i t u d e th a n to superim pose th e se t h r e e s u g g e s tiv e
c a t e g o r i e s on e v e ry r h e t o r i c a l s e l e c t i o n .
S t r a t e g i e s e x i s t on two l e v e l s . S p e c i f i c p a r t s o f
a s p e e c h , su c h as s e n te n c e s and p a ra g r a p h s , may be g iv en
s t r a t e g i c nam es, and a work may be d e s c r ib e d as d i s p l a y i n g
one b a s i c o r u n i f y in g s t r a t e g y . S t r a t e g i e s o f s e n te n c e s
and o t h e r s p e c i f i c a s p e c ts of th e comm unication w i l l be
c a l l e d " t a c t i c s . " T a c ti c s are s p e c i f i c d e v ic e s u se d to
ach iev e o r a cc o m p lish s t r a t e g i e s , m a tte rs o f o v e r a l l d e sig n
and p u rp o s e . Both V i r g i n i a H ollan d and S i s t e r Maheu, in
th e s t u d i e s m en tio n ed in C h ap ter I , fo llo w ed th e p ro c e d u re
o f d e s c r i b i n g s p e c i f i c s t r a t e g i e s and th e n , e x t r a c t i n g from
th e s p e c i f i c s t r a t e g i e s , one m a s te r s t r a t e g y . T hus, th e
main p u rp o se o f th e p r e s e n t c r i t i c i s m w i l l be to l o c a t e the
m a ste r s t r a t e g i e s a f t e r n o tin g s p e c i f i c s t r a t e g i e s .
C lem ent A t t l e e ' s m a ste r s t r a t e g i e s i n th e f o u r a d
d r e s s e s s t u d i e d in c lu d e d in f o r m a tiv e , u n i f i c a t i o n , v i l l a i n -
i z i n g , s a n c t i f y i n g , r e a s s u r a n c e , a d u l a t i o n , w a rn in g , and
i n s p i r i n g . Each s t r a t e g y d em o n stra te d a re a s o n a b le a p
p ro a c h . P erh ap s th e v i l l a i n i z i n g and s a n c t i f y i n g s t r a t e
g ie s were r a t h e r extrem e compared to the o t h e r s ; how ever,
from a s o c i a l i s t i c p o i n t o f view v i l l a i n i z i n g the C o nserva-
215
t i v e s and s a n c t i f y i n g th e Labour p a r t y was an e f f e c t i v e
p o l i t i c a l p e r s u a s io n .
The S t r a t e g i e s o f V i l l a i n i z i n g
and S a n c ti f y in g
Dream s t r a t e g i e s , p r a y e r s t r a t e g i e s , and c h a r t
s t r a t e g i e s o c c u rre d in The Labour P a r t y in P e r s p e c t i v e .
O b v io u sly , A t t l e e d id n o t always i n t e n t i o n a l l y u t i l i z e a
p a r t i c u l a r s t r a te g y } however, the c r i t i c may o bserve i t s
p re s e n c e n e v e r t h e l e s s . A t t l e e ' s p rim a ry dream was a so-?
c i a l i s t commonwealth. His p r a y e r was to acc o m p lish e v ery
p o s s i b l e means to ach iev e s o c i a l is m . His c h a r t e d course
i n c lu d e d a p o l i t i c a l r o u te to re a s o n a b ly s u c c e s s f u l l e g i s
l a t i o n . In g e n e r a l , A t t l e e ' s r o l e was t h a t o f a s o c i a l i s t
r e v o l u t i o n a r y , b u t h is t a c t i c s were n o t norm al r e v o l u t i o n
a ry t a c t i c s o f v i o l e n t o v e rth ro w o f th e governm ent. A t t -
l e e ' s s t r a t e g i e s were c a u t i o u s l y p e r p e t r a t e d , c o n s c io u s ly
o r u n c o n s c io u s ly ; A t t l e e ' s s t r a t e g i e s were n o t in an over-'
r e a c t i o n p a t t e r n of an o r d in a r y r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t y l e . A t t
l e e combined re a so n and r e v o l u t i o n .
A t t l e e o f te n unburdened h i s se n se o f g u i l t o v e r th e
d i s o r d e r and i n j u s t i c e in th e E n g lis h s o c i a l system o f h i s
day. D em ocratic s o c ia lis m was f o r him and s o c i e t y the
means o f red e m p tio n and s a l v a t i o n . Once he was a p a r t o f
i t s c a u s e , th e e s t a b l is h m e n t , th o s e who e n d o rse d c a p i ta l is m
and C o n se rv a tism . Second, th e s t r a t e g y o f r e l i g i o f i c a t i o n
o r p u r i f i c a t i o n o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m may be found in h is
216
works He a s s o c i a t e d d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m w ith th e teach-'
in g s o f the B ib le . The B ib le was deemed r i t u a l l y cle an ;
t h e r e f o r e , r e v o l u t io n a r y s o c i a l i s t i c te a c h in g s from i t
p u r i f i e d the dem o cratic s o c i a l i s m movement. T h ir d , A ttle e
p e rfo rm ed an o th e r r i t u a l o f p u r i f i c a t i o n in th e m im etics of
a b a t h by going to Limehouse and b e in g exposed to the t r u t h
of economic and s o c i a l c o n d it i o n s in B r i t a i n . He was th en
washed c le an of h i s s i n s of p a s t n e g lig e n c e and ig n o ra n c e .
F o u r th , A ttle e d is c o v e re d a s c a p e g o a t t h a t must be s a c r i -
f i c e d or m odified: th e p r o f i t m otive and c a p i t a l i s m . As
one c a r e f u l l y read The Labour P a r t y in P e r s p e c t i v e , one
r e a l i z e d A t t l e e 's dream s t r a t e g i e s as w i s h - f u l f i l l i n g d e
v i c e s , In 1937 when t h i s work was w r i t t e n , A t t l e e had many
u n f u l f i l l e d dreams to a c h iev e f o r and th ro u g h d em o cratic
s o c i a l is m . Even a f t e r h i s s i x y e a r s as Prime M in i s t e r ,
much rem ained to be a c c o m p lish e d i n o r d e r to a c h iev e h is
u l t i m a t e dream of th e s o c i a l i s t commonwealth.
Evidence o f th e c h a r t s t r a t e g y may be se en in A t t
l e e ' s e f f o r t s to a c h iev e h i s m ost im p o r ta n t p r o g r e s s f o r
d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m d e s p i te m ild d i s r u p t i o n s i n th e p a r t y .
His obvious a u th o r i ty symbol was th e id e o lo g y o f dem o cratic
s o c i a l is m . He t r e a t e d d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m w ith p u r i f i c a
t i o n , f u l f i l l m e n t in p e r s o n a l and common n e e d s , hum aniza
t i o n in term s of rank and f i l e , e x p e c ta n c y of a s o c i a l i s t
commonwealth, d e i f i c a t i o n as an a lm ig h ty p r o v i d e r o f s o c i a l
and economic j u s t i c e , and m etam orpho sis a c c o rd in g to the
217
p e o p l e 's n e e d s. In c o n t r a s t , c a p i t a l i s m was A t t l e e ' s n e g a
t i v e a u t h o r i t y symbol.
A sp ects o f th e p r a y e r s t r a t e g y was m a n if e s t in h i s
g e n e ra l a t t i t u d e tow ard h i s a u d ie n c e s . He was c o r d i a l , i n
fo r m a tiv e , c e r t a i n , l o g i c a l , u n a g g r e s s i v e , w h o l i s t i c ,
s im p le , d i r e c t , and e x p la n a t o r y . His p re s e n c e as a commu
n i c a t o r was marked by (1) adm o n itio n and e x h o r t a t i o n o f th e
rank and f i l e , (2) r e a s s u r a n c e f o r th e f u t u r e , (3) b e
se e c h in g u n i ty i n d i v e r s i t y o f Labour v ie w p o in ts , C4) w arn
ing o f p o s s i b l e dangers o f too much d i v e r s i t y , (5) rem ind
e r s of p a s t s t r u g g l e s and g a i n s , (6) e n lig h te n m e n t p a r t i c u
l a r l y to th o se u n f a m i l i a r w ith s o c i a l is m , and (7) r e q u e s tin g
r e a f f i r m a t i o n o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m by L a b o u r ite s .
A t t l e e ' s m a s te r s t r a t e g i e s were e x p la n a tio n and
u n i f i c a t i o n o f v a r io u s Labour v ie w p o in ts . Both s t r a t e g i e s
were w e ll acco m p lish ed th ro u g h h is e x te n s iv e use o f h i s t o r
i c a l a l l u s i o n .
O ther s t r a t e g i e s w hich appear in A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c
in c lu d e d : (1) p e rm e a tio n o f t h e o r y , p o l i c y , and g e n e ra l
in fo r m a tio n on d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m , (2) o r g a n iz a tio n and
o u t l i n i n g o f Labour p o l i c y , (3) s e t t i n g th e p a r t y in h i s
t o r i c a l and p o l i t i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e b o th in th e p a s t and the
f u t u r e , and (4) b ro a d e n in g th e p a r t y b a s i s in o r d e r to i n
clude v a r io u s f a c t i o n s o r d i v e r s i t y o f o p in io n and i n t e r e s t .
In A t t l e e ' s most famous p o l i t i c a l t r e a t i s e , The
Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e , he p la y e d s e v e r a l r o l e s . He
218
was a v o ice f o r th e ran k and f i l e , a h i s t o r i a n , a p r o p h e t ,
a u n i f i e r , a p ro m o te r o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m , a p o l i c y
f o r m u la to r , and a Labour g u id e . Each r o l e e a rn e d him some
form o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w ith h i s a u d ie n c e . To th e newcomer,
h i s r o l e as p ro m o te r o f d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m was p a r t i c u
l a r l y im p o rta n t. As a v o ice f o r th e Labour ran k and f i l e ,
and a Labour p o l i c y f o r m u la to r , A t t l e e ' s opponents were
i n t e r e s t e d p o l i t i c a l l y . To th e aca d em ic ian , h is r o l e s as
h i s t o r i a n and Labour guide were s i g n i f i c a n t . To th e aver^*
age member o f L abour, each r o l e had some im p o rta n c e , b u t
h i s u n i f i c a t i o n o f th e p a r t y and prophecy f o r th e f u t u r e o f
th e p a r t y were most n o t a b l e . In g e n e r a l , A t t l e e ' s r o l e was
t h a t o f a s o c i a l i s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y . His t a c t i c s were con
s t i t u t i o n a l r a t h e r th a n v i o l e n t . His r h e t o r i c was calm and
r e a s o n a b l e , r a t h e r th a n v o c if e r o u s and e m o tio n a l. In one
c h a p te r o f h i s b o o k , A t t l e e a s s e r t e d , "The Labour p a r t y has
d e l i b e r a t e l y a d o p te d th e method o f c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a c t io n
and h as r e j e c t e d th e t a c t i c s o f r e v o l u t i o n . " ^ In th e same
c h a p t e r , he d e c l a r e d t h a t th e Labour P a r t y 's P o p u la r F ro n t
o r c o a l i t i o n w ith o t h e r p a r t i e s would n o t endure f o r s o
c i a l i s t s c o u ld n o t make C a p ita lis m work. S o c i a l i s t s d id
n o t b e l i e v e in C a p it a l i s m , b u t d e s i r e d i t s o v e rth ro w by
20
p e a c e f u l and c o n s t i t u t i o n a l means. M oreover, A t t l e e 'r e
minded h is r e a d e r s t h a t "The B ib le was f u l l o f r e v o l u t i o n -
21
a ry t e a c h i n g s . . . Numerous r e v o l u t i o n a r y t e x t s from
th e B ib le were e n u n c i a t e d from s o c i a l i s t s p l a tf o r m s a t t h a t
2 1 9
tim e in B r i t a i n .
A t t l e e was o f t e n re c o g n iz e d as p o s s e s s i n g a l o g i c a l ,
o r d e r l y mind. In The Labour P a r ty i n P e r s c p e c t i v e , he u se d
numerous c a u s a l arg u m en ts. The p r o f i t m otive and c a p i t a l -
2 2
ism were th e cau ses f o r th e t r o u b le s o f th e w orking c l a s s .
H is remedy f o r th e obv ious need o f th e poor p e o p le was th e
i n s t i t u t i o n o f d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m . His se co n d form o f
r e a s o n i n g was summed up in the form o f a c a t e g o r i c a l s y l
lo g ism :
A ll men who a re s o c i a l l y and e c o n o m ic a lly d e p riv e d
s u p p o r t d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m .
Working c l a s s e s a re s o c i a l l y and e c o n o m ic a lly d e p r iv e d .
Working c l a s s e s s h o u ld su p p o rt d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m .
In a d d i t i o n to A t t l e e ' s e x te n s iv e use o f d e d u c tiv e rea so n ^
in g w hich a id e d h i s re a s o n a b le approach to r h e t o r i c , he
u t i l i z e d a n a l o g i c a l re a s o n in g w ith h i s t o r i c a l a l l u s i o n s to
p r e s e n t s i t u a i t o n s . A t t l e e lo v ed h i s t o r i c a l f a c t s and he
u sed them w e ll to p r e s e n t a l o g i c a l f r o n t f o r h i s advocacy.
The dom inant i s s u e in th e f i r s t h a l f o f th e twen-
2 ^
t i e t h c e n tu r y i n E ngland was C a p ita lis m v e rs u s S o c ia lis m .
A t t l e e r e a s s u r e d h i s r e a d e r s t h a t S o c ia lis m was p u r e l y a
p r o d u c t o f i t s tim es and an answer to th e n eed s o f th e com
mon man. M oreover, s o c i a l is m would change o r a l t e r i t s e l f
to c o n tin u e to meet th o s e needs o f th e common m a n . ^ His
s t r a t e g y was j u s t i f i c a t i o n o f th e p a r t y ' s e x i s t e n c e , and
r e a s s u r a n c e t h a t th e p a r t y would meet the p e o p l e 's a c t u a l
n e e d s and d e s i r e s .
220
A t t l e e announced t h a t th e p u rp o se s o f h is book were
f o r th e most p a r t in f o r m a ti v e . He w anted to e x p l a i n s o
c i a l i s m as th e outcome o f econom ic and s o c i a l c o n d itio n s
and B r i t i s h p o l i t i c a l i n s t i t u t i o n s , and to d i s c u s s L ab o u r’s
g e n e r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and i t s f u t u r e . He f a c t u a l l y r e
view ed p a s t Labour le a d e r s w ith o u t s e n tim e n t a li s m o r h e ro -
w o rs h ip . A t t l e e th e n c o v ered L a b o u r's im m ediate p o l i c y in
d e t a i l , and th e c h i e f c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f Labour as i t s
p r a c t i c a l n a t u r e and p o l i c y , and i t s d e r i v a t i o n from num-
2 5
e ro u s s o u r c e s . A t t l e e b u i l t one argum ent c a r e f u l l y upon
a n o th e r . C o n se q u e n tly , h i s f a c t s and e v id e n c e m u lt i p ly as
one re a d s h i s book. His p o i n t s sn o w b all to th e l o g i c a l
c o n c lu s io n t h a t d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m i s th e p a n a c e a f o r
E n g la n d 's s o c i a l and economic i l l s .
A t t l e e ' s g e n e ra l approach and to n e were l o g i c a l ,
n o t e m o tio n a l in th e l e a s t . His language was s im p le , b u t
p r e c i s e . He was n o t as b r i e f as he o f t e n w as; he e x p la in e d
e v e ry n e c e s s a r y or u n c le a r p o i n t , b u t n e v e r engaged i n o r a
t o r i c a l f l o u r i s h . O c c a s io n a lly he r e p e a t e d p o i n t s , however,
in o r d e r to em phasize h i s argum ents.
A t t l e e u se d a t l e a s t s i x obvious means o f i d e n t i f i
c a t i o n w ith h i s a u d ie n c e . F i r s t , he rem inded h i s re a d e r s
o f h i s s o c i a l work and l i f e w ith th e p o o r in th e E a s t End
o f London. In p a r t i c u l a r , he a p p e a le d to th o s e p e rs o n s
a id i n g th e p o o r o r the p o o r th e m s e lv e s . ^ T h is n a r r a t i v e
was s k i l l f u l l y p r e s e n t e d in th e f i r s t p ages o f h is work.
221
Second, he s t a t e d t h a t he j o i n e d th e rank s o f th o se who
c h a lle n g e d th e assum ption s o f th e e s t a b l is h m e n t and those
th o u g h ts w ith which he had been r a i s e d . No lo n g e r co uld he
a c c e p t the C o n s e rv a tiv e m id d l e - c l a s s p h ilo s o p h y he had
e a r l i e r a ffirm e d a t O x f o r d . T h i r d , he r e l a t e d t o the
y o u th f u l L a b o u r ite , in h i s p r i v a t e te s tim o n y as a c o n tin u
a l l y e n t h u s i a s t i c c o n v e rt to s o c i a l is m . In o t h e r w ords,
A t t l e e s t i l l p o s s e s s e d th e y o u th f u l v i t a l i t y o f an e a r l y
c o n v e rt to d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m . 2 ® Of c o u rs e , on the s u r
f a c e , A t t l e e d id n o t g e n e r a l l y ap p ear " e n t h u s i a s t i c " about
a n y th in g . His r h e t o r i c was n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y e n t h u s i a s t i c ,
b u t h i s d e d ic a tio n was p e r s i s t e n t and h i s ste a d y energy
c o n t i n u a l l y sp e n t f o r th e cause o f s o c i a l is m . F o u rth , A t t
l e e d e c la r e d he was n o t o n ly a s s o c i a t e d w ith , b u t a ls o
spoke f o r the rank and f i l e . 2^ T his was p e rh a p s A t t l e e ' s
most s i g n i f i c a n t p o i n t o f c o n ta c t w ith th e average member
o f th e Labour p a r t y . A t t l e e ' s s im p le , h o n e s t , d i r e c t
s ta te m e n t was an ob vio us e f f o r t to make h im s e lf be and
sound l i k e one of th e commoners. F i f t h , A t t l e e a s s o c i a t e d
h im s e lf w ith b o th C h r i s t i a n s and s o c i a l i s t by r e f e r e n c e s to
th e B ib le , which he b e l i e v e d was f u l l o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y ,
30
s o c i a l i s t i c te a c h i n g s . F i n a l l y , A t t l e e i n s i s t e d t h a t
d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m was u n iq u e ly B r i t i s h and u n lik e any
o t h e r k in d o f s o c i a l is m . The ap p eal was to B r i t i s h p a t r i
o t i c m o tiv e s, to p a t r i o t s and n a t i o n a l i s t s a l i k e .
222
A t t l e e a ls o e s t a b l i s h e d eth o s e f f e c t i v e l y , i d e n t i
f i e d h im s e lf as th e k in d o f p e rs o n o th e r L a b o u rite s would
be p ro u d to a s s o c i a t e w i t h . F i r s t , he c l e a r l y review ed h i s
own re c o r d o f s e r v i c e to Labour w ith o u t e x cess f l o u r i s h , o r
b o a s t i n g . 3* Second, as m entioned p r e v i o u s l y , he pronounced
h im s e lf as an a u t h o r i t y on th e th o u g h ts and f e e l i n g s o f th e
rank and f i l e , and h i s w i l l i n g n e s s to tak e t h e i r a d v i c e . 32
O v e r a ll t h e n , A t t l e e ' s m a ste r s t r a t e g i e s in The
Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c t i v e , were e x p la n a tio n and u n i f i c a
t i o n . A t t l e e w an ted to in fo rm th o se u n f a m i li a r w ith demo
c r a t i c s o c i a l i s m , b u t a t th e same time he d e f i n i t e l y w anted
to fu se h i s p a r t y i n t o a s tr o n g u n i t d e s p ite d i f f e r e n t f a c
t io n s and p r e j u d i c e s . Most o f h i s e f f o r t was d i r e c t e d t o
ward f u l f i l l m e n t o f th e s e two s t r a t e g i e s . These s t r a t e g i e s
len d th em se lv e s to A t t l e e as a re a s o n a b le r e v o l u t io n a r y .
He p la y e d s e v e r a l o t h e r r o l e s in t h i s t e x t in o r d e r to
a chieve h i s s t r a t e g i e s : v o ic e f o r th e rank and f i l e , p o l
icy f o r m u la to r , and Labour guide o r p r o p h e t. A t t l e e ' s r e a
so nin g was p r i m a r i l y c a u s a l and a n a l o g ic a l . Every word was
p u r p o s e f u ll y d i r e c t e d tow ard th e g o a ls A t t le e o u t l i n e d in
the i n t r o d u c t i o n to The Labour P a rty in P e r s p e c t i v e . The
s t r a t e g i e s o f e x p l a n a t i o n and u n i f i c a t i o n e p ito m iz e d th e s e
g o a ls . A t t l e e ' s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c means o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n
were a p p e a ls to th e p o o r , y o u th , s o c i a l w o rk e rs, C h r i s t ia n s ,
the Labour ran k and f i l e , and B r ito n s in g e n e r a l.
223
The S t r a te g y o f R eassurance
th ro u g h E x p la n a tio n
A t t l e e u se d d iv e r s e s t r a t e g i e s in h is e l e c t i o n
b r o a d c a s t . His p rim a ry pu rp o se was " to give g e n e r a l p r i n
c i p l e s o f L a b o u r's p o l i c y w ith some i l l u s t r a t i o n o f p a r t i c -
* Z * Z
u l a r p o i n t s . " His memoirs r e v e a le d o n ly h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n
was changed a f t e r C h u r c h i l l 's b i t i n g rem arks th e n i g h t b e-
•Z A
f o r e . He so u g h t to s a n c t i f y d e m o c ratic s o c i a l is m . He
assum ed a p r a c t i c a l , r a t i o n a l , calm approach tow ard h i s
a u d ie n c e . And he p le a d e d f o r o p p o r tu n ity f o r Labour to
s e r v e , to p l a n th e f u t u r e , to p ro v id e homes, j o b s , f a i r
s a l a r i e s , and j u s t i c e .
A t t l e e u se d s e v e r a l t a c t i c s to c a r r y o u t th e s e
s t r a t e g i e s . In th e b e g in n in g p a ra g r a p h s , A t t l e e a tte m p te d
to underm ine C h u r c h i l l 's p e r s o n a l i t y . A t t l e e d iv id e d C hur
c h i l l , th e war l e a d e r , from C h u r c h il l , th e p a r t y l e a d e r .
A t t l e e s a i d t h a t he was a f r a i d th o se who had a c c e p te d C hur
c h i l l ' s l e a d e r s h i p in th e war m ight be tem pted o ut o f
g r a t i t u d e to fo llo w C h u r c h il l f u r t h e r . However, in r e f e r
ence t o C h u r c h i l l 's a d d re ss th e p re v io u s e v e n in g , A t t l e e
s a i d , " I th a n k him [ C h u r c h ill] f o r h a v in g d i s i l l u s i o n e d
them so th o r o u g h ly ."^5 C h u r c h i l l 's h a rs h remarks th e p r e
v io u s e v e n in g were v e ry much o u t o f c h a r a c t e r f o r a c o n n iv
in g p o l i t i c a l c a n d id a te concerned w ith w in n in g a t any c o s t .
A t t l e e ' s i m p l i c a t i o n was ob v io u s: th e p e o p le s h o u ld no
lo n g e r r e s p e c t o r v o te f o r C h u r c h ill in th e r o l e o f prim e
224
m i n i s t e r . C o n tra ry to C h u r c h i l l 's s t r a t e g i e s o f debunking
h i s C o a l i t i o n c o l l e a g u e s , A t t l e e admonished h i s form er c o l
le a g u e s i n th e C o a l i t i o n . T h is re sp o n se i m p l i c i t l y showed
A t t l e e ' s calm , f a i r , and k in d n a tu r e as opposed to C hur
c h i l l ' s i n s e c u r e , c r i t i c a l , and e m o tio n a l l a n g u a g e .36
A t t l e e rem inded h i s l i s t e n e r s f iv e y e a r s had p a s s e d
s i n c e he had spoken to them as p a r t y l e a d e r , and t h a t La
b o ur l e a d e r s were g e n e r a l l y f a i r and r e s p o n s i b l e p e r s o n s ,
and t h a t t h e i r p h ilo s o p h y was e q u i t a b l e and u n s e l f i s h . ^5
He j u s t i f i e d th e e l e c t i o n and L a b o u r's f a i r approach to i t .
In f a c t , A t t l e e u se d a s ta te m e n t by C h u r c h il l in 1944 to
s u p p o r t h i s own p o s i t i o n . He s a i d :
The p o i n t was v e ry w e ll p u t by th e Prime M i n i s t e r in
i n t r o d u c i n g th e P r o lo n g a tio n o f P a r lia m e n t B i l l in
1944. He s a i d "I c o u ld n o t blame anyone who claim ed
t h a t t h e r e s h o u ld be an ap p eal to th e p e o p le once th e
German p e r i l i s removed. I have m y se lf a c l e a r view
t h a t i t w ould be wrong (n o te t h a t word "wrong") to c o n
t in u e t h i s P a r lia m e n t beyond the p e r i o d o f th e German
War. I can a s s u re th e House t h a t in th e absence o f
most e a r n e s t r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s from th e Labour and L ib
e r a l P a r t i e s I c o u ld n o t r e f r a i n from making a su b m is
s io n to th e Crown in r e s p e c t o f a d i s s o l u t i o n a f t e r
th e German War i s e f f e c t i v e l y and o f f i c i a l l y f i n
i s h e d . "38
A t t l e e a ls o s t r o n g l y sym pathized w ith B r i t o n s ' d e s i r e f o r
r e t u r n i n g serv icem en home as soon as p o s s i b l e . 39 A lthough
A t t l e e c o u rte d B r i t o n s ' su p p o rt f o r p e a c e f u l e f f o r t s o f th e
U n ite d N a tio n s , he r e a s s u r e d them t h a t L a b o u r's f i r s t con
c e rn was p r o s p e r i t y a t home, b e fo r e an i n t e r n a t i o n a l a id
was p o s s i b l e .
A t t l e e r e l a t e d th e p r o d u c tiv e r e c o r d o f Labour
225
o r i g i n and a c t i v i t y , c o n tra r y to C h u r c h i l l 's s u g g e s tio n
t h a t Labour was l i k e Marxism on th e C o n tin e n t and would en-
gage in a s e c r e t p o l ic e and mismanage f i n a n c e . A t t l e e i n
d i c a t e d t h a t R obert Owen founded a s o c i a l i s t th e o r y in
B r i t a i n long b e fo re Marx. A t t l e e a s s e r t e d t h a t th e only
s e c r e t p o l i c e B r i t a i n e v e r e x p e rie n c e d was u n d er the Con
s e r v a t i v e r u l e o f Lord L iv e rp o o l. A t t l e e a ls o s a i d t h a t
C h u r c h ill had a d i s a s t r o u s r e c o r d a t th e E xchequer ov er th e
Gold S ta n d a rd . Thus, a f t e r r e f u t i n g a l l t h r e e o f C hur
c h i l l ' s vague a c c u s a tio n s w tih f a c t s from h i s t o r y , A t t l e e
s t a t e d , "I s h a l l n o t w aste time on t h i s t h e o r e t i c a l , s t u f f .
. . ."41 in o t h e r w ords, C h u r c h i l l 's c r i t i c i s m was n o t
f a c t u a l o r p ra g m a tic . From a d e b a t e r 's p o i n t o f view , A t t
le e n o t o nly p r e s e n te d a need c i t i n g th e numerous f a u l t s o f
th e C o n se rv a tiv e p a r t y , b u t he p ro p o se d a p la n o f demo
c r a t i c s o c i a l i s m , which had a c le a n s l a t e w ith which to
e n t e r o f f i c e . M oreover, A u s t r a l i a , New Z ealan d and the
S c a n d in a v ia n c o u n tr ie s s u c c e s s f u l l y employed s o c i a l i s m and
were B r i t i s h A l l i e s d u rin g th e w ar. A t t l e e ' s argum ents
were b r i e f , p o t e n t , and i n c i s i v e .
A t t l e e ' s re p ro a c h o f C o n s e r v a tiv e s f o r a la c k o f an
ad eq u a te do m estic p o l i c y was s u c c e s s f u l l y c o n c e iv e d . He
a s s e r t e d t h a t C o n se rv a tiv e p o l i c y was t h e o r e t i c a l l y a b su rd
and m e a n in g le s s . He warned t h a t C o n s e rv a tiv e s had m is le d
th e n a t i o n long enough u n d er th e scheme o f p r i v a t e e n t e r -
p r i s e and th e p r o f i t m o tiv e .42_____________________________________
226
A t t le e a l e r t e d the l i s t e n i n g p u b l i c to th e m ajor
problem s o f the C o n se rv a tiv e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n th ro u g h a
s t r a t e g y o f c r i s i s . A f t e r h i s c r i s i s s t r a t e g y had c r e a t e d
a need w i t h in the l i s t e n e r s , th e p rob lem was rem edied
th ro u g h A t t le e ^ s s t r a t e g y o f s o c i a l i z i n g l o s s e s thro u g h
l a b o u r ’ s p la n f o r economic c o n t r o l s f o r th e f u t u r e . 43
In c lo s in g , A t t l e e encou rag ed hope f o r th e n a t i o n ’ s
accom plishm ents n e c e s s a ry in th e f u t u r e . He a tte m p te d to
i n s p i r e h i s l i s t e n e r s . ^ He so u g h t ennoblem ent o f Labour
l e a d e r s and the Labour p a r t y ; i f a c c e p t e d , t h i s p r o p o s i t i o n
made Labour the i n e v i t a b l e c h o ic e f o r B r i t o n s . His i n
s t r u c t i o n s to vote Labour were i m p l i c i t , how ever, and n e v e r
d i r e c t l y s t a t e d . The n i g h t b e fo r e C h u r c h il l ig n o r e d t h i s
d e v o tio n to s u b t l e t y t h a t th e B r i t i s h a d m ir e .45
A t t l e e ’s ’’n a t i o n a l i z i n g " o f th e Labour p a r t y was an
t
im p o r ta n t means o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . Labour was no lo n g e r a
c l a s s p a r t y w ith mere s e c t i o n a l ap p ea l b e ca u se i t r e p r e
s e n te d a l l the p e o p le . In sh arp c o n t r a s t , A t t l e e a s s e r t e d
th e C o n se rv a tiv e p a r t y always was and always would be
s t r i c t l y a c la s s p a r t y a p p e a lin g p r i m a r i l y to th e p r i v i
le g e d c l a s s e s . ^ This l a b e l i n g o f th e C o n s e rv a tiv e s seemed
e f f e c t i v e .
A t t l e e c o u n s e lle d B r ito n s to c o n tin u e th e f i g h t f o r
c i v i l i z a t i o n as opposed to b a rb a r is m , as th ey had done in
th e p a s t . ^ F i n a l l y , A t t l e e r e a s s u r e d c i t i z e n s t h a t Labour
would m a in ta in the e s s e n t i a l freedom o f a l l p e o p le s in
Ill
a d d it i o n to i t s a tta in m e n t o f s o c i a l and economic e q u a l i t y
f o r a ll.^ ®
A t t l e e ' s m a s te r s t r a t e g i e s , th e n , in c lu d e d v i l l a i n -
i z i n g th e C o n se rv a tiv e s and s a n c t i f y i n g o f d e m o c ra tic s o
c i a l i s m . A t t l e e was P a r t y h e a d , an in fo r m a n t, a guide to
a p e a c e f u l f u t u r e , and a h i s t o r i a n and econom ist to some
e x t e n t . His tone was c o r d i a l , calm , r a t i o n a l , and exuded
some e n e r g e t i c f e e l i n g o r e n th u s ia sm .
Many argum ents o f A t t l e e were c a u s a l r e a s o n in g .
T his com plim ented h is re a s o n a b le approach to r h e t o r i c . In
a d d i t i o n , he u sed s e v e r a l a n a lo g ie s f o r c o lo r and im agery
to e n liv e n h i s speech. For exam ple, h i s a n a l o g ic a l r e a s o n
in g in c lu d e d com parisons o f: f a u l t y C o n se rv a tiv e t h e o r e t i
c a l th o u g h t to f a u l t y German t h e o r e t i c a l th o u g h t, w artim e
e f f o r t s t o p e acetim e e f f o r t s , C o n se rv a tiv e i n f l a t i o n p r o b
lems a f t e r th e l a s t g r e a t war to th e same p r o s p e c t i v e f i
n a n c i a l problem s from C o n s e rv a tiv e s a f t e r th e second w o rld
w ar, and th e C o n se rv a tiv e y i e l d t o p r i v a t e i n t e r e s t s in
1918 to an e x p e c te d y i e l d by C o n s e rv a tiv e s to p r i v a t e i n
t e r e s t s i f r e t u r n e d to o f f i c e a f t e r t h i s w ar. A t t l e e ' s one
e x c e e d in g ly em otion al a p p e a l was an e l a b o r a t e d e s c r i p t i o n
o f a la b o u r scene y e a rs b e f o r e o f women w orking a to r tu o u s
s i x t e e n hours a day f o r th e b e n e f i t o f th e r i c h upp er c la s s
C o n s e r v a tiv e s . The p rim a ry cause f o r E n g la n d 's s o c i a l and
economic t r o u b l e s , A t t l e e m a in ta in e d , was th e C o n se rv a tiv e
b e l i e f i n p r i v a t e e n t e r p r i s e . C o n se rv a tism was a n e g a tiv e
228
a u t h o r i t y symbol.
E s s e n t i a l l y , A t t l e e d is c o v e r e d th e p e r f e c t s c a p e
g o at f o r a l l th e s o c i a l and econom ic i l l s o f s o c i e t y : th e
C o n se rv a tiv e p a r t y . The n a t u r e o f th e C o n se rv a tiv e p a r t y ;
i t s l e a d e r s , and i t s e f f e c t s were to blame f o r E n g la n d 's
dom estic p ro b lem s. The n a t u r e o f th e C o n s e r v a tiv e s , he
a s s e r t e d , in v o lv e d b e l i e f in p r i v a t e e n t e r p r i s e and p r o f i t
m o tiv e , a l i m i t e d d o m e stic p o l i c y f o r th e m a jo r ity o f
B r i to n s , prom o tio n o f s e l f i s h i n t e r e s t s and g re e d , demon
s t r a t i o n o f a p a t h e t i c f a i t h , freedom f o r r i c h and s l a v e r y
f o r th e p o o r , a id f o r r u t h l e s s p r o f i t makers and p r o p e r ty
ow ners, i n f l u e n c e o f p r i v i l e g e d and p r o p e r t y f o r c e s , and a
c la s s p a r t y . The l e a d e r s o f th e C o n s e rv a tiv e p arty, a c c o rd
ing to A t t l e e , p a i n t e d f a l s e p i c t u r e s o f Labour. C o n serv a
t i v e s were once g r e a t war l e a d e r s , b u t now s e l f i s h p a r t y
l e a d e r s , and th ey c o n v e n ie n tly f o r g o t th e h i s t o r y o f the
d e p r i v a ti o n th e y c a u se d . M oreover, A t t l e e im p lie d t h a t
C h u r c h ill l i e d about L a b o u r's h i s t o r y . C h u r c h ill was d e
s c r i b e d as a k in d o f s p l i t - p e r s o n a l i t y , one man d u rin g w a r
tim e , a n o th e r in p e a c e tim e . C h u r c h ill was i n f lu e n c e d
s t r o n g l y by Lord B eaverbrook and P r o f e s s o r von H ayek, and
th e C o n se rv a tiv e p a r t y and p r e s s ; t h u s , A t t le e im p lie d
C h u r c h ill was n o t h i s own man. C h u r c h ill a ls o was in c o n
s i s t e n t ; i n 1944, C h u r c h il l i n s i s t e d on an e l e c t i o n a f t e r
the German w ar, and now he s a i d he w anted Labour to w a it
u n t i l th e end o f th e J a p a n e s e war f o r an e l e c t i o n . E i t h e r
229
C h u r c h ill l i e d i n 1944, o r he c o n v e n ie n tly changed h is mind
to accommodate h i s own p a r t y . M oreover, th e d e s t r u c t i v e
e f f e c t s o f the C o n s e r v a tiv e p a r t y were w id e sp re a d , A ttle e
i n s i s t e d . C o n s e rv a tiv e s were r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a t e n - y e a r -
o ld p a r l i a m e n t, a h a l f - h e a r t e d su p p o rt o f th e League of
N a tio n s , a d i s a s t r o u s r e c o r d a t Exchequer over th e Gold
S ta n d a rd , n a t i o n a l l y re d u c e d d i r e c t i o n , m is d ir e c t e d fin an c e,
th e b a d ly -h o u s e d , f e d , c l o t h e d , and em ployed, the p la n s f o r
lu x u ry b u ild in g s and n o n - e s s e n t i a l s , s u b s i d i e s and t a r i f f s .
As in b a t t l e , A t t l e e s t r a t e g i c a l l y l a b e l e d th e enemy, the
C o n se rv a tiv e p a r t y , and i n v e s t e d i t w ith a l l s o r t s o f bad
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and e f f e c t s .
A t t l e e made s e v e r a l a tte m p ts to i d e n t i f y w ith h is
l i s t e n i n g a u d ie n c e . F i r s t , he r e f e r r e d to c e r t a i n war
" p ro p o sa ls s u p p o r te d by us a l l . "49 Second, he p r a i s e d a l l
B rito n s f o r h a v in g f o u g h t a g r e a t war f o r democracy; t h i s
war bound the B r i t i s h t o g e t h e r . ^ T h ir d , A ttle e i n s i s t e d
t h a t fre e d o m -lo v in g E nglishm en re c o g n iz e th e needs f o r i n
t e r n a t i o n a l p eace and i t s achievem ent th ro u g h the U nited
N a tio n s where a l l n a t i o n s may work t o g e t h e r to p re v e n t the
causes of w a r . ^ He th o u g h t t h a t a l l men and women sought
peace and s e c u r i t y . M o r e o v e r , p e o p le sh o u ld have the
53
g r e a t e s t freedom c o m p a tib le w ith o t h e r s freedom . He e n
couraged B r ito n s to t h i n k t h a t t o g e t h e r th e y c o u ld b u i l d a
s u c c e s s f u l f u t u r e i f th e y w i l l e d i t and worked f o r i t . 54
A t t l e e s t r o n g l y em p hasized t h a t the Labour p a r t y was n o t a
230
c la s s p a r t y , and t h e r e f o r e had no s e c t i o n a l a p p e a l . 55 This
was h is s t r o n g e s t a tte m p t a t i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w ith B r ito n s o f
a l l c l a s s e s . F i n a l l y , he s a i d t h a t Labour was j o i n e d w ith
y o u th p a r t i c u l a r l y in l i g h t o f the one hundred and tw enty
Labour c a n d id a te s who were young s e r v ic e m e n .5^
A t t l e e ' s m a s te r s t r a t e g i e s in h i s b r o a d c a s t a d d re ss
were v i l l a i n i z i n g and s a n c t i f y i n g . F i r s t , he v i l l a i n i z e d
th e C o n s e r v a tiv e s , and th e n s a n c t i f i e d th e Labour p a r t y and
methods. He spoke as p a r t y h e ad , guide to p e a c e , and an
in fo rm a n t. In th e l a t t e r r o l e , A t t l e e r e v e a le d th e d i s
t r e s s i n g f a c t o r s c o n c e rn in g C o n se rv ativ e th o u g h t and e f
f e c t s . A n a lo g ie s were u se d a p p r o p r i a t e l y to v i l l a i n i z e
th e C o n se rv a tiv e s and s a n c t i f y the Labour p a r t y . A t t l e e
a p p ea le d p r i m a r i l y to freedom s e e k e r s , and a v i c t o r i o u s and
u n i f i e d B r i t a i n which lo o k ed to the f u t u r e and d e s i r e d do
m estic t r a n q u i l i t y and p r o s p e r i t y . His most obvious p lo y
was to a p p e a l to " a l l c l a s s e s " in th e name o f Labour.
The S t r a t e g i e s o f Warning and I n s p i r i n g
A t t l e e ' s a d d re s s t o Congress on November 1 4 th , 1945,
in v o lv e d s t r a t e g i e s o f r e a s s u r a n c e , w a rn in g , power, e t h o s ,
c o u r t i n g , i n s t r u c t i o n , en nob lem en t, s a c r i f i c e , v i r t u o s i t y ,
sym bolic s e d u c t i o n , and a d u l a t i o n . I t in c lu d e d a d e s i r e
f o r u n i ty in th e w o rld and g r e a t e r f r i e n d s h i p betw een th e
A nglos. A t t l e e s u p p o r te d n o t o nly d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m ,
b u t a lso any id e o lo g y t h a t Americans and B r ito n s had i n
231
common su c h as freedom . His a t t i t u d e tow ard h is l i s t e n e r s
was calm, i n s t r u c t i v e , r a t i o n a l , and r a t h e r u n d e fe n siv e
c o n s id e r in g h i s p o s i t i o n as a new Labour Prime M i n i s t e r .
He i d e n t i f i e d w ith r e s p e c te d l e a d e r s and d e m o c ra tic i d e a l s
and r e f e r r e d o f t e n to common h i s t o r i c a l memories and s i m i
l a r i t i e s in r e l i g i o n . He soug ht to indu ce a t t i t u d e s o f r e
s p e c t , c o o p e r a t i o n , d e te r m in a tio n f o r p e a c e , t o l e r a n c e ,
com p rehension, and a p p ro v a l. A t t l e e ' s m a s te r s t r a t e g y was
r e a s s u r a n c e th ro u g h f a c t s ; he s t r e s s e d th e comm onality o f
B r i t i s h and American v a lu e s and p ro m ised t h a t n e i t h e r he
n o r h is p a r t y would a l t e r G re at B r i t a i n r a d i c a l l y .
A t t l e e ' s opening rem arks to th e U n ite d S t a te s Con
g r e s s were v e ry com plim entary. He spoke h ig h ly o f W inston
C h u r c h i l l , M ackenzie King, the C o n g re ss, F r a n k lin R o s s e v e lt,
H arry Truman, s e v e r a l American g e n e r a ls o f World War I I ,
and th e A l l i e s . A t t l e e made more th an enough o f th e u s u a l
a m e n i t i e s , e x p r e s s in g g r a t i t u d e f o r th e o p p o r t u n it y to
sp eak and in p r a i s i n g r e c e n t g r e a t l e a d e r s o f th e A l l i e d
w o rld . Alm ost o n e - f o u r t h o r o n e - t h i r d o f h i s speech was
d e v o te d to such t r i b u t e s . T his a d u la to r y t a c t i c em phasized
th e h u m il i ty o f A t t l e e and h is unique c o u r t i n g s t r a t e g y
w ith the American a u d ie n c e . In a s e n s e , t h i s speech was
p e r s u a s iv e by way o f p a n a g y r ic .
In com plim enting R o o s e v e lt, A t t l e e made h im s e lf th e
spokesman f o r th e commonwealth, a t a c t i c w hich in c r e a s e d
232
h i s own p o s i t i o n o f power and r e s p e c t a b i l i t y . A ttle e
sim ply made h i m s e l f th e v o ic e o f th e B r i t i s h em pire. He
g r a c i o u s l y s a i d :
I sh o u ld be e x p r e s s i n g , I know, the f e e l in g s n o t o n ly
o f th e p e o p le o f G re a t B r i t a i n b u t o f th e Commonwealth
and Empire in p a y in g t r i b u t e to h is [R o o se v elt] g r e a t
s e r v i c e s n o t o n ly to h i s co u n try b u t to h u m a n ity .57
A t t l e e ’ s t r i b u t e s to C h u r c h ill and R o o se v e lt ended
w ith a comment on t h e i r s i g n i f i c a n c e as " f o r c e s a g a in s t
ty r a n n y ," t h i s s ta te m e n t which h e lp e d e a r l y e s t a b l i s h t h a t
A t t l e e lo v e d fr e e d o m .58
Next A t t l e e r e f e r r e d to th e San F ra n c is c o U n ited
N atio n s m eetin g and th e Potsdam C onference which he a t
tend ed. S u r e ly , t h i s s ta te m e n t was an a tte m p t to e s t a b l i s h
h im s e lf as a s i g n i f i c a n t w o rld l e a d e r and h is f a m i l i a r i t y
w ith P r e s i d e n t Truman. A t t l e e f r e q u e n t l y m entioned h i s and
Truman's e x p e r ie n c e s i n common, such as f i g h t i n g in World
War I and h o ld in g h ig h o f f i c e . Such a tte m p t a t i d e n t i f i c a
t i o n w ith Am ericans and A m e ric a 's p rim a ry l e a d e r were w e ll
r e c e iv e d .
A t t l e e ' s t r a n s i t i o n to th e problem s which a g r e a t
war prod uced was q u i t e s k i l l f u l . He u se d a r h e t o r i c a l
q u e s tio n o f a p h i l o s o p h i c a l n a t u r e : In what s p i r i t s h a l l
we approach th e s e h ig h m a t t e r s T h e s p i r i t was one o f
" r e g r e t f o r l o s t com rades, g r a t i t u d e f o r our d e li v e r a n c e ,
and th e r e s o lv e to do w hat in us la y to sp a re o th e r s th e
o rd e a l which we had e n d u r e d ."60 A t t l e e s u g g e ste d a m ix tu re
233
o f r e g r e t , g r a t i t u d e , and r e s o l u t i o n f o r peace w i t h in h is
a u d ie n c e .
A t t l e e a g a in t r i e d to arouse th e sympathy o f h i s
a u dience w i t h su c h t r a g i c words a s, "We have ended t h i s
seco n d w o rld w a r, d e a d l i e r , lo n g e r , and more t e r r i b l e than
i t s predecessor. Attlee w anted th e a u d ien ce to f e e l
t h a t th e c a t a s t r o p h e o f war c o u ld n o t be o v e rp la y e d o r
u n d e r e s tim a te d .
A t th e same tim e , however, A t t l e e u t i l i z e d a s t r a t
egy o f enn oblem ent f o r th e A l l i e d f o r c e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y the
g r e a t A l l i e d n a t i o n s . He a s s e r te d :
W e r i g h t l y to - d a y pay honour to a l l th e a l l i e s .
T here i s enough honour f o r a l l . . . b u t th e g r e a t e s t
c o n t r i b u t i o n was made by th o se w ith th e g r e a t e s t r e -
s o u r c e s - - t h e U n ite d S t a t e s o f A m erica, R u s s ia , and
th e B r i t i s h Commonwealth and E m p ire .62
I t was im p o r ta n t to n o te t h a t A t t le e p l a c e d B r i t a i n on an
e q u a l b a s i s w i t h th e U n ite d S t a te s d e s p i t e th e U n ite d
S t a t e s econom ic a d v a n ta g e . A t t l e e a ls o com plim ented th e
s c i e n t i f i c r e s o u r c e s o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s u n e q u iv o c a lly
g iv en to th e "p o o l" o f atom ic en erg y develo pm ent. The em
p h a s i s on th e term , " p o o l ," r e f e r r e d to o u t s i d e m a tte r s
c o n c e rn in g th e c la im to U n ite d S t a te s ato m ic in f o r m a tio n by
B r i t a i n . I f th e p rem ise o f a p o o lin g of in f o r m a tio n were
a c c e p te d , th e n th e l o g i c a l c o n c lu s io n w ould be to s h a re a l l
i n f o r m a tio n among a l l members o f th e p o o l.
A t t l e e th e n i n v i t e d h is l i s t e n e r s to r e c a l l w ith
him: D u n k irk , American l e n d - l e a s e , and M a r s h a l l 's p l a n to
234
invade E urope. In a s e n s e , th e s e war e x p e rie n c e s were
common e x p e r ie n c e s . They were h i s t o r i c a l a l l u s i o n s w hich
i n c r e a s e d a se n se o f t o g e t h e r n e s s .
A f t e r A t t l e e m en tio n ed l e n d - l e a s e and i t s e n d in g ,
he th en c l e v e r l y com plim ented th e U n ite d S t a te s and h e r
supreme power in th e w o r ld , e s p e c i a l l y e c o n o m ic a lly :
To-day th e U n ite d S t a t e s s ta n d s o u t as th e m i g h t i
e s t power on e a r t h , and y e t A m erica i s a t h r e a t to no
one. A ll know t h a t she w i l l n e v e r use h e r power f o r
s e l f i s h aims o r t e r r i t o r i a l ag g ra n d ise m e n t i n the
f u t u r e anymore th a n she has done in th e p a s t . 61
Perhaps A t t l e e ' s numerous use o f com plim ents in t h i s p a r
t i c u l a r a d d re ss r e p r e s e n t e d a k in d o f sy m b o lic s e d u c tio n o f
Am ericans by c a r d - s t a c k i n g in t h e i r f a v o r.
A t t l e e ' s p r o g r e s s i o n o f id e a s sn o w b alled to th e
l o g i c a l c o n c lu s io n s he w anted th e au dien ce to ad o p t. Hav
ing m entioned l e n d - l e a s e , and th e n American suprem acy, he
f o r c e d Am ericans to fa c e th e f a c t th ey had been s p a r e d many
h o r r o r s o f th e w ar, b e ca u se o f an i n v i o l a b l e s e a . He spoke
p a s s i o n a t e l y :
But you have been s p a r e d th e d e s t r u c t i o n o f y our g r e a t
c i t i e s . Y.ou have n o t had in Am erica th e s p e c t a c l e o f
hundreds o f th o u sa n d s o f b ro k e n homes. You have n o t
had g r e a t m asses o f p e o p le d riv e n from t h e i r h a b i t a
t i o n s , w an d erin g a b o u t s e e k in g somewhere to la y t h e i r
h e a d s. You have n o t had th e work o f c e n t u r i e s o f human
endeavor d e s tr o y e d i n a few s h o r t h ou rs by a t t a c k s
from the a i r . 6 4
Thus, d e s p i te th e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f Am ericans and B r ito n s
o r A l l i e s in g e n e r a l , A t t l e e d id n o t l e t Am ericans f o r g e t
th ey had avo id ed many rav a g es o f w ar. B r i t a i n , in o t h e r
235
w ords, s a c r i f i c e d more th an th e U n ited S t a t e s and was in
d e s p e r a t e f i n a n c i a l n e e d s. The vo ice o f a c o u n tr y t h a t
l o s t so much f o r th e cause of freedom , c e r t a i n l y d e s e rv e d
to be h e a r d and h e lp e d by an a l l i e d c o u n try su c h as America
w hich had n o t s a c r i f i c e d as much. Again A t t l e e p l a c e d him
s e l f i n a f a v o r a b le l i g h t fo r a h e a r in g .
He u se d a p o e t i c image to r e f e r to th e y o u th t h a t
b o th c o u n t r i e s had l o s t : " g r e a t numbers o f t h e flo w e r o f
y o u r young men. . . . ” 65 j n l i t e r a t u r e , th e c o n c e p t o f the
flo w e r o f y o u th was f r e q u e n tly u sed , p a r t i c u l a r l y by Shake
s p e a re and o t h e r p o e ts . Here fo r a b r i e f moment, A t t l e e
r e t u r n e d to h i s c a r e e r as a p o e t or a s t u d e n t o f p o e t i c s .
A t t l e e th e n pro ceed ed to warn th e U n ite d S t a t e s
t h a t B r i t a i n , t o o , once had an i n v i o l a b l e m oat to h id e from
th e w ars on th e C o n tin e n t. Speaking from p a s t e x p e r ie n c e ,
A t t l e e w arned th e U n ite d S ta te s such w a te rs w ere no lo n g e r
a d e q u a te to keep away th e scourge o f w ar. M o re o v e r, w ith
th e ato m ic bomb, no n a t i o n on e a r t h was s a f e . A t t l e e made
a p e r s u a s i v e ap peal t o te a c h th e c h il d r e n o f a l l n a t i o n s
t h a t th e a i r power e lim in a te d h i s t o r i c d i v i s i o n s betw een a ll
c o u n t r i e s .
A f t e r a l l o f A t t l e e ' s re f e r e n c e s t o w a r, he e x
p l a i n e d t o Am ericans t h a t he was in W ashington to d is c u s s
th e f u t u r e o f th e ato m ic bomb w ith P r e s i d e n t Truman, More
o v e r , A t t l e e i n s i s t e d t h a t le a d e rs t h in k o f " t h e b e s t means
236
o f b u i l d i n g up peace" r a t h e r th a n a v o id in g w a r . ^ In o th e r
w ords, th e image o f A t t l e e , th e p o s i t i v i s t , once a g ain
emerged. During the 1945 e l e c t i o n s , f o r exam ple, he p r e
s e n te d a p o s i t i v e program f o r d o m e stic reform which was
much s t r o n g e r th an any C o n s e r v a tiv e c o u n t e r p a r t . He was by
no means a n e g a tiv e t h i n k e r ; p r o b a b ly h is e n t i r e c a r e e r as
a Labour le a d e r o f the O p p o s itio n demanded a k in d o f p o s i
t i v e , y e t r e a l i s t i c t h i n k i n g , in o r d e r to s u r v iv e p sy c h o
l o g i c a l l y .
A ttle e th en arg u e d t h a t when r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f
d i f f e r e n t c o u n tr ie s a c t u a l l y have the o p p o r tu n ity to d i s
cuss d if f e r e n c e s t o g e t h e r , th e cau se o f peace was fu rth e r e d .
In f a c t , A t t l e e ' s v ery p re s e n c e i n the U n ited S t a te s Con
g re s s was p ro o f o f what he a s s e r t e d . S u r e ly , th e B r i t i s h
d id n o t seem so d i s t a n t , s t r a n g e , o r ominous whem Prime
M i n i s t e r A ttle e sto o d b e fo r e th e American p e o p le and e l a b o
r a t e d on t h e i r v a rio u s common e x p e r i e n c e s .
A t t le e in a k in d o f solem n o a th p le d g e d a ll e g ia n c e
to th e U n ited N atio n s and hoped e v e ry g r e a t n a ti o n would
fo llo w s u i t . From a s o c i a l i s t i c v ie w p o in t, he a s s e r t e d
t h a t the U nited N a tio n s must be an " e x p r e s s io n o f th e w i l l
of th e common p eople i n e v ery c o u n t r y . T h i s s ta te m e n t
a ls o sounded l ik e an e x t r a c t i o n from The C o n s t i t u t i o n o f
th e U n ite d S t a t e s .
B u ild in g on A t t l e e ' s a p p l i c a t i o n o f s o c i a l i s t i c
p h ilo s o p h y to th e U n ite d N a t io n s , he th en e l a b o r a t e d on the
Ill
meaning and p o l i c y o f th e Labour p a r t y i n G reat B r i t a i n .
His t r a n s i t i o n to th e s u b j e c t was s k i l l f u l l y app ro ached
th ro u g h a r h e t o r i c a l q u e s tio n co n ce rn in g the Am erican knowl
edge o f B r i t i s h d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m . His e l a b o r a t e e x p l a
n a t i o n which fo llo w e d was r e a s s u r i n g ; i t em phasized t h a t
Labour u p h e ld th e f o u r freedom s o f r e l i g i o n , p r e s s , s p e e c h ,
and th e i n d i v i d u a l . A t t l e e t a c t f u l l y approached th e sub-
j e c t , "L e t me c l e a r y o u r mind . . . " O0 With a s l i g h t t w i s t
on th e b a t t l e f o r freedom , A t t le e i n s i s t e d t h a t th e f i g h t
may o f t e n be a g a i n s t p o w e rfu l landow ners, m o n o p o lis tic
b u s i n e s s e s , o r th e overwhelm ing s t r e n g t h of moneyed i n t e r
e s t s . Such a c t i o n a g a i n s t th e r i c h and p o w e rfu l was in th e
i n t e r e s t o f Labour and freedom , a c c o rd in g to A t t l e e .
A t t l e e added t h a t th e Labour p a r t y in th e House o f
Commons had j o u r n a l i s t s and a l l k in d s o f r e l i g i o u s a c t i v
i s t s ; t h e r e f o r e , freedom was a n e c e s s i t y . T his p a r t i c u l a r
argument was n o t h i s s t r o n g e s t . However, when he s a i d , "I
have been to o long in th e O p p o sitio n n o t to be a s tr o n g
s u p p o r te r of freedom o f speech and freedom o f th e i n d i v i d
u a l , " ^ h i s p e r s o n a l te s tim o n y was e a s i l y u n d e rs ta n d a b le
and p e r s u a s i v e . A t t l e e s u g g e s te d th e only way to ach iev e
tr u e freedom , p a r t i c u l a r l y eco n o m ic ally and s o c i a l l y , was
th ro u g h a p la n n e d economy. He a ls o a s s e r t e d t h a t he spoke
f o r th e m a j o r it y o f th e B r i t i s h p e o p le i n r e g a rd t o t h i s
cho ice o f econom ic p la n n in g : ". . . i n th e w o rld to d ay we
238
b e l i e v e , as do most p e o p le in B r i t a i n , t h a t one must p la n
the economic a c t i v i t i e s o f th e c o u n try i f we are to a ssu re
70
the common man a f a i r d e a l . "
A t t l e e d e c la r e d t h a t L a b o u r ite s were " i n lin e w ith
th o se who fo u g h t f o r the Magna C a r ta and habeas c o rp u s ,
w ith the P i l g r im F a t h e r s , and w ith th e s i g n a t o r i e s o f the
D e c la r a tio n o f Independence. He cov ered numerous p a t r i
o t i c c o rn e rs to n e s i n h is p e r s u a s iv e a tte m p t to a li n e La
b o u r i t e s w ith fre e d o m -lo v in g A m ericans. At t h i s p o i n t , as
m entioned i n C hap ter IV, A t t l e e r e c e i v e d a ro u s in g ova
t i o n . ^
Next A t t l e e e x p la in e d t h a t p e rs o n s o f a l l c la s s e s
were L a b o u r ite s . He u se d p e r s o n a l te s tim o n y to prove h i s
p o i n t . He came from an u p p e r c l a s s , b u t upon e x p e rie n c in g
th e p o v e rty and d e p r i v a ti o n o f E a s t London, became an
avowed d e m o c ratic S o c i a l i s t .
A f t e r th e above r e a s s u r a n c e , A t t l e e q u ic k ly moved
on to f o r e i g n a f f a i r s . He c o n c i s e ly co v ered th re e a rg u
m ents: (1) t h a t B r i t i s h and Am erican t r a d i n g e f f o r t s
sh o u ld n o t c o n f l i c t , becau se t h e r e was a l a r g e m arket fo r
i n d u s t r i a l goods th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld , and (2) t h a t the
s ta n d a r d o f l i v i n g to m a in ta in p e ac h sh o u ld r i s e th ro u g h o u t
the w o rld , and (3) the bonds o f f r i e n d s h i p and c o o p e ra tio n
sh o u ld be i n c r e a s e d th ro u g h th e U n ite d N a tio n s . His s t a t e
ments were b o ld and q u i t e t h e o r e t i c a l ’. He lik e n e d B r i t a i n
to a man coming home from war o n ly to d is c o v e r lo ss of home
2 39
and b u s in e s s and fo r c e d to b eg in anew. T his an alo g y was
drawn from v e ry r e c e n t h i s t o r i c a l a l l u s i o n , b u t was d e
s c r i p t i v e l y u n c o lo r f u l in A t t l e e ' s p r e s e n t a t i o n . However,
he spoke from a p o s i t i v e v iew p o in t a g a in , when he i n s i s t e d ,
"we a re f a c i n g th e f u t u r e w ith courage and a d e te r m in a tio n
to win th ro u g h .
C o n cern in g i n t e r n a l p o l i c i e s , A t t l e e so u g h t a p
p r o v a l o f Labour methods and g o a ls , b e c a u s e , a f t e r a l l , i t
was th e w i l l o f th e m a j o r it y . Labour and B r ito n s chose
n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n , s o c i a l in s u r a n c e , and a p la n n e d economy.
Am erica w ould go a n o th e r way, A t t l e e r e c o g n iz e d ; how ever,
a l l n a t i o n s m ust t o l e r a t e o t h e r n a t i o n 's c h o ic e s as long as
th e p e o p l e 's w i l l was fo llo w e d . A t t l e e l i k e n e d th e w o rld
o f n a t i o n s to a sm a ll town where d i v e r s i t y o f c h a r a c t e r was
assumed in th e human r a c e . His analogy a g a in was n o t v ery
c o l o r f u l , b u t i t d id c l a r i f y h i s p o i n t .
F i n a l l y , A t t l e e rem inded A nglo-A m ericans o f t h e i r
common love o f dem ocracy, t h e i r common la n g u a g e , t h e i r mem
o r i e s o f c o m ra d esh ip , t h e i r adherence to th e r u l e o f law,
t h e i r lo v e o f freedom , and t h e i r common m oral p r e c e p t s and
en dorsem ent o f C h r i s t i a n i t y . He u rg ed t h a t m an's m oral and
C h r i s t i a n p r o g r e s s must match up to h is m a t e r i a l p r o g r e s s
in o r d e r to s u r v iv e on t h i s p l a n e t . His c o n c lu s io n was dy
namic and moving. He gave Americans much to i d e n t i f y w ith .
A t t l e e ' s m a s te r s t r a t e g y was r e a s s u r a n c e th ro u g h
f a c t u a l i n f o r m a ti o n . The Americans needed r e a s s u r a n c e t h a t
240
th e Labour p a r t y would uph old d e m o c ra tic v a lu e s . R e a s s u r
ance was th e re a s o n a b le r o u t to a tta in m e n t o f im p o rta n t
b e n e f i t s such as a U n ite d S t a te s lo a n . T his s t r a t e g y
h e lp e d b u i l d an au dience to l i s t e n to A t t l e e ’s m essage.
On Ja n u a ry 1 0 th , 1946, A t t l e e made h i s s h o r t ad
d re s s to th e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s from th e v a rio u s member nations
o f th e U n ited N a tio n s . In a b ro a d s e n s e , h i s au dience was
the w o rld .
A f t e r th e u s u a l a m e n itie s o f welcoming sp e e c h e s ,
A t t l e e u rg ed th e d e le g a te s to adopt th e same s p i r i t which
c h a r a c t e r i z e d th e P r e p a r a t o r y Commisssion. T hat s p i r i t was
l i v e l y , c o n c i l i a t o r y , g o o d - w ille d , p r a c t i c a l , c o o p e r a tiv e ,
and marked by a se n se o f urgency which e v e n t u a l l y l e d to
alm ost com plete u n a n im ity . B efore c lo s in g h i s sp e e c h , A t t
le e ag ain u rged members to o p e r a te in a s p i r i t o f hope
r a t h e r th an s k e p tic is m o r f a i l u r e . A t t l e e h im s e lf demon
s t r a t e d the k in d of s p i r i t he w anted when he c o n fe s s e d , "I
have i n te n s e f a i t h t h a t we s h a l l make th e U n ited N a tio n s
O rg a n iz a tio n a s u c c e s s . "74 His f i n a l words in h i s ad d re ss
were i n s p i r i n g , "We must and w i l l s u c c e e d ." '75 His own
s p i r i t o f d e te r m in a tio n and p o s i t i v e n e s s co uld have a f
f e c t e d th e d e l e g a t e s . The s p i r i t in which a p r o j e c t was
begun or accom plished was e x tre m e ly im p o rta n t to A t t l e e .
The r i g h t frame of mind and m o tiv a tio n were r e l e v a n t t o any
241
m ea n in g fu l p e a c e f u l a c t i v i t y .
Second, A t t l e e ' s s t r a t e g y was to rem ind th e d e l e
g a te s o f th e w a r 's e f f e c t . "The a n c i e n t c i t y o f L ib e rty "
welcomed th e d e le g a te s b u t making them f e e l c o m fo rta b le was
d i f f i c u l t due to th e ravages o f w a r . ^ The c i t y ' s b a t t l e
s c a r s c o u ld c l e a r l y be s -e n from th e main h a l l windows.
Every tim e a d e le g a te g la n c e d o u t , he would be rem inded o f
th e d e s t r u c t i o n o f war. The scene w arned th e d e le g a te s
l i k e a k n e l l .
Next A t t l e e r e f e r r e d to h i s p e r s o a n l work in San
F r a n c is c o a t the b i r t h o f the C h a r te r o f the U n ite d N a tio n s .
He a s s e r t e d , "The i n i t i a t i o n o f th e s e d i s c u s s i o n s w h ile our
enem ies were s t i l l in th e f i e l d a g a i n s t us was a t once an
a c t o f f a i t h in o u r v i c t o r y and an acknowledgment o f th e
cause f o r which we were f i g h t i n g . A t t l e e ' s s t r a t e g y was
a l s o one o f p r o s e l y t i z i n g th e g o a ls o f th e i n i t i a l e f f o r t s
on b e h a l f of a U n ited N a tio n s . These e f f o r t s were tow ard
p e a c e , j u s t as w inning th e war was th e cause o f p e a c e , a c
c o rd in g to A t t l e e . Such a s ta te m e n t in e f f e c t en n o b led th e
w artim e e f f o r t s by A l l i e s .
A t t l e e then r e a s s u r e d th e d e le g a t e s t h a t a l l B r i t
ons s u p p o r te d th e p r i n c i p l e s o f th e U n ite d N atio n s C h a r te r .
I t seemed an obvious s t a te m e n t , p e rh a p s i t s only v a lu e was
to a tte m p t to i n c r e a s e A t t l e e ' s e th o s as th e t r u e spokesman
f o r a l l th e p e o p le o f G reat B r i t a i n .
Next A t t l e e po sed an im p o rta n t q u e s t i o n to th e
2 42
d e l e g a t e s . His a p p ea l was p e r s o n a l y e t had i n t e r n a t i o n a l
i m p l i c a t i o n s , and i t was e m o tio n al y e t f a c t u a l . He com
mented:
. . . a choice i s o f f e r e d to m ankind. Twice in my
l i f e t i m e a war has b ro u g h t u n t o ld sorrow to mankind.
Should th e re be a t h i r d World War, th e long upward
p r o g r e s s tow ard c i v i l i z a t i o n may be h a l t e d f o r g e n e ra
t i o n s and th e work o f m yriads o f men and women through
c e n t u r i e s be b ro u g h t to n o u g h t . 78
The answ er was o b v io u s. Men must work to g e th e r to seek
p e a c e , f o r no one w anted a t h i r d World War.
A t t l e e ' s n e x t s t r a t e g y was to a c t u a l i z e th e i d e a l s
o f th e U n ite d N ations C h a r te r th ro u g h i n t e r n a t i o n a l i d e n t i
f i c a t i o n . R e a l it y of i d e a l s w ould o c c u r only i f th e re were
a common en d ea v o r, a t o g e t h e r n e s s , a c o n s u b s t a n t i a l i t y
among a l l members o f th e U n ite d N a t io n s . V igorous wartime
e f f o r t s must be r e p la c e d w ith e q u a l ly v ig o ro u s peacetim e
e f f o r t s . A ttle e sim ply s t a t e d , " . . . th e w e lfa r e o f
every one o f us i s bound up w ith th e w e lf a r e o f th e w orld as
79
a w h o le, and we are a l l members, one o f a n o t h e r ." Id e n
t i f i c a t i o n was used as an end in t h i s c a s e , the end to
a ch iev e p e ac e.
Most s i g n i f i c a n t l y , A t t l e e b l u n t l y and b o ld ly
s t a t e d , "The U n ited N a tio n s must be th e o v e r r i d i n g f a c t o r
in f o r e i g n p o l i c y . A t t l e e c la im e d t h a t a m ajor l i m i t a
t i o n o f th e League o f N a tio n s was i t s la c k o f power in f o r
e ig n a f f a i r s . He then q u o te d th e f o r e i g n m i n i s t e r o f th e
U .S .S .R ., "Peace i s i n d i v i s i b l e . " ^ A t t l e e w is e ly chose a
243
R u ssian s ta te m e n t t o rem ind th e o b s t i n a t e R u ssian d e le g a
t i o n and t h e i r c o lle a g u e s o f a R u ssian goal o f p e a c e . The
o r i g i n s o f th e l a t e w ar, A t t l e e a s s e r t e d , were due to f a i l
u re to sto p a g g re s s iv e a c t s by th e J a p a n e s e , Germans, and
I t a l i a n s . M oreover, A t t l e e i n s i s t e d t h a t th e U n ited Na
t i o n s power in f o r e ig n a f f a i r s was im p o r ta n t n o t o n ly to
g o vernm ents, p o l i t i c s , and w ar, b u t a ls o t o th e e le m e n ta l
ends o f a l l human b e in g s .
A t t l e e ' s n e x t s t r a t e g y was to s o c i a l i z e th e U n ited
N a tio n s o r i e n t a t i o n . He a s s e r t e d t h a t th e C h a r te r meant
r e a f f i r m a t i o n o f th e human r i g h t s fu n d am e n ta ls: freedom o f
th e i n d i v i d u a l , freedom o f th e s t a t e , s o c i a l j u s t i c e , and
th e b e s t p o s s i b l e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g . These human r i g h t s
fu n d am e n ta ls c l e a r l y sounded l i k e t e n e t s o f A t t l e e ' s s o
c i a l i s t i c p h ilo s o p h y . A t t l e e ' s ap p ea l was o f te n to th e
common man, even though he was t e c h n i c a l l y t a l k i n g to the
d e le g a te s o f th e many n a t i o n s . His own audience in th e
U n ite d N a tio n s . T his was p a r t o f A t t l e e ' s g r e a t c o n t r i b u
t i o n to the cause o f worldwide p e a c e .
F i n a l l y , A t t l e e used h i s t o r i c a l a l l u s i o n t o d i r e c t
th e a c tio n s o f th e d e l e g a t e s . He s a i d , "We have l e a r n t
from p a s t m i s t a k e s . T h e League o f N a tio n s s u f f e r e d b e
cause th e U n ited S t a te s and th e S o v ie t Union were n o t p r e s
e n t a t i t s fo rm a tiv e s t a g e s . Many o t h e r problem s were e v i
d e n t w ith the League a ls o . A t t l e e ' s b a s i c t h e s i s was t h a t
man must l e a r n from th e p a s t and improve h i s f u t u r e . This
244
same argument o c c u rre d w ith h i s use o f h i s t o r i c a l a l l u s i o n
in every p ie c e o f r h e t o r i c s t u d i e d th u s f a r .
In sum, A t t l e e ' s s t r a t e g i e s were to warn, to r e a s
s u r e , to rem ind, to d i r e c t , to e n c o u ra g e , to i n s p i r e , to
e n liv e n , to improve h i s e t h o s , to s o c i a l i z e and to p r e s e -
l y t i z e . His m a s te r s t r a t e g i e s were w arning s t r a t e g i e s and
i n s p i r i n g s t r a t e g i e s . The w arn in g s t r a t e g y was a dream
s t r a t e g y in te n d e d to unburden A t t l e e ' s f e a r s about a t h i r d
World War and the co nsequences o f an atom ic bomb. His i n
s p i r i n g s t r a t e g y was a p r a y e r s t r a t e g y to encourage th e
r i g h t k in d o f s p i r i t in h i s a u d ie n c e . His c h a r t s t r a t e g y
was an id e o lo g y o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l i z e d d e m o c ratic s o c ia lis m
w ith an em phasis on an a t t i t u d e o f c o n s t r u c t iv e a c tio n in
h i s s u b j e c t m a t t e r . A t t l e e ' s most obvious sig n o f consub-
s t a n t i a l i t y was th e a p p e a l f o r u n i t y in th e w o rld . This
form of i d e n t i f i c a t i o n was an end in i t s e l f ; i t was an
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w ith th e human r a c e , back o f h i s mind was
th e common man in th e w o rld a t l a r g e . He t r i e d to e n l i s t
th e su p p o rt o f the m asse s, th e common p e o p le f o r su p p o rt o f
human r i g h t s such as s o c i a l j u s t i c e and s e c u r i t y , and h e l p
in g the s o c i a l l y - d i s i n h e r i t e d . Thus, A t t l e e ' s l o g i c a l
c o n c lu sio n was t h a t th e work o f th e Economic and S o c ia l
C ouncil in th e U n ite d N a tio n s was as v i t a l as th e work o f
th e S e c u rity C o u n c il.
A t t l e e ' s s t r a t e g y o f r e a f f i r m a t i o n named the d e l e
g a te s u l ti m a t e aim, as f o llo w s :
245
. . . l e t us be c l e a r as to what i s our u ltim a te aim.
I t i s n o t j u s t th e n e g a tio n of w ar, b u t the c r e a t i o n
o f a w orld o f s e c u r i t y and freedom , o f a w orld which
i s governed by j u s t i c e and th e m oral l a w . 83
Any s o c i a l i s t r h e t o r i c by A t t l e e c o u ld have s t a t e d the
i d e n t i c a l aim.
Again A t t l e e p r e d i c t e d and warned th e w orld t h a t
th e atom ic bomb was M th e l a s t o f a s e r i e s o f w a r n i n g s ,
o f t o t a l a n n i h i l a t i o n of c i v i l i z a t i o n w ith o u t p r a c t i c a l
p la n s f o r p e a c e . The s o l u t i o n f o r p eace was u rg e n t becau se
o f the bomb. The urg en cy was s t r e s s e d by A t t le e s e v e r a l
tim es th ro u g h o u t th e a d d re ss in o r d e r to give h i s id e a s and
the U n ited N a tio n s work more s t r e n g t h and v a l i d i t y . A t t
lee a ls o a ff ir m e d h i s p r o p o s a l to s e t the whole problem o f
th e c o n tr o l o f a to m ic energy b e fo re a commission o f th e
U n ited N a tio n s . T h is p o s i t i v e s u g g e s tio n had been p la n n e d
f o r m onths, b u t a t l a s t A t t l e e was ab le to v e r b a liz e the
p ro p o s a l b e fo r e a l l members o f the U n ited Nations, a t l a r g e .
A t t l e e ' s p r o g r e s s i o n o f id e a s was q u i t e c l e a r . S e v e ra l r e
s ta te m e n ts o r r e i t e r a t i o n s were u t i l i z e d . His major con
cerns seemed to be th e a b i l i t y o f th e U n ited N ations to
determ ine f o r e i g n p o l i c y and the c r e a t i o n of a w orld of
s e c u r i t y , freedom , j u s t i c e , and m oral law. His id e a s
flowed sm oothly from one s u b j e c t to the n e x t. Like p r e
vious s p e e c h e s , h i s id e a s seemed to b u i l d on one a n o th e r.
2 46
Summary
In a sse ss m e n t o f the m a ste r s t r a t e g i e s employed by
Clement A t t l e e in th e f o u r a d d re ss e s s t u d i e d , th e s t r a t e
g ie s g e n e r a l l y in d u c e d th e d e s i r e d resp o n se so to t h i s e x
t e n t , th e s t r a t e g i e s were s u c c e s s f u l , A t t l e e ’s p u rp o se s
were c l e a r l y s t a t e d in the p re v io u s c h a p te r . His p u rp o se s
were a t t a i n e d by h i s m u lt i p le s t r a t e g i e s . A t t l e e ' s d iv e r s e
s t r a t e g i e s depended on h i s p u rp o se s and th e c o n s t r a i n t s o f
the s i t u a t i o n . His s t r a t e g i e s in c lu d e d e x p la n a t i o n , u n i f i
c a t i o n , v i l l a i n i z i n g , s a n c t i f y i n g , r e a s s u r a n c e , w a rn in g ,
and i n s p i r i n g . Such d i v e r s i t y o f s t r a t e g i e s em phasized the
v e r s a t i l i t y o f A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c a l ap p ro a ch e s.
A t t l e e o f t e n u t i l i z e d h i s u n i f i c a t i o n and e x p la n a
t i o n s t r a t e g i e s in h i s p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r . These two s t r a t e
g ie s were h i s p rim a ry means of in d u c in g a t t i t u d e change.
He b e l i e v e d i n e x p l a i n i n g th e f a c t s about s o c i a l is m sim ply
and c l e a r l y . T his e x p l a n a t i o n , A t t l e e f e l t , would win new
c o n v e r ts . Second, A t t l e e was c o n t i n u a l l y p la c e d in a p o s i
t i o n of a tte m p tin g to u n if y the v a rio u s Labour p a r t y f a c
t i o n s . W ith b o th s t r a t e g i e s , A t t l e e was u s u a l ly s u c c e s s f u l
in a t t a i n i n g d e s i r a b l e re s p o n se s from h is a u d ie n c e s . A t t
l e e ' s f a i r , r e a s o n a b l e , comprom ising a b i l i t i e s were s u
prem ely t e s t e d by th e p r e j u d i c e s and p a s s io n s o f Labour
p a r t y f a c t i o n s .
A t t l e e was a ls o q u i t e s k i l l e d in the use o f th e
r e a s s u r a n c e s t r a t e g y . His fe llo w L a b o u rite s and th e n a t i o n
247
o f t e n n eed ed encouragem ent and an o p t i m i s t i c p o i n t of view .
T h e r e f o r e , A t t l e e met t h i s need w ith h i s re a s s u r a n c e s t r a t
e g i e s . In th e case o f h i s a d d re ss to the U n ite d S t a t e s
C o n g re ss, A t t l e e succeed ed in a l l a y i n g many f e a r s o f A m eri
cans co n ce rn e d w ith d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m .
A noth er im p o rta n t a s p t c t i n a sse ssm e n t o f A t t l e e ' s
m a s te r s t r a t e g i e s in v o lv e d h i s h o n e sty and d i r e c t n e s s .
W hatever s t r a t e g y A t t l e e u t i l i z e d , h is i n t e n t was n o t d e
v io u s o r h id d e n . A t t l e e ' s C h r i s t i a n backg ro und and h ig h
s ta n d a r d s were e v id e n t in h i s s e l e c t i o n and use o f m a s te r
s t r a t e g i e s . P r i m a r i l y A t t l e e ' s m a s te r s t r a t e g y o f e x p la n a
t i o n r e v e a l e d h i s own b e l i e f in e x p la in i n g th e f a c t s to a
l i s t e n e r and a llo w in g th e l i s t e n e r t h a t freedom o f ch oice
to b e l i e v e in d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m . He h e ld an i n h e r e n t
r e s p e c t f o r h i s l i s t e n e r ' s judgm ent, th e common man, th e
ran k and f i l e , and c i t i z e n s the w o rld o v e r.
P erhaps A t t l e e ' s w eakest m a s te r s t r a t e g y on f i r s t
o b s e r v a t i o n was h is i n s p i r i n g s t r a t e g y . Lack o f a dynamic
p e r s o n a l i t y harmed A t t l e e ' s a b i l i t y t o i n s p i r e l a r g e crowds.
A t t l e e d id n o t w ish to aro u se a crowd e m o tio n a lly , and he
d id n o t . On o c c a s io n some em otion would have a id e d th e
c o n v ic tio n o f h i s f o l l o w e r s , b u t he c o u ld n o t b e t r a y h i s
own b a s i c b e l i e f in re a so n o v e r em otion . Audience f e e l i n g s
were calm and s te a d y and made w ith f u l l c o n t r o l o f th e l i s
t e n e r ' s f a c u l t i e s . This k in d of i n s p i r a t i o n may be more
v a lu a b le th a n a h i g h ly e m o tio n al p le d g e of a l l e g i a n c e which
248
fa d e s as one f o r g e t s th e em o tio nal f e e l i n g s a ro u s e d by a
co m m unicato r's p re s e n c e and p r e s e n t a t i o n . A t t l e e so u g h t
re a so n and h i s s t r a t e g i e s d e m o n strated t h a t s e a r c h .
His i n s p i r i n g a b i l i t i e s were l i m i t e d to i n s p i r i n g
o t h e r s to h a rd work and d e d ic a tio n to th e L abour p a r t y .
His sp e a k in g and h i s l i f e d e m o n strated a p e r s o n a l example
as a g u i d e l i n e . to h i s l i s t e n e r s . A t t l e e ' s com plete devo
t i o n to d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m and la c k o f an e x te n s i v e p r i
v a te l i f e , i n s p i r e d h i s fo llo w e r s . A t t l e e e a r n e d l i s
t e n e r s ' r e s p e c t .
249
F o o tn o te s
^Burke, A R h e to ric o f M o tiv e s , p . 55.
n
Kenneth Burke, ’’R h e to r ic - - O ld and New," Jo u rn a l
of G en eral E d u c a tio n , V ( A p r i l , 1951), 20.
^B urke, A P hiloso phy o f L i t e r a r y Form, p. 3.
4 l b i d . , p. 256.
^ V ir g in ia H o llan d , " R h e to r ic a l C r i t i c i s m , A Burke
ia n M ethod," Q u a r te r ly J o u r n a l of S p e e c h , 1953, p . 445.
^Burke, A P h ilo soph y o f L i t e r a r y Form, p . 93.
^ V ir g in ia H ollan d, " B u rk e 's D ram atis t i c Approach to
Speech C r i t i c i s m , " Q u a r te r ly J o u r n a l of S p eech , 1955,
p . 354.
^B urke, A P hiloso phy o f L i t e r a r y Form, p . 262.
9 I b i d . , p . 243.
1 0I b id .
H-I b i d . , p. 16 .
12Kenneth Burke, C o u n te rs ta te m e n t (2nd e d . ; Los
A l t o s , C a l i f . : Hermes P u b l i c a t i o n s , 1953) , pp. 36-37.
l^K enneth B urke, Permanence and Change: An Anatomy
o f Purpose (2nd e d . ; Los A l t o s , C a l i f . : Hermes P u b lic a -
t i o n s , 1954), p . 115 .
1 4 y i r g in i a H olland, C o u n te rp o in t (New York: The
P h i l o s o p h i c a l L ib r a r y , In c .^ 1959), p. 115, n .
■^Kenneth Burke, A t t i t u d e s Toward H is to r y (New York:
The New R e p u b lic , 1937), I I , 225.
l ^ B u r k e , A P hiloso phy o f L i t e r a r y Form, p . 243.
i^ B u rk e, C o u n te r s ta te m e n t, p . 161.
l^B urke, A P hiloso phy o f L i t e r a r y Form, p . 243.
l ^ A t t l e e , The Labour P a r ty i n P e r s p e c t i v e , p. 113.
2 0I b i d . , pp. 130-131.
250
2 1l b i d . , pp. 26-27.
22i b i d . , p p . 15, 22, 40.
23I b i d . , pp . 12, 15, 17, 199.
2 4 i b i d . , pp. 10, 15, 21.
2 5I b i d , ,
PP-
12, 25, 30, 31.
26l b i d . , pp. 7, 15.
27I b i d . , pp . 7, 31.
2 8 i b i d . , pp. 3, 8, 11.
29I b i d . ,
P-
13.
30I b i d . , pp. 27-29.
3 1 l b i d . ,
P-
7.
3 2 i b i d . ,
P.
13.
33Clement A t t l e e , "A ddress to U.S. C o n g re ss," P u r
pose and P o lic y , ed . J e n k i n s , p . 10.
3 4 A ttlee , As I t Happened, p p . 198-201.
3 5 A ttle e , "A ddress in 1945 E l e c t i o n s , " J e n k i n s , ed.
Purpose and P o l i c y , p . 3.
3 6 i b i d . , pp. 3, 4.
37I b i d . , pp . 3, 10, 11.
3 8 l b i d . ,
P-
4.
3 9 l b i d . ,
P-
5.
4 0 i b i d . , pp . 6 , 56.
4 1 l b i d . ,
P-
7.
4 2 l b i d . , pp. 7-8.
4 3 l b i d . , pp. 8-9.
44I b i d . ?
P> -
1 0 .
251
4 8I b i d . , p p . 10 -1 1.
4 6I b i d . , p . 11.
4 7I b i d .
4 8 I b i d . , p . 12
^ A t t l e e , "A ddress to U.S.
Purpose and P o l i c y , p . 4.
C o n g re ss," J e n k in s , ed.
S ^ I b i d . , p . 4.
51-Ibid. , p . 6.
52I b i d . , p . 7.
'53I b i d . , p . 9 .
54I b id .
5 5I b i d . , p . 1 0 .
5 6I b i d . , p . 11.
57Clem ent A t t l e e , "A ddress
l e e , " The Times (London), November
to Congress by Mr. A t t -
14, 1945, p . 4.
5 8 ib id .
5 9 ib id .
6 0I b id .
61»i^arm C ongress R e ce p tio n
November 14, 1945, p . 4.
," The Times (London),
62"A ddress to Congress . . . ," op. c i t .
6 3 lb id .
6 4I b id .
6 5I b id .
6 6I b i d .
6 7I b i d .
6 8 i b i d .
252
6 9I b i d .
79I b i d .
71l b i d .
72I b i d .
7 3 I b i d .
^ " A t t l e e ' s A d d r e s s ," The New York T im es, J a n u
ary 11, 1946, p . 3.
75I b j d .
7 6I b i d .
77I b i d .
7 8I b i d .
79I b i d .
SOl b i d .
81rbid.
82rbid.
83I b i d .
84I b i d .
CHAPTER VI
SUM M ARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The Study in Review
B r i t i s h s o c i a l and economic u n r e s t betw een 1880 to
1920 o c c a sio n e d th e advent o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m . I t
o f f i c i a l l y e n t e r e d E n g lis h p o l i t i c s i n 1893 as th e d o c tr in e
o f th e In d ep en d en t Labour P a r ty . F o s t e r e d by th e F abian
movement, by th e end o f World War I , d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m
was ado p ted by th e Labour P a rty as i t s fu n d am en tal d o c t r i n e .
The a c c ep tan c e o f d e m o c ratic s o c i a l is m i s one o f th e most
rem ark ab le e v e n ts in t w e n t i e t h c e n tu ry E n g lis h h i s t o r y .
Of th e men who made d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m s u c c e s s f u l ,
Clement R. A t t l e e was the most i n f l u e n t i a l . A t t l e e was a
r a r e a d v o c a te ; he had the a b i l i t y to combine re a s o n and
r e v o l u t i o n in h i s r h e t o r i c . A t t l e e was a b le to ta k e a r a d
i c a l and f e a r e d s u b j e c t l i k e s o c i a l is m and make i t s o c i a l l y
a c c e p t a b l e . He was the le a d in g spokesman f o r d e m o c ra tic
s o c i a l is m from 1935 to 1955 w h ile he l e d the Labour p a r t y .
He was e l e c t e d prim e m i n i s t e r over th e g r e a t s p e a k e r , Win
s to n C h u r c h il l . U n lik e o th e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p e a k e r s , A t t
l e e ' s approach was calm, l o g i c a l , and c o n s t i t u t i o n a l . His
a b i l i t y to compromise, m e d ia te , and combine v a rio u s view
p o i n t s h e lp e d d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m to s u r v iv e a t u r b u l e n t
253
254
storm o f p o l i t i c a l and s o c i a l e v e n ts .
Based on th e a ssu m p tio n s t h a t d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m
was a s i g n i f i c a n t h i s t o r i c a l movement in England and t h a t
Clement A t t l e e ' s e f f e c t i v e advocacy o f i t s t e n e t s was an
un u su al p e r s u a s iv e e f f o r t , t h i s s tu d y so u g h t to examine
A t t l e e ’s c h i e f speech es and w r i t i n g s on th e s u b j e c t . The
stu d y fo llo w ed a p a t t e r n o f a n a l y s i s s u g g e s te d by th e w r i t
ing s o f Kenneth Burke. I t aimed to answer th e s e q u e s tio n s :
1. Who was A t t l e e , th e advo cate o f d em o c ratic
s o c ia lis m ?
2. What c h i e f r h e t o r i c a l problem s d id A t t l e e face
in a d v o c a tin g d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m ?
3. What was th e p u r p o s e , c h i e f c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ,
and e f f e c t o f A t t l e e ' s advocacy o f d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m ?
4. What were th e means by w hich A t t l e e a tte m p te d
to p e rsu a d e o th e r s to a c c e p t d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m ?
5. What c o n c lu s io n s c o n c e rn in g A t t l e e ' s advocacy
o f d e m o c ratic s o c i a l i s m may be drawn from th e i n t e r r e l a
t io n s h ip o f the above f a c t o r s ?
The ad v an tages o f u s in g B urk eian c r i t i c i s m in the
p r e s e n t stu d y were t h r e e f o l d . F i r s t , th e method o f c r i t i
cism was f l e x i b l e enough to a llo w p e r s o n a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n .
For exam ple, scene was c o n s tr u e d to mean r h e t o r i c a l p r o b
lems th e sp e a k e r c o n fr o n te d when he d e l i v e r e d h i s v a rio u s
m essages. Second, th e fo rm at c o v ered e v ery r e l e v a n t a re a
in r e l a t i o n s h i p to A t t l e e ' s advocacy. M a t e r i a l and method
255
were b ased on th e p r o p o s i t i o n t h a t r h e t o r i c i s a resp o n se
to s o c i a l n e e d s. T his stu d y may inform Americans about
Clement A t t l e e ' s r e a s o n a b le r h e t o r i c o f r e v o l u t io n o f demo
c r a t i c s o c i a l i s m in G re a t B r i t a i n o r as a p o s s i b i l i t y in
A m erica. T h ir d , B u rk e 's p e n ta d was u s e f u l in s tu d y in g fo u r
s p e c i f i c works w ith a s i m i l a r theme.
The m ajor d is a d v a n ta g e o f B urkeian m ethodology was
d is c o v e r in g m e a n in g fu l r a t i o s . Once th e fiv e f a c e t s o f the
p e n ta d has been c a r e f u l l y a p p li e d to A t t l e e ' s sp e a k in g and
w r i t i n g , i t was d i f f i c u l t to determ ine th e su b s ta n c e o f h is
e f f o r t s . Only an i n t u i t i v e , p a r t l y a n a l y t i c a l , grasp o f
f a c t s was made t o r e a c h th e dynamic d e s c r i p t i o n o f A t t l e e ' s
advocacy: a r e a s o n a b le r h e t o r i c o f r e v o l u t io n . T his id e a
i s more th an a mere t i t l e ; t h i s i d e a su g g e sts th e e sse n ce
o f A t t l e e ' s advocacy.
Having c o n s u l t e d a l l o f A t t l e e ' s w r i t in g s on demo
c r a t i c s o c i a l i s m , f o u r s p e c i f i c works were s e l e c t e d as being
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e . These works were chosen because th ey were
A t t l e e ' s most remembered and famous w orks, and th ey were
h i s most p e r s u a s iv e e f f o r t s on b e h a l f o f d e m o c ratic s o c i a l
ism. Most o f A t t l e e ' s a d d re s s e s from 1935 to 1955 r e i t e r
a te d th e same i d e a s , w hich th e s e fo u r s e l e c t i o n s em phasized.
The f o u r works i n c lu d e d : The Labour P a r ty in P e r s p e c tiv e
i n 1937, "L et Us Face th e F u tu r e " in 1945, " B r i t i s h Labour
P a rty I d e a l s " i n 1945, and "Our Common Endeavor" in 1946.
256
The 1937 book was A t t l e e ’ s most com plete and p e r s u a s iv e
s ta te m e n t on p a r t y p r i n c i p l e s and m ethods. A t t l e e ' s 1945
e l e c t i o n b r o a d c a s t was a superb c o m p o sitio n which h e lp e d
win th e e l e c t i o n o v e r Winston C h u r c h il l . " B r i t i s h Labour
P a r ty I d e a l s ” was d e l i v e r e d to th e U n ite d S t a t e s Congress
and d e m o n s tra te d A t t l e e ’s s k i l l s in a d a p tin g h i s id e a s to
an American a u d ie n c e . F i n a l l y , "Our Common Endeavor" was
an e x c e l l e n t a d d re ss to com plete the stu d y o f A t t l e e ' s ad-r.
vocacy b e cau se t h i s speech i n t e r n a t i o n a l i z e d h i s s o c i a l i s t
p h i l o s o p h y ,
A t t l e e ' s p rim a ry r o l e i n h i s t o r y was l e a d e r o f the
Labour p a r t y f o r tw enty y e a r s , from 1935 t o 1955, and Prime
M i n i s t e r o f G re a t B r i t a i n from 1945 to 1951, f o r th e longest
c o n tin u o u s p e r i o d s in c e H e rb e rt Henry A s q u ith . As th e
fo rem o st spokesman f o r d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m , A t t l e e ' s r o l e
was g e n e r a l l y i n s t r u c t i v e and u n i f y in g . A t t l e e used a mass
o f a cc u m u lated f a c t s . For exam ple, he headed th e New F abian
R e se a rc h Bureau i n 1932, and f i l l e d more columns o f H ansard
in 1932 th a n any o t h e r member o f th e House. A t t l e e ' s know l
edge was a ls o f i r s t - h a n d in t h a t he l i v e d among the p o or a t
Limehouse and p e r s o n a l l y g a in e d th e r e s p e c t o f th e d e p riv e d
s o c i a l i s t s i n h i s a r e a . He was o f t e n an i n s t r u c t o r in h i s
advocacy. He s p e n t many y e a rs f i r s t p r e p a r i n g the a u d ien ce
f o r h i s message o f s o c i a l is m . T his p r e p a r a t i o n was done
p r i m a r i l y th ro u g h in fo rm in g and r e - e d u c a t in g h i s l i s t e n e r s
o f th e n e c e s s i t y and ad vantages o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m .
257
In a s e n s e , A t t l e e s p e n t y e a rs b u i l d i n g an aud ien ce to r e
c e iv e h i s r e a l message: to a d o p t d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s m as a
way o f l i f e .
Second, A t t l e e l e d th e Labour p a r t y th ro u g h nummer-
ous c r i s e s . For exam ple, he k e p t th e Labour p a r t y t o g e t h e r
a f t e r 1935 w ith b o th p a c i f i s t e le m e n ts and a g g re s s iv e e l e
ments vying f o r c o n tr o l o f th e p a r t y . A t t l e e a ls o p o s
s e s s e d g r e a t s k i l l in g e t t i n g d iv e r s e l e a d e r s in the Labour
p a r t y to work t o g e t h e r . A t t l e e co n v in c ed H e rb e rt M orrison
to ta k e th e Lord P re sid e n c y o f th e C o u n c il i n s t e a d o f the
F o re ig n O ffic e in 1945. A t t l e e a ls o u se d E ll e n W ilkinson
as M i n i s t e r o f E d u catio n in 1945; she had s u p p o rte d a f a c
t i o n to e lim in a te A t t l e e as h ead o f th e p a r t y . E r n e s t
B ev in , famed l e a d e r o f th e t r a d e u n io n s , s t r o n g l y s u p p o rte d
A t t l e e , p a r t i c u l a r l y a f t e r th e y s e r v e d t o g e t h e r in th e Co
a l i t i o n governm ent. Bevin c o n s id e r e d A t t l e e a n o th e r
Campbell-Bannerm an, a man who p o s s e s s e d g r e a t s k i l l s a t
comprom ising and u n if y in g f a c t i o n s .
A t t l e e a ch iev e d l e a d e r s h i p o f d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m
p a r t l y becau se he fo llo w e d th e w i l l o f th e m a j o r it y . He
r e s p e c t e d th e rank and f i l e o f th e L abour p a r t y . He p e r
s o n a l l y d id n o t w ish to rearm in 1937 n o r w ithdraw from th e
c o a l i t i o n in 1945 so a b r u p tly ; how ever, th e w i l l o f th e
ran k and f i l e and h is e t h i c s demanded he fo llo w t h e i r d i c
t a t e s . He was a s e l f - e f f a c i n g s e r v a n t f o r s o c i e t y , and as
2 5 8
such p ro lo n g e d h i s term as l e a d e r o f th e Labour p a r t y .
A t t le e encouraged h i s c o lle a g u e s on a c o n s t i t u
t i o n a l , n o n v i o le n t , re a s o n a b le p a th o f s o c i a l reform which
u l t i m a t e l y may ach iev e a s o c i a l i s t commonwealth. His m eth
ods were m oderate; h i s tem per was c o o l. The Labour p a r t y ,
c o n s e q u e n tly , was n o t l a b e l e d as i r r a t i o n a l o r im p u lsiv e in
i t s p r o p o s a ls o r l e a d e r s h i p . D em ocratic s o c i a l is m became
known as a r e v o lu tio n to r e b u i l d , n o t d e s t r o y . A t t l e e o f
f e r e d p o s i t i v e program s in a d d i t i o n to c r i t i c i s m o f Con
s e r v a t i v e p o l i c i e s .
A ttle e c o n fro n te d s e v e r a l o b s t a c l e s in h is p e r s u a
s iv e work t i t l e d The Labour P a r t y in P e r s p e c t i v e . He had
to dem onstrate h i s a u t h o r i t y d e s p i t e h is tenuous le a d e r s h ip
of a m in o rity p a r t y . He b r i e f l y rev iew ed h i s own b a c k
ground and e s t a b l i s h e d h i s i n t e l l i g e n c e , i n t e g r i t y , and
g o o d w ill. He made s e v e r a l a p p e a ls to each Labour f a c t i o n .
In o rd e r to make h i s book a p p e a lin g to th e d i v i s i o n s con
c e rn in g rearm am ent, he s t a t e d a p a c i f i s t g o a l, b u t a r e a l
i s t i c armed i n t e r n a l p o l i c y f o r th e tim e b e in g . His m ajor
o b j e c t i o n to rearm in g was t h a t th e C o n se rv a tiv e government
had n o t c l e a r l y d e fin e d t h e i r f o r e i g n p o l i c y . C onsequently,
A t t l e e s h i f t e d th e burden o f p r o o f to th e C o n s e rv a tiv e s .
In s t a t i n g the a c c e p ta n c e o f rearm am ent to some e x t e n t ,
A t t l e e compromised h i s own p e r s o n a l b e l i e f s i n o rd e r to
e x p re s s th e w i l l o f the m a j o r i t y .
259
A t t l e e c l a r i f i e d th e Labour p o l ic y in 1937 in h is
book. S ta te m e n ts on g o a ls , m ethods, f o r e ig n p o l i c y , e c o
nom ics, and L a b o u r's f u t u r e were in c lu d e d . As i s so o f te n
the case in p o l i t i c a l c i r c l e s , the p ra g m a tic p o l i c y a t the
moment was more im p o rta n t to B rito n s th an a b s t r a c t p h i l o s
o p h ie s . The 1937 aud ien ce was q u i t e o p t i m i s t i c b e cau se o f
an economic upsu rg e w hich fo llo w e d a long d e p re s s io n . A t t
lee d id n o t w ant to dampen t h e i r s p i r i t s ; he was g e n e r a l l y
o p t i m i s t i c h im s e lf . But A t t l e e w anted h i s audience to
r e a l i z e th e d an g er o f n o t c a r e f u l l y p la n n in g t h e i r f u t u r e .
His s p e c i f i c p r o p o s a ls in c lu d e d n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n f o r th e
b e tte r m e n t o f ev ery o n e.
In 1937, A t t l e e ' s a u d ien ce was B r i t a i n in g e n e r a l ,
L a b o u rite s in p a r t i c u l a r . He w anted th e agreem ent o f a l l
Labour f a c t i o n s . He spoke to b o th p r e s e n t and f u t u r e a u d i
e n c e s. He s u c c e s s f u l l y i d e n t i f i e d w ith young and o ld ,
m iddle c la s s and p o o r , men and women.
A t t l e e ' s p o l i t i c a l p h ilo s o p h y was r e a d i l y a p p a re n t
and com plete. He p r e s e n t e d th e Labour p a r t y as an e v o lv in g
o r g a n i z a t i o n d e sig n e d to meet th e needs o f th e common man.
A t t l e e ' s message was in th e form o f a moving te x tb o o k ,
s t i m u l a t i n g and i n f o r m a tiv e . His message p o in te d th e way
to d e m o c ratic s o c i a l i s m as th e only v i a b l e way o f l i f e f o r
B r i to n s , and p e rh a p s th e w o rld .
In A t t l e e ' s 1945 e l e c t i o n a d d re s s , h i s main ob-
s t a c l e was c o n v in c in g th e B r i t i s h e l e c t o r a t e . E ngland was
260
a w a r -s c o u rg e d b u t v i c t o r i o u s n a t i o n . Englishm en were co n
c e rn e d p r i m a r i l y w ith d o m estic i s s u e s and r e t u r n i n g B r i t a i n
to a norm al s t a t e o f a f f a i r s . A t t l e e accommodated t h i s
n e e d , b u t c e n t e r e d on d om estic i s s u e s , and n o t p e t t y p a r t y
p o le m ic s . H is approach was s i n c e r e , f a c t u a l , p o s i t i v e , and
p r i m a r i l y s e e k in g an o p p o r tu n ity to prove th e d e s i r a b i l i t y
o f L ab o u r’ s p o l i c i e s . R e a c tio n s to h i s a d d re ss were h ig h ly
f a v o r a b le and th e e l e c t i o n r e s u l t s p ro v ed h i s s u c c e s s .
A t t l e e ' s a u d ie n ce o f f o r l o r n wives and m o th e rs, se rv ic e m e n ,
th e t i r e d and th e p o o r, th e e d u c a te d and th e u n e d u c a te d
found a h o p e fu l message in h i s a d d re s s .
W inston C h u r c h ill was a fo rm id a b le o p p o n e n t, b u t he
d e l i v e r e d a r a t h e r p o o r a d d re ss in th e e l e c t i o n b r o a d c a s t .
M oreover, A t t l e e s e i z e d upon h i s i n v e c ti v e s to d e m o n s tra te
t h a t C h u r c h i l l , th e s u c c e s s f u l war l e a d e r , was n o t a good
l e a d e r in a p e r i o d o f r e c o n s t r u c t i o n fo llo w in g th e w ar.
A t t l e e u t i l i z e d th e m edia in th e 1945 campaign p r i m a r i l y
from a f a c t u a l p o i n t o f view. His s ta te m e n ts t o th e p r e s s
were t a c i t u r n and f a c t u a l , n e v e r h ig h ly e m o tio n a l o r b e l
l i g e r e n t l i k e s e v e r a l o f C h u r c h i l l 's rem ark s.
In A t t l e e ' s 1945 a d d re ss to th e U n ite d S t a t e s Con
g r e s s , he c o n f r o n te d th e problem o f c o n tr o l o f ato m ic i n
fo rm a tio n and th e bomb. He argued s t r o n g l y t h a t B r i t i s h
e f f o r t s w ere e x te n s iv e in the developm ent o f th e bomb and
t h a t B r ito n s d e s e rv e d a cc ess to the v i t a l in f o r m a tio n o f
i t s f i n a l c o n s t r u c t i o n . Americans were r e l u c t a n t to r e v e a l
261
any d e fe n se s e c r e t s a t the tim e, how ever, Truman a g re e d to
such s h a r i n g o f f a c t s . From A t t l e e ' s p o i n t o f v iew , atom ic
s e c r e t s sh o u ld be given to a Commission o f the U n ite d Na
t i o n s . T h at was h i s u l ti m a t e s u g g e s t i o n . No c o u n try i s
s a f e from an atom ic bomb, A t t l e e a rg u e d . But such an a p
p e a l f e l l on d e a f e a r s .
A t t l e e a ls o t r i e d to b reak th e s ta le m a t e on a
U n ite d S t a t e s lo a n to B r i t a i n . A t t l e e g e n t l y rem inded
Am ericans t h a t B r i t a i n had s u f f e r e d more d e s t r u c t i o n o f
p r o p e r t y and l i f e than A m erica, p a r t i c u l a r l y becau se o f
l o c a t i o n . O bviously A t t l e e ' s aud ien ce i n c lu d e d more th an
th e U n ite d S t a t e s C ongress. He spoke to Am ericans in g e n
e r a l . A m ericans, to o , f e l t econom ic n eed s fo llo w in g th e
w a r, b u t th e y ag re ed to a lo an which was l a t e r to come in
th e form o f th e M a rsh a ll P la n .
The groundwork fo r s h a rin g ato m ic in f o r m a tio n and
f in a n c e s w ith B r i t a i n was formed i n A t t l e e ' s a tte m p t to
d e m o n stra te th e n a tu r e and f u n c tio n o f th e Labour p a r t y .
Many Am ericans were h ig h ly s u s p ic io u s o f a n y th in g s o c i a l i s
t i c , and Am ericans knew o f the Labour p a r t y in B r i t a i n .
Am ericans had to be a s s u r e d o f what to e x p e c t from A t t l e e
and h i s f o l lo w e r s . In t h i s r e g a r d , A t t l e e was h ig h ly s u c
c e s s f u l . Comments fo llo w in g h is sp e e c h were v e ry fav o ra b le.
A t t l e e ' s approach was p r i m a r i l y to em phasize th e d e m o c ra tic
g o a ls o f s o c i a l i s m in G re at B r i t a i n . A t t l e e c i t e d common
262
g o a ls , A l l i e d l e a d e r s , p a s t t r a d i t i o n s , and complimented
American l e a d e r s .
A t t l e e ’ s a d d re ss to the U n ite d N a tio n s G en eral As
sembly on Ja n u a ry 1 0 th , 1946 in v o lv e d s e v e r a l r h e t o r i c a l
prob lem s. F i r s t , A t t l e e fa c e d th e d i s u n i t y o f th e members.
A t t l e e t i t l e d h is sp e e c h , *'A Common E n d e a v o r.1 ' The e n
deavor was f o r p e a c e ; A t t l e e c l e a r l y s e t th e g o a ls f o r
e v ery member d e le g a te . A t t l e e s a i d n a t i o n s must s t r i v e as
much in p e ac etim e as in w artim e. The g o a ls o f peace and
economic s e c u r i t y were more v i t a l in term s o f u l t i m a t e s u r
v i v a l . In e f f e c t , A t t l e e s u g g e s te d a k in d o f s o c i a l i s t
commonwealth, a go al he had soug ht s in c e h i s e a r l y days as
a F ab ian in 1909.
A nother is s u e was th e atom ic bomb c o n tro v e rs y .
A t t l e e su g g e ste d t o the f a c t i o n s t h a t th e c o n tr o l be given
to a p a r t i c u l a r atom ic commission in o r d e r to m a in ta in i n
t e r n a t i o n a l peace and s e c u r i t y . T his was p ro b a b ly th e most
f e a s i b l e o f th e p la n s o f f e r e d . E v e n t u a l l y , t h i s p r o p o s a l
was a c t u a l i z e d .
A nother im p o rta n t o b s t a c l e in A t t l e e ' s a d d re ss to
the U n ited N ation s was th e a u d ie n c e ’ s la c k o f hope f o r the
f u t u r e . L is te n e r s were t i r e d and weary a f t e r th e w ar.
Economics was a t a low ebb i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y . Many d i f f e r e n t
sp e a k in g n a t i o n s , d i f f e r e n t c u l t u r e s , from a l l o ver th e
w o rld were thrown t o g e t h e r in an i n i t i a l a tte m p t to accom
263
p l i s h som ething c o n s t r u c t i v e . A t t le e p e r s u a s iv e l y a p p e a le d
to t h e i r hopes and dreams f o r a b e t t e r w orld. He p a i n t e d
a p i c t u r e o f a p e a c e f u l l i f e w ith o u t f e a r o f w ar. A t t l e e
encou rag ed members to b u i l d such a w o rld where want and
hunger and war d i d n o t e x i s t . In e f f e c t A t t l e e ' s a u d ien ce
in c lu d e d more th a n member d e l e g a t e s - -he was t a l k i n g to the
e n t i r e w o rld .
In g e n e r a l , A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c may be d e s c r ib e d as
l o g i c a l , r e a s o n a b l e , and b u s i n e s s l i k e . His a p p e a ls were
m o rally i n c l i n e d , and s e l f - e f f a c i n g . His r h e t o r i c was
h o n e s t and d i r e c t . In f o r e n s i c r e t o r t , A t t le e on o c c a sio n
was u n b e a ta b le . His a t t i t u d e was o p t i m i s t i c . His p e r s o n
a l i t y and r h e t o r i c were p e r s e v e r in g . He was a ste a d y
a c h ie v e r f o r d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m . F or exam ple, A t t l e e
began sp e a k in g i n 1907, b u t h i s p i n n a c l e , r h e t o r i c a l l y
s p e a k in g , was from 1932 to 1951. By 1937 he was a se aso n ed
sp e a k e r.
A t t l e e r e a l i z e d h i s own sp e a k in g a b i l i t i e s and
shrew dly u t i l i z e d them t o th e f u l l e s t e x t e n t . His few
words and g e s t u r e s , h i s u n e x c i ti n g ap pearance and v o ice
caused o pponents to u n d e re s tim a te h i s e f f e c t i v e n e s s . These
same f e a t u r e s e n a b le d him to m inim ize th e t h r e a t i n h e r e n t
in the r a d i c a l g o a ls he so u g h t. They made him e a s i e r to
a c c e p t and i d e n t i f y w ith .
The p rim a ry g o a ls o f h is r h e t o r i c were to be c l e a r
and s im p le . He w an ted to e s t a b l i s h a s o c i a l i s t common_____
264
w e a lth . He w anted j u s t i c e and e q u a l i t y . A t t l e e ' s e f f e c t s
were n o t r o u s in g o r e m o tio n a l. His e f f e c t on a u d ie n c e s was
u s u a l l y one o f re a so n e d app ro val and a d m ira tio n f o r th e
s p e a k e r .
A t t l e e ' s p h ilo s o p h y o f p e rs u a s io n began w ith th e
r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t an audience must be ready f o r id e a s b e fo re
r a d i c a l id e a s co u ld be made ready f o r an a u d ie n c e . He f e l t ,
in a l l f a i r n e s s to th e l i s t e n e r s , he sh o u ld in fo rm them
f a c t u a l l y o r e d u c a te them. He s a i d in The Labour P a r ty in
P e r s p e c t i v e , to in fo rm l i s t e n e r s c l e a r l y and sim ply o f th e
f a c t s about d e m o c ra tic s o c ia lis m would c o n v e rt them.'*' T hat
was h i s p h ilo s o p h y , and he p r a c t i c e d i t . In a s e n s e , A t t
l e e a d a p te d h i s au dience t o th e message th ro u g h h is f a c t s
and h i s u n c o n t r o v e r s i a l a p p earan ce, b e fo re he a d j u s t e d th e
m essage to h i s a u d ie n c e .
Of c o u r s e , h i s t o r i c a l e v en ts h e lp e d b u i l d A t t l e e ' s
a u d ie n ce to some e x t e n t a ls o . F or exam ple, s o c i a l i s t i c
m easure im plem ented d u rin g wartim e p ro v ed th e m se lv e s w o rk
a b le and a d v a n ta g e o u s. T h e r e f o r e , th e r e a l i t y and su c c e s s
o f n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n g a in e d many l i s t e n e r s f o r A t t l e e ' s mes
sage o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m .
A t t l e e ' s u s u a l forms o f ap peal in c lu d e d e x p la n a t i o n
and u n i f i c a t i o n . Each a d d re ss u t i l i z e d numerous methods o f
in fo rm in g th e a u d ie n c e . A t t le e su g g e ste d to h i s American
a u d ie n c e in 1945 t h a t th ey d id n o t know th e d i f f e r e n c e b e
tween a C o n s e rv a tiv e and a L a b o u rite j u s t as B r ito n s o f te n
265
d id n o t know th e d if f e r e n c e betw een a Democrat and a Re
p u b l ic a n . Then A t t l e e p ro c e e d e d to "educate*’ h i s l i s t e n e r s .
A f t e r in fo rm in g l i s t e n e r s , A t t l e e would c o n tin u e to make
p a r a l l e l s in p o l t i c a l and s o c i a l system s in o r d e r to e s t a b
l i s h a common bond and u n ify h i s groups and h im s e lf .
A t t l e e u t i l i z e d o t h e r minor s t r a t e g i e s such as
v i l l a i n i z i n g th e C o n s e rv a tiv e s and s a n c t i f y i n g th e S o c i a l
i s t s in h i s e l e c t i o n b r o a d c a s t . He used th e s t r a t e g y of
re a s s u r a n c e in h i s ad d re ss to the U n ite d S t a t e s . He used
w arning and i n s p i r i n g s t r a t e g i e s in h i s U n ite d N atio ns
a d d r e s s .
A t t l e e a ls o u t i l i z e d c a u s a l , d e d u c tiv e o r a n a l o g i
c a l r e a s o n in g to prove h i s p o i n t s . His a n a lo g ie s were p a r
t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t i n g . For exam ple, in h i s e l e c t i o n ad
d re s s o v e r te n a n a lo g ie s were used. He compared B r i t a i n
to a s o l d i e r r e t u r n i n g from th e war who had to r e b u i l d h i s
home and b u s in e s s due to the bombing. A t t l e e re a so n e d t h a t
th e B r i t i s h n a t i o n lik e w is e h ad to r e b u i l d i t s homes and
economy th ro u g h n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n .
His u n o s t e n t a t i o u s mode o f d r e s s and sp eech a p p ro
p r i a t e l y c o in c id e d w ith h i s d i r e c t f a c t u a l ap p ro ach . In
h i s 1937 book, he i d e n t i f i e d w ith the p o o r and s o c i a l
w o rk e rs. In h i s e l e c t i o n a d d r e s s , he i d e n t i f i e d w ith the
t i r e l e s s w orker d u rin g th e w ar. In h is a d d re s s to A m eri
c a n s, A t t l e e used form er war h e ro e s and d e m o c ra tic "term s"
l i k e freedom and e q u a l i t y as p o i n t s o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . In
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A t t l e e ' s ad d re ss to th e U n ite d N a tio n s G eneral Assembly, he
a c t u a l l y used the term "common" e n d ea v o r. He p r i m a r i l y
u sed hum anity in g e n e r a l as h i s means o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n .
A t t l e e la c k e d a dynamic v o ice and g e s t u r e s . He
sc o rn e d th e s o p h i s t i c em phasis on re s o n a n c e , m e lo d ic , ca-
denced a d d re s s . He p r e s e n t e d a sim ple e x p o s i ti o n o f the
f a c t s as he saw them. His t e r s e m anner, p lu s th e use o f
u n d e rs ta te m e n t, to n e d down e m o tio n a l s i t u a t i o n s and con
t r o l l e d e x p lo s iv e i s s u e s . When th e Labour Annual C o n fe r
ence in 1937 h e a rd th e c o m p la in ts o f th e S pan ish and were
w i l l i n g to uphold t h e i r S p a n ish Labour f r i e n d s w ith g r e a t
e m o tio n al commitment, A t t l e e calmed th e audience and r e a
soned them o ut o f such a d i s a s t r o u s p o s i t i o n .
From a B urkeian p o i n t o f view , A t t l e e s o c i a l i z e d a
fu n d a m e n ta lly r e l i g i o u s p a t t e r n o f th o u g h t. The p r o f i t
m otive was th e d e v i l in man. C o n se rv a tism was th e s c a p e
g o a t because i t en co u rag ed th e p r o f i t m o tiv e. C on sequently ,
C o n se rv atism and C a p ita lis m sh o u ld be s a c r i f i c e d and demo
c r a t i c s o c i a l is m sh o u ld be i n s t i t u t e d .
I m p li c a t io n s o f th e Study
Study o f A t t l e e ' s advocacy r e v e a le d th e trem endous
in f lu e n c e h i s p e r s o n a l i t y e x e r t e d on h i s r h e t o r i c . His
y o u th f u l C o n se rv atism , h i s C h r i s t i a n background, h i s m iddle-
c l a s s u p b rin g in g , h i s c o n s id e r a b le e d u c a tio n and t o l e r a n c e ,
h is love o f h i s t o r y , h i s s o c i a l work in E a s t London, h i s
267
complete d e d ic a t i o n to th e r e v o l u t i o n o f s o c ia lis m , h is war
s e r v i c e , and f i n a l l y , h i s b e l i e f in th e Labour rank and
f i l e marked h i s each a d d r e s s . A t t l e e ’s C h r i s t ia n b e l i e f s
were m a n if e s t in th e s t r o n g sen se o f m o r a lity and s o c i a l
j u s t i c e in h is s p e a k in g and w r i t i n g .
A t t l e e ' s advocacy showed how to e lim in a te o r reduce
g r e a t f e a r s o f s o c i a l i s m o v e r a p e r i o d o f tim e. In 1909
A t t l e e t a l k e d t o b e l l i g e r e n t crowds on s t r e e t c o r n e r s ; in
1932 A t t l e e d e l i v e r e d more sp e ec h es in the House th a n any
o th e r member. A t t l e e made th e term , n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n , a
p l a u s i b l e , th en p o s s i b l e , and f i n a l l y a p e rs u a s iv e r e a l i t y .
A t t l e e ' s advocacy was s i g n i f i c a n t to th e n a tu r e and
f u n c tio n s o f p o l i t i c a l advocacy , p a r t i c u l a r l y r e v o l u t io n a r y
w r i t i n g s . A t t l e e ' s r e a s o n a b le r h e t o r i c caused a r e v o l u t i o n
by c o n se n t. A t t l e e ' s r h e t o r i c d e m o n stra te d a unique method
t h a t e n d o rse d n o n v io le n c e , u n e m o tio n alism , optim ism , p e r
s i s t e n c e . Yet h i s advocacy was e f f e c t i v e . His advocacy .
was B i b le - c e n t e r e d , l i k e many s o c i a l i s t i c p h i lo s o p h ie s .
D em ocratic s o c i a l i s m b u i l d s on the e s ta b lis h m e n t, b u t i t s
goal i s an o v e rh a u lin g o f c a p i t a l i s m because c a p i ta l is m had
i n h e r e n t e v i l s . M oreover, th e democracy of the e s t a b l i s h
ment i s in v o r p o r a t e d and p r o v id e d in d em o cratic s o c i a l is m .
A t t l e e ' s advocacy was a b le to combine reason and
r e v o l u t i o n , a r a r e commodity in d e e d . He dem on strated F a
b ia n d e l i b e r a t i o n w hich was v o id o f v i o le n c e . His r h e t o r i c
was n o t v ig o r o u s , b u t d e te rm in e d . He was n o t a c r u s a d e r ,
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b u t a s te a d y a c h i e v e r . His com bination o f re a so n and r e v o
l u t i o n in h i s r h e t o r i c so u g h t to c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y reform
c a p i t a l i s m i n t o an e v e n tu a l s o c i a l i s t commonwealth. T his
v i s i o n always g u id ed h i s a c t i o n s .
A t t l e e ^ s p o l i t i c a l advocacy keyed in on c e r t a i n
is s u e s o f s o c i a l and economic j u s t i c e o f the t w e n t i e t h c en
t u r y . His p r o p o s a l s were fo r e r u n n e r s o f p a r t i c i p a t o r y
p o l i t i c s . A t t l e e f i r s t su g g e s te d use o f the g e n e ra l s t r i k e .
His b e l i e f i n th e rank and f i l e , and accep tan ce o f t h e i r
w i l l , s u s t a i n e d h i s le a d e r s h ip and r h e t o r i c a l e f f e c t i v e n e s s .
His r h e t o r i c and h is p a r t y changed w ith th e n eeds o f th e
B r i t i s h p e o p le . A t t l e e p e r s u a s i v e l y ad apted to tim e , p l a c e ,
and a u d ie n c e . A t t l e e ' s advocacy was very p ra g m a tic .
A t t l e e may n o t have been as ab le an a d m i n i s t r a t o r
as H e rb e rt M o rriso n , b u t he c o u ld u n if y groups a t tim es o f
c r i s i s . Such u n i f i c a t i o n is an u lti m a t e t e s t f o r any r e v o
l u t i o n a r y . P a r t o f A t t l e e ' s a b i l i t y to u n ify stemmed from
h i s s t r o n g i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w ith th e common man. In f a c t ,
A t t l e e even lo o k ed l i k e a commoner
P a u l Boase d e s c r ib e d C h r i s t i a n s o c i a l i s t p re a c h in g
as " o f te n vague and s e n tim e n ta l ig n o rin g b a s i c d o c t r i n e s of
s o c i a l i s m . A t t l e e ' s advocacy combining s o c i a l is m and
C h r i s t i a n p r i n c i p l e s was n o t vagu e, b u t s p e c i f i c . His
r h e t o r i c was n o t s e n t im e n t a l; i t was concerned w ith s o c i a l
and econom ic j u s t i c e . A t t l e e ' s advocacy showed a way to be
e f f e c t i v e i n r e v o l u t i o n s by n o t f i t t i n g the o rth o d o x mold
269
of C h r i s t i a n s o c i a l i s t p re a c h in g .
The p r e s e n t r e s e a r c h s u g g e ste d f u r t h e r a re a s o f
s tu d y . O th e r a d v o ca te s o f d e m o c ratic s o c i a l i s m co u ld p r o f
i t a b l y be a n a ly z e d from a r h e t o r i c a l view such as E r n e s t
B evin, H e r b e r t M o rriso n , and A neurin Bevan. E a r l i e r
sp e a k e rs l i k e Sidney Webb could be s t u d i e d to u n d e rs ta n d
th e r h e t o r i c a l t r a n s i t i o n from F ab ian ism to Labour e n d eav
o r s . Each s p e a k e r c o n tr i b u te d to th e advancement of demo
c r a t i c s o c i a l i s m in a unique way. These s t u d i e s w ould be
v a lu a b le to b e t t e r u n d e rs ta n d t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n s . A stu d y
o f the advocacy o f f o r e i g n p o l ic y by d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l i s t s
co u ld be v a l u a b l e . The developm ent o f tr e n d s and p a t t e r n s
in m essages and p r e s e n t a t i o n may c o n t r i b u t e to a b e t t e r
u n d e rs ta n d in g o f B r i t i s h f o r e ig n p o l i c y . Perhaps a n o th e r
s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n t h a t could be made would be the
developm ent o f some k in d of c o n c e p tu a l model f o r th e r h e
t o r i c a l s tu d y o f A t t l e e ' s e p i d e i c t i c sp e a k in g . A t t l e e made
numerous s u c c e s s f u l speech es o f t r i b u t e to h is c o lle a g u e s
who p a s s e d away d u rin g h i s l i f e t i m e . M oreover, such a con
c e p tu a l model m ight be v a lu a b le i f a p p li c a b l e t o o t h e r
o r a t o r s ' e p i d e i c t i c sp e a k in g .
S p e c u la tio n could be made t h a t A t t l e e showed revo -
l u t i o n a i r e s to d ay t h a t re a so n and r e v o l u t i o n may be com
b in e d . So o f t e n th e a l t e r n a t i v e s are one o r th e o t h e r , b u t
h i s r h e t o r i c p ro v e d uno rthodox and s u c c e s s f u l i n t h e i r com
b i n a t i o n . Based on th e assum ption freedom and p e ac e are
2 70
w orthy e n t i t i e s , A t t l e e ’s r h e t o r i c p r o v id e s a u s e f u l g u id e
l i n e to r e v o l u t io n a r y th o u g h t.
I t has been s a i d t h a t a com plete b io g ra p h y o f A t t
l e e has n e v e r been w r i t t e n becau se he sa y s so l i t t l e about
h i m s e l f . 3 However, no b io g r a p h i c a l stu d y e v e r u t i l i z e d h is
sp e a k in g and w r i t i n g to any g r e a t e x t e n t . T h e r e f o r e , in
l i g h t o f a l l o th e r b io g r a p h ie s th e a u th o r r e a d , t h i s stu d y
i s one o f th e most com plete and advanced works on A t t l e e ' s
l i f e , p h ilo s o p h y , and m o tiv e s. R h e to r ic r e v e a l s th e man;
i n t h i s c a s e , A t t l e e ' s advocacy o f d e m o c ra tic s o c i a l is m r e
v e a l s h i s m o tiv e s , m ethods, and c o n t r i b u t i o n t o re a so n and
s o c i a l b e tte r m e n t in E n g lis h s o c i e t y d u rin g h i s l i f e t i m e .
271
Footnotes
•^Clement A t t l e e , The Labour P a rty in P e r s p e c t i v e ,
p. 281.
^Paul Boase, e d . , The R h e to r ic o f C h r i s t i a n S o c i a l
ism (New York: Random House , l9 b y ) , p . TZ~.
^Edward Murrow, In S e a rc h o f L ig h t, 1938-1961,
pp. 199-200.
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APPENDIX A
OUTLINE OF THE LABOUR PARTY IN PERSPECTIVE
289
OUTLINE OF THE LABOUR PARTY IN PERSPECTIVE
A t t l e e , C. R. The Labour P a rty in P e r p e c t i v e . L e f t Book
Club e d i t i o n . London: V ic to r G o lla n c z , L t d . , 1937.
I . I n t r o d u c t i o n
A. Background on s e l f
B. S o c ia lis m /C a p ita lis m is s u e im p o rta n t today
C. I n t e n t i o n s o f t e x t
1. To show th e Labour p a r t y in i t s h i s t o r i c a l
s e t t i n g
2. To show Labour as a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c example o f
B r i t i s h methods
a. D em ocratic s o c ia lis m d i f f e r e n c e s from M arxian
s o c ia lis m
b. D em ocratic s o c ia lis m used g ra d u a l refo rm s fo r
s o c i a l i s t r e v o l u t io n
c. Dependence on rank and f i l e
d. I n f lu e n c e o f B ible and C h r i s t i a n s o c i a l is m
3. To examine o t h e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
4. To c o n s id e r i t s f u tu r e
D. S o c i a l i s t governm ents a l l o v e r th e w o rld have d i f
f e r e n t forms because o f c irc u m sta n c e
1. D em ocratic s o c ia lis m needs e x i s t i n g c a p i t a l i s t
system and someone to n o te d i s c o n t e n t s o f w orkers
and r e l a t e them to a common cause
a. R obert Owen
I I . H i s t o r i c a l R e tr o s p e c t
A. Labour as a b y -p ro d u c t o f s e v e r a l groups
1. S o c ia l D em ocratic F e d e ra tio n
a. Founder H. M. Hyndman
b . Based on Karl Marx te a c h in g
2. F abian S o c ie ty
a . Prim ary t h e o r i e s t : Sidney Webb
3. In d ep en d en t Labour P a rty
a . Founder K eir H ardie
b . I n c lu s iv e and undogm atic
4. Trade Unions
B. E f f e c t s o f World War I on Labour P a r ty
1. Grave d i s s e n s i o n s r e v e a le d
2. O r g a n iz a tio n a l advancements
3. I d e o l o g i c a l advancements
C. The f i r s t Labour government
1. Prime M i n i s t e r Ramsay MacDonald
2. Not much accom plished
________________ 290___________________________________________
291
D. Second Labour government
1. MacDonald e f f i c i e n t in f o r e i g n a f f a i r s , b u t
la c k e d s k i l l in d o m estic i s s u e s
2. B e tr a y a l by MacDonald and Snowden
3. S o c i a l i s t s f o r c e d to r e a f f i r m fundam ental b e l i e f s
I I I . Trade Union and C o o p e ra tiv e Movements
A. Two a s p e c ts o f Trade Union movement
1. O r g a n iz a tio n o f wage e a r n e r s w i t h in framewrok o f
c a p i t a l i s m
2. O p p o s itio n to th e e x i s t i n g system o f c a p i t a l i s m
B. Weapon o f Trade U n io n is ts i s s o l i d a r i t y
C. McDonald m is ta k e n ly f a i l e d to keep c o n ta c t w ith
Trade Unions
D. L ab o u r-C o o p e ra tiv e r e l a t i o n s h i p w eaker th an Labour-
Union r e l a t i o n s h i p
E. C o o p e ra to r o nly looks to consum ers' i n t e r e s t s which
c o n s t i t u t e s only one p a r t o f th e f u l l Labour p r o
gram
F. Labour p a r t y b e lo n g s to Labour and S o c i a l i s t I n t e r
n a t i o n a l b u t th e L . S . I . g iv e s no o rd e rs to i t s
members
IV. C o n s t i t u t i o n
A. Like i t s p a r e n t the Trade Union C o n g re ss, th e La
bour p a r t y i s f e d e r a l in c o n s t i t u t i o n
B. Labour was d e sig n e d to be th e p o l i t i c a l e x p re s s io n
o f th e Trade Union movement
C. L a b o u r's t h r e e main ty p es o f o r g a n i z a t i o n s
1. Trade Unions
2. S o c i a l i s t s o c i e t i e s - - i . e . , In d ep en d en t Labour
p a r t y
3. C o n s titu e n c y o r g a n i z a t i o n s
D. Labour p a r t y has 2 1/2 m i l l i o n members
E. D em ocratic p r i n c i p l e s o b se rv e d by Labour
F. Trade Unions p ro v id e th e p a r t y w ith th e b u lk o f i t s
membership and i t s c e n t r a l f in a n c e
G. Annual c o n fe re n c e each y e a r e l e c t s an E x ec u tiv e
H. Thousands devote s e r v i c e to th e p a r t y
I . Labour p a r t y c o n s t i t u t i o n i s th e r e s u l t o f h i s t o r i
c a l growth r a t h e r th an l o g i c a l p la n n in g
J . Trade Unions do n o t dom inate p a r t y
K. Labour p a r t y m achinery a llo w s open c r i t i c i s m and
r e p l i e s
V. Labour P a r ty Method
A. C o n s t i t u t i o n a l a c t io n as t a c t i c s o f r e v o l u t i o n
B. Communism and Fascism a re n o t p o l i t i c a l a l t e r n a
t i v e s f o r th e B r i t i s h who a re p o l i t i c a l l y m ature
C. G eneral s t r i k e s are e f f e c t i v e Labour method
292
D. The p o p u la r f r o n t a ls o has i t s e f f e c t
E. S o c ia lism : l i v i n g f a i t h t r a n s l a t e d i n t o a c tio n
F. D i f f e r e n t ends d iv id e L ib e r a l s from L a b o u r ite s ;
d i f f e r e n t methods d iv id e Communists from L a b o u rite s
VI. S o c i a l i s t O b je c tiv e
A. P rim ary aim: e s t a b l is h m e n t o f th e C o o p e rativ e
Commonwealth
B. S o c ia lis m n o t end, b u t means tow ard b e t t e r l i v i n g
C. S o c ia lis m p ro v id e s more freedom , s e c u r i t y , e q u a l i t y ,
d e m o c ra tic p r o v i s i o n s , common o w n e rsh ip , in v e n tio n
and p r o g r e s s , b e a u ty
D. N a tio n a lis m i s n o t an o b j e c t i v e o f s o c i a l is m
V II. S h o rt Program o f Labour
A. Such a p r a c t i c a l Labour program depends on c irc u m
s ta n c e s abroad a t the tim e o f e l e c t i o n and b u s in e s s
co n d itio n 's and s i z e o f m a j o r it y Labour has in House
B. Use p r e s e n t m achinery o f governm ent f o r the most
p a r t
1. House o f Lords n o t a llo w e d to d e la y any program
however
C. Reform e x e c u tiv e o f c a b in e t
1. S m a lle r c a b in e t
2. R eassignm ent o f m i n i s t e r i a l p o s t s
3. More in f lu e n c e to J u n i o r m i n i s t e r s
D. S o c i a l i s t p la n n in g f o r a l l in th e c o u n try
1. Goals
a. P la n n in g o f i n d u s t r i a l q u a n t i t i e s
b. L o ca tio n o f i n d u s t r y
c. B est u t i l i z a t i o n o f w orkers
d. S ta n d a rd o f l i f e s e l e c t e d
2. P ro p o s a ls
a. C onversion o f Bank o f E ngland i n t o a S t a te
i n s t i t u t i o n
b. N a tio n a l ow nership o f la n d
c. Com pensation, n o t c o n f i s c a t i o n , o f p r i v a t e
p r o p e r t i e s
d. N a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f f u e l i n d u s t r i e s
e . N a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f t r a n s p o r t
E. Answers to o b j e c ti o n s o f lo s s o f money, la c k of
s k i l l e d management, and la c k o f i n i t i a t i v e
F. R e s u lt o f s h o r t program o f Labour
1. S o c ia l a m e lio r a tio n
2.. Use o f u n e m p lo y e d - - i.e . , in a g r i c u l t u r e
3. Aid to d i s t r e s s e d a re a s
VIII. F o re ig n P o lic y
A. Common r e j e c t i o n o f m i l i t a r i s m and im p e ria lis m
B. H i s t o r i c a l review o f p a s t B r i t i s h p o l i c i e s
293
C. B e l i e f in League of N atio n s and o t h e r such b o d ies
1. D e t e r i o r a t i o n o f League makes n o n - r e s i s t a n c e to
a g g re s s io n as n e g a tio n o f governm ent and le a d s
s t r a i g h t to anarchy
2. Only l a s t i n g hope f o r w o rld p e ac e l i e s in c o l
l e c t i v e s e c u r i t y founded on the law
D. Labour a c c e p ts th e w i l l o f th e m a j o r i t y
E. C o n tra ry t o s o c i a l is m , im p e r ia lis m i s th e form
which c a p i t a l i s m ta k e s in r e l a t i o n to o t h e r n a ti o n s
IX. Commonwealth and Empire
A. S o c i a l i z a t i o n and s e lf-g o v e rn m e n t: s o c i a l i s t aims
1. O p p o s itio n to im p e ria lis m
2. C o o p e ratio n w ith s e l f - g o v e r n i n g c o u n t r i e s in
Commonwealth
3. Dominions sh o u ld c o n t r i b u t e to League o f N a tio n s
more th a n to B r i t i s h Empire
4. E xtend s e lf-g o v e rn m e n t th ro u g h o u t empire
a. South A f r i c a f o r th e B lacks
b . In d ia f o r th e I n d ia n s , n o t th e c a p i t a l i s t s
5. Key to n a ti v e developm ent in e d u c a tio n
X. Labour and Defense
A. I d e a l g o a l i s com plete a b o l i t i o n o f a l l armed
f o r c e s in the w orld
B. P r a g m a tic a lly im p o s sib le a t t h i s tim e
C. Labour b e li e v e s in p a c if is m and war as e v i l
D. I n t e r n a l s e c u r i t y r e q u i r e s m ain ten a n ce o f armed
f o rc e s today
1. F o rces e f f i c i e n t and econom ical
2. F orces in c lo s e to u ch w ith n a t i o n
3. O rg a n iz a tio n o f f o r c e s d ep en d e n t on geography
and d e fe n se o f B r i t a i n
4. F o rces sh o u ld become under M i n i s t r y o f Defense
5. M a in ta in m i l i t a r y m orale
E. N a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f armament m a n u fa ctu re
1. I n c lu d in g alm ost e v e r y t h i n g - - i . e . , fo o d , c l o t h
i n g , i r o n , s t e e l
F. D e m o c ra tiz a tio n and a p p l i c a t i o n o f common sense to
th e f i g h t i n g s e r v i c e s
G. Use o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o l i c e u n d e r League o f N a tio n s
H. Arms ra c e w i l l n o t l e a d to s e c u r i t y , b u t t o war
I . M ajor problem w ith p r e s e n t C o n s e rv a tiv e governm ent
i s la c k o f any sound o r c o n c re te f o r e i g n p o l i c y
XI. P ro s p e c t
A. S o c ia lis m , n o t Fascism or Communism, i s th e b e s t
ch o ice f o r - t h e f u t u r e o f B r i t a i n
B. N a tio n s are t r u e to t h e i r t r a d i t i o n s so B r i t a i n
w i l l adopt s o c i a l is m w ith o u t b lo o d s h e d
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C. Labour meets new c r i s e s o f B rito n s
D. Labour seeks to remedy c a u s e s , n o t o n ly e f f e c t s o f
problem s
E. F u tu re o f Labour depends on w inning power and use
o f power once won
F. S o c ia lis m no lo n g e r a t e r r o r - f i l l e d word; s o c i a l i s m
has a d h e re n ts in a l l c la s s e s
G. Propaganda b a rra g e and f e a r are u se d a g a i n s t s p re a d
o f s o c ia lis m
H. F u tu re o f Labour depends p r i m a r i l y on id e a li s m and
d e v o tio n and i n t e l l i g e n c e o f rank and f i l e o f i t s
a d h e re n ts
I . S o c i a l i s t s seek a f u t u r e o f l i b e r t y , e q u a l i t y ,
s o c i a l j u s t i c e , and a w o rld Commonwealth
APPENDIX B
"LET US FACE THE NATION"
295
THE ELECTION BROADCAST
5th June3 1945
Broadcast addresses from the leaders o f the d iffe r e n t
p o l i t i c a l parties were a prominent feature o f the 1945 Gen
eral Election campaign. The f i r s t o f these speeches was
delivered by Mr. Churchill a month before Foiling Day.
This was his famous "Gestapo Broadcast3 " in which he told
his listen e rs that a S o c ia lis t policy was abhorrent to
B r itis h ideas of freedom. He devoted much time to the
claim th a t3 unlike th e ir opponents3 who3 he sa id 3 had pre
c ip ita te d the elec tio n 3 the Conservative Party put the in
te r e s ts o f the nation f i r s t ; and he then attempted to paint
a frightening picture o f the fa te o f small savings under a
S o c ia lis t financial policy.
Many people were surprised at the note o f b i t t e r con
troversy on which the Prime M inister had spoken3 and i t was
in a heightened p o l i t i c a l atmosphere that Mr. A ttle e 's re
ply 3 which was broadcast on the following evening3 was
awaited.
When I l i s t e n e d to the' Prime M i n i s t e r ' s sp eech l a s t n i g h t ,
in which he gave such a t r a v e s t y o f th e p o l i c y of th e La
b o u r P a r t y , I r e a l i s e d a t once what was h i s o b j e c t . He
w anted th e e l e c t o r s to u n d e rs ta n d how g r e a t was the d i f f e r
ence betw een Winston C h u r c h i l l , th e g r e a t l e a d e r i n war of
a u n i t e d n a t i o n , and Mr. C h u r c h i l l , th e P a r ty Leader of th e
C o n s e rv a tiv e s . He f e a r e d l e s t th o se who had a c c e p te d h is
l e a d e r s h i p in war m ight be tem p ted o u t o f g r a t i t u d e to f o l
low him f u r t h e r . I thank him f o r h a v in g d i s i l l u s t i o n e d
them so th o ro u g h ly . The v o ic e we h e a rd l a s t n i g h t was t h a t
of Mr. C h u r c h il l , b u t th e mind was t h a t o f Lord Beaver-
b ro o k .
I am a ls o a d d re s s in g you t o - n i g h t on th e w i r e l e s s f o r
th e f i r s t time fo r f i v e y e a r s as a P a r t y L eader. But b e fo re
tu r n in g to th e i s s u e s t h a t d iv id e P a r t i e s , I would l i k e to
pay my t r i b u t e to my c o lle a g u e s i n th e l a t e Government, o f
a l l P a r t i e s o r o f no n e, w ith whom I have had th e p r i v i l e g e
of s e r v i n g under a g r e a t l e a d e r i n w ar, th e Prime M i n i s t e r .
No p o l i t i c a l d i f f e r e n c e s w i l l e f f a c e the memory of our com
r a d e s h ip in t h i s trem endous a d v e n tu r e , o f th e a n x i e t i e s
s h a r e d , of th e ta s k s u n d e rta k e n t o g e t h e r and o f th e s p i r i t
296
297
o f f r i e n d l y c o - o p e r a tio n in a g r e a t cause which p r e v a i l e d .
I know w e l l th e c o n t r i b u t i o n s made by one and a l l to the
achievem ent of v i c t o r y .
The f a c t t h a t men of d i v e r s e p o l i t i c a l view s, backed
by the c o n tin u o u s su p p o rt o f P a r lia m e n t and th e c o u n try ,
were ab le to work t o g e t h e r f o r f i v e y e a r s i s a g r e a t t e s t i
mony to B r i t i s h democracy and t o th e p o l i t i c a l m a tu rity o f
t h i s c o u n try . W e c o n c e n tr a te d o u r e n e r g ie s on th e supreme
n eed o f w inning the war and were a b le to a g ree on a l l the
p r a c t i c a l m easures r e q u i r e d . To p la n f o r th e immediate
p o s t- w a r p e r i o d was more d i f f i c u l t , b u t h e re a g a in , on such
m a tte rs as s o c i a l in s u r a n c e , we were a b le to subm it to the
co u n try p r o p o s a ls s u p p o rte d by us a l l .
I t was, how ever, i n e v i t a b l e t h a t when an approach was
made to lo n g -te rm p o l i c y in r e l a t i o n t o th e economic o r g a
n i s a t i o n of th e c o u n try , t h e r e would be a d iv e rg e n c e of
view on the p r i n c i p l e s to be a p p l i e d , w hich n e c e s s i t a t e an
appeal to the c o u n try . The i s s u e s in v o lv e d had sooner o r
l a t e r to be p u t to th e p e o p le by th e r i v a l P a r t i e s i n o rd e r
t h a t th ey might be d e cid ed .
I sh o u ld l i k e to d e al f o r a m inute o r two w ith the
re a so n f o r h av in g t h i s e l e c t i o n , b e c a u se I n o t i c e t h a t
th e r e i s some m is u n d e rs ta n d in g and some d e l i b e r a t e m is re p
r e s e n t a t i o n . We have fo u g h t a g r e a t war f o r democracy. I t
i s of the e sse n ce o f the d e m o c ra tic sy stem t h a t th e peo p le
sh o u ld , from tim e to tim e , have th e o p p o r tu n ity o f d e c id in g
by what p e rso n s and on what p r i n c i p l e s th ey sh o u ld be gov
e rn e d . In the U .S .A ., f o r i n s t a n c e , t h e r e must be an e l e c
t i o n of a P r e s i d e n t , war o r no w a r, e v e ry fo u r y e a r s . In
t h i s c o u n try th e system i s more e l a s t i c , b u t f i v e y e a rs i s
th e f ix e d l i m i t f o r the c o n tin u a n c e of a P a r lia m e n t. The
l i f e o f th e p r e s e n t House o f Commons has l a s t e d n e a r l y te n
y e a r s . P a rlia m e n t has ag ain and a g ain e x te n d ed i t s own
l i f e . H ere, f o r t u n a t e l y , our e l a s t i c system a llo w ed i t to
be done, becau se we could n o t have had a p r o p e r e l e c t i o n in
th e c o n d itio n s of th e war a g a i n s t Germany. But i t would be
c o n tr a r y to th e s p i r i t o f th e c o n s t i t u t i o n f o r P a rlia m e n t
to e x te n d i t s l i f e u n le s s t h e r e was some co m p elling re a s o n .
The p o i n t was v e ry w e ll p u t by th e Prime M i n i s t e r in i n t r o
ducing th e P r o lo n g a tio n of P a r lia m e n t B i l l in 1944. He
s a i d "I could n o t blame anyone who c laim ed t h a t th e r e
sh o u ld be an a p p e a l to the p e o p le once th e German p e r i l i s
removed. I have m y se lf a c l e a r view t h a t i t would be wrong
(note t h a t word ’w ro n g ') to c o n tin u e t h i s P a r lia m e n t beyond
th e p e r i o d of th e German War. I can a s s u re the House t h a t
in th e absence of most e a r n e s t r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s from the
Labour and L ib e r a l P a r t i e s I c o u ld n o t r e f r a i n from making
a sub m ission t o th e Crown in r e s p e c t o f a d i s s o l u t i o n a f t e r
th e German War is e f f e c t i v e l y and o f f i c i a l l y f i n i s h e d . "
W ell, th e Labour P a r ty d id n o t make a r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , b u t I
298
r e c e iv e d from the Prime M i n i s t e r a p ro p o s a l t h a t we sh o u ld
c o n tin u e u n t i l th e war w ith Japan was ended, a p e r io d t h a t
m ight l a s t a long tim e. I c o u ld n o t a c c e p t , because I
a g re e d w ith th e Prime M i n i s t e r t h a t i t would be wrong to
c o n tin u e t h i s P a r lia m e n t, and I c o u ld n o t a c c e p t h is su g
g e s t io n t h a t i n s t e a d o f an e l e c t i o n we sh o u ld have a r e f e r
endum. I t would have been q u i t e c o n tr a r y to th e s p i r i t o f
o u r c o n s t i t u t i o n f o r a t e n - y e a r s - o l d P a rlia m e n t to have i n
tro d u c e d such an e x o t i c n o v e lty in o rd e r to p ro lo n g i t s own
l i f e .
The Labour M i n i s t e r s o f f e r e d to c o n tin u e u n t i l the end
o f th e s e s s io n in the autumn, when th e l i f e o f P a rlia m e n t
ended. An e l e c t i o n th e n would have p ro v id e d f o r a more
a c c u ra te r e g i s t e r and would have g iven t o th e f i g h t i n g men
a f a i r e r o p p o r tu n ity o f v o t in g . The Prime M i n i s t e r , how
e v e r , r e f u s e d our o f f e r and u n d er heavy p r e s s u r e from h i s
P a r ty and th e P a r ty P re s s d e c id e d to have an e l e c t i o n now.
I am s o r r y t h a t th e Prime M i n i s t e r , who a f t e r a l l owed
h i s p o s i t i o n as Prime M i n i s t e r to th e Labour P a r t y , sh o u ld
have accused us o f p u t t i n g P a r ty b e fo r e c o u n try . His p r o
p o s a l to c a r r y on f o r a n o th e r y e a r would have meant a Con
s e r v a t i v e m a jo r ity in th e House d u rin g th e c r u c i a l p e r io d
o f r e c o n s t r u c t i o n .
The c a l l i n g o f a G e n e ra l E l e c t i o n in v o lv e d th e b r e a k
up o f th e Government, b u t has n o t i n any way a l t e r e d the
firm re s o lv e o f th e Labour P a r ty to do i t s Utmost to win
th e war a g a i n s t Ja p a n . While Labour M i n i s t e r s were s t i l l
in o f f i c e a l l p r e p a r a t i o n s had been made t o en su re t h a t the
men and m a t e r i a l s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h i s p u rp o se sh o u ld be made
a v a i l a b l e . E q u a lly we are r e s o lv e d to m a in ta in as long as
i t i s n e c e s s a ry th e F o rc e s r e q u i r e d e lsew h e re to d e a l w ith
th e a fte r m a th o f w ar.
Everyone wants th e f i g h t i n g men home ag ain as soon as
p o s s i b l e , and I know t h a t some have been away a very long
tim e , b u t th e job has g o t to be f i n i s h e d . The p la n s fo r
th e r e - a l l o c a t i o n and u l t i m a t e d e m o b ilis a tio n of th e fo r c e s
have been c a r e f u l l y worked out to be as f a i r as p o s s i b l e . -
Hard cases a re i n e v i t a b l e , b u t i t i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t the
g e n e ra l p la n sh o u ld n o t be d i s t u r b e d .
There are many o t h e r m a tte r s which the l a t e Government
d e a l t w ith i n o r d e r to p ro v id e f o r th e im m ediate s i t u a t i o n
a f t e r th e ending o f th e war a g a i n s t Germany on which th e r e
i s no d i f f e r e n c e betw een P a r t i e s . They are n o t in is s u e a t
t h i s e l e c t i o n . I h o p e, to o , t h a t t h e r e may be c o n tin u e d
agreem ent among us a l l on th e main l i n e s o f f o r e ig n p o l i c y .
A f t e r th e l a s t war th e League o f N a tio n s was formed to
m a in ta in peace and th e r u l e o f law; and to p r e v e n t a g g r e s
s io n . My g e n e r a tio n t h a t fo u g h t i n the l a s t war hoped much
from i t . I t f a i l e d b u t th e id e a was r i g h t . The developm ent
o f modern lo n g -ra n g e weapons has made s t i l l more cogent th e
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rea so n s f o r c r e a t i n g a work o r g a n i s a t i o n charged w ith the
m aintenance of p e a c e .
The Labour P a r t y , u n l ik e th e m a jo r ity o f th e C onserva
t i v e s , gave w h o le h e a rte d s u p p o r t to th e League th ro u g h o u t
the i n t e r - w a r p e r i o d and i t welcomes th e a tte m p t now being
made a t San F r a n c is c o to c r e a t e a w o rld o r g a n i s a t io n armed
w ith th e power to d e t e r the a g g re s s o r . I t i s , we b e li e v e ,
v i t a l to w orld peace t h a t th e c lo s e c o - o p e r a tio n o f the
B r i t i s h Commonwealth, th e U n ite d S t a te s and R u ssia should
c o n tin u e , and t h a t w ith th e o t h e r p e a c e - lo v in g Powers they
sh o u ld tak e m easures to p r e v e n t any w ould-be a g g re s s o r from
d i s t u r b i n g the peace of the w o rld . Germany and Japan must
be d e p riv e d of the power to make war a g a in .
We must a l l r e c o g n is e t h a t i f we w ish f o r peace we
must tak e o u r sh a re i n j p r o v i d i n g the armed fo r c e s n e c e ssa ry
to g iv ejp o w er to th e new o r g a n i s a t i o n . Only when w orld
s e c u r i t y i s f u l l y e s t a b l i s h e d and war has become a th in g of
the p a s t can we be r i d o f th e burden o f armaments. But i t
i s n o t enough to p r e v e n t w ar. There must be c o n s t r u c t iv e
a c tio n to remove the c au ses of w ar. World economic anarchy
betw een the wars gave H i t l e r h i s chance. I h o ld t h a t i t
sh o u ld be a p r i n c i p a l o b j e c t o f th e U n ite d N a tio n s to wage
war on hunger, p o v e r ty , d is e a s e and ig n o ran c e and to p r o
mote th e g r e a t e s t m easure o f economic c o - o p e r a tio n between
a l l n a t i o n s , in o r d e r to r a i s e th e s ta n d a r d s o f l i f e of the
masses of th e p e o p le .
I welcome the c o n fe re n c e s t h a t have b e e n 'h e ld w ith
t h i s o b je c t and p a r t i c u l a r l y th e g e n e ra l a c c e p ta n c e now of
the view always h e ld by th e Labour P a r t y , though d e rid e d by
our opponents, t h a t the i n t e r e s t s o f t h i s c o u n try and of
the w orld demand th e u t i l i s a t i o n o f abundance and n o t the
a r t i f i c i a l c r e a t i o n o f s c a r c i t y . H olding s t r o n g l y th ese
view s, a Labour Government w i l l b r in g to th e t a s k of w orld
economic c o -o p e r a tio n an e n th u s ia sm and d r iv e im p o ssib le to
tho se who a re so c l o s e l y bound to p r i v a t e i n t e r e s t s . Espe--
c i a l l y w i l l we seek to advance th e s ta n d a r d s o f l i f e o f the
le s s developed p e o p le s o f th e w o rld , h o ld in g t h a t economic
p r o g r e s s , e d u c a tio n and i n c r e a s i n g s e lf-g o v e rn m e n t must go
forw ard t o g e t h e r . I t i s i n th e l i g h t of th e s e w orld p ro b
lems t h a t we must c o n s id e r our d o m estic p o l i c y , f o r our
p r o s p e r i t y depends on the p r o s p e r i t y o f o th e r n a t i o n s .
I t i s h ere on d o m estic p o l i c y t h a t we g e t the main
c la s h between P a r t i e s . The Prime M i n i s t e r s p e n t a l o t of
tim e p a i n t i n g t o you a l u r i d p i c t u r e o f what would happen
under a Labour Government in p u r s u i t o f w hat he c a l l e d a
" C o n tin e n ta l c o n c e p tio n ." He has f o r g o t t e n t h a t S o c i a l i s t
th e o ry was developed in B r i t a i n long b e fo r e K arl Marx, by
R obert Owen. He has f o r g o t t e n t h a t A u s t r a l i a and New Zea
la n d , whose p e o p le s have p la y e d so g r e a t a p a r t in the w ar,
and th e S c a n d in a v ia n c o u n t r i e s have had S o c i a l i s t Govern-
ments f o r y e a r s , to the g r e a t b e n e f i t o f t h e i r p eoples, w ith
300
none of th e s e d r e a d f u l co n seq u e n ce s. There a re no coun
t r i e s in th e w o rld more f r e e and d e m o c ra tic . When he t a l k s
o f the danger o f a s e c r e t p o l i c e and a l l the r e s t o f i t , he
f o r g e t s t h a t th e s e th in g s were a c t u a l l y e x p e rie n c e d in t h i s
cou ntry only under th e Tory Government o f Lord L iv e rp o o l,
in the y e a rs o f r e p r e s s i o n when th e B r i t i s h p e o p le who had
saved Europe from Napoleon were s u f f e r i n g deep d i s t r e s s .
He has f o r g o t t e n many t h i n g s , in c l u d i n g when he t a l k s of
th e danger o f Labour m ismanaging f i n a n c e , h is own d i s a s
tro u s r e c o r d a t the E xchequer ov er th e Gold S ta n d a rd .
I s h a l l n o t w aste time on t h i s t h e o r e t i c a l s t u f f which
i s m erely a secondhand v e r s i o n o f th e academ ic views o f an
A u s t r i a n - - P r o f e s s o r F r i e d r i c h A ugust von Hayek--who i s very
p o p u la r j u s t now w ith th e C o n s e rv a tiv e P a r ty . An system
can be red u ced to a b s u r d i ty by t h i s k in d o f t h e o r e t i c a l
r e a s o n in g , j u s t as German p r o f e s s o r s showed t h e o r e t i c a l l y
t h a t B r i t i s h democracy must be b e a te n by German d i c t a t o r
s h ip . I t was n o t.
The men and women of t h i s c o u n try who have endured
g r e a t h a rd s h ip s i n th e war a re a sk in g w hat k in d of l i f e
a w aits them in p e a c e . They seek f o r th e o p p o r tu n ity of
le a d in g re a so n a b ly se c u re and happy l i v e s and th ey d e serv e
to have i t . They need good homes, s u f f i c i e n t foo d, c l o t h
in g and the a m e n itie s of l i f e , employment and l e i s u r e and
s o c i a l p r o v i s i o n f o r a c c i d e n t , s ic k n e s s and o ld age. For
t h e i r c h il d r e n th ey d e s i r e an e d u c a ti o n a l system t h a t w i l l
give them th e chance to dev elop a l l t h e i r f a c u l t i e s . How
are we to p ro v id e our p e o p le w ith w hat th e y d e serv e ? Here
a r i s e s th e d isa g ree m e n t betw een P a r t i e s .
The C o n se rv a tiv e P a r ty b e l i e v e s t h a t the b a s i s o f our
economic a c t i v i t i e s must be what th ey c a l l p r i v a t e e n t e r
p r i s e , i n s p i r e d by th e m otive o f p r i v a t e p r o f i t . They
would reduce d i r e c t i o n by and f o r th e n a ti o n to th e minimum.
They seem to h o ld t h a t i f e v e ry i n d i v i d u a l seeks h is own
i n t e r e s t somehow or o t h e r th e i n t e r e s t s o f a l l w i l l be
se rv e d . I t i s a p a t h e t i c f a i t h r e s t i n g on no fo u n d a tio n of
e x p e r ie n c e . The co u n try has been run on th e s e p r i n c i p l e s ,
though w ith i n e v i t a b l e m o d i f i c a t i o n s , f o r y e a r s . Yet a
g r e a t number of p e o p le in t h i s c o u n try have always been
b a d ly housed , b a d ly f e d and c l o t h e d and d e n ie d very o f te n
the o p p o r tu n ity of w o rk in g , w h ile our a g r i c u l t u r e has l a n
g u ish e d , fin a n c e has been m i s d i r e c t e d and many o f our most
v i t a l i n d u s t r i e s h a v e, as r e c e n t i n q u i r i e s have shown, been
i n e f f i c i e n t l y and w a s t e f u l l y managed.
The Labour P a r ty on th e c o n t r a r y , b e li e v e s t h a t i f you
w ant c e r t a i n r e s u l t s you must p l a n to se c u re them; t h a t in
peace as i n war th e p u b l i c i n t e r e s t must come f i r s t , and
t h a t -if in w ar, d e s p i te th e d i v e r s i o n o f most o f o u r e n e r
g ie s to making in s tru m e n ts o f d e s t r u c t i o n and d e s p i te th e
s h o rta g e of supp ly imposed by war c o n d i t i o n s , we were ab le
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to p ro v id e food, c lo t h i n g and employment f o r a l l our p e o p le ,
i t i s n o t im p o s sib le to do th e s.ame in p e a c e , p ro v id e d th e
Government has th e w i l l and th e power t o a c t .
During th e war th e Government in th e n a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t
imposed many r e s t r i c t i o n s on th e r i g h t o f th e i n d i v i d u a l to
do as he p l e a s e d . Some o f t h e s e , though n e c e s s a r y , were
very irksom e. They sh o u ld be removed as soon as th e n e c e s
s i t y f o r them has p a s s e d away, b u t o t h e r s are s t i l l v i t a l l y
n eed ed to p r o t e c t th e p u b l i c from p r o f i t e e r s and m o n p o lists.
Yet s tr o n g e lem en ts i n th e C o n se rv a tiv e P a r ty clam our, as
t h e i r p r e d e c e s s o r s d id s u c c e s s f u l l y i n 1918, f o r t h e i r
a b o l i t i o n .
There i s a w o rld s h o r ta g e o f many k in d s o f food and o f
most consumable goo ds, w h ile t h e r e i s in th e hands of th e
p u b l i c a la rg e volume o f p u r c h a s in g p o w e r. I f c o n tr o ls are
removed th e r e would be a r u s h f o r the a v a i l a b l e com m odities.
P r i c e s would s o a r . P r o f i t e e r s would have a good time w h ile
th e g e n e ra l p u b l i c would l o s e . Wage and s a l a r y e a r n e r s ,
p e n s io n e r s and i n v e s t o r s in War Savings would f i n d t h a t
t h e i r money would p u rc h a se much l e s s th a n th ey e x p e c te d .
The l a t e Government w is e ly and f ir m ly by s t r i c t con
t r o l m a in ta in e d p r i c e s f a i r l y s te a d y . The Labour P a rty i s
d e te rm in e d n o t t o counten an ce i n f l a t i o n . W e want a s t a b l e
p r i c e l e v e l . I n f l a t i o n i s no im a g in a ry d a n g er. I t i s j u s t
what happened a f t e r th e l a s t w ar, when in a h u r r i e d e l e c
t i o n th e co u n try was ru sh e d i n t o r e t u r n i n g a hugh r e a c t i o n
a ry m a jo r ity a t th e i n s t a n c e o f th e war l e a d e r , Mr. Lloyd
George.
S i m i l a r l y , i f c o n t r o l s were removed from r e n t s , th e
p r e s e n t s h o rta g e would mean t h a t th e community would pay an
immense t o l l to th e l a n d l o r d s . I am s u re t h a t the w is e r
C o n s e rv a tiv e s would ag ree w ith t h i s . So, no do u b t, d id
t h e i r p r e d e c e s s o r s in 1918, b u t th e y y i e l d e d to th e clamour
o f p r i v a t e i n t e r e s t s . We b e l i e v e t h a t i t i s e s s e n t i a l to
m a in ta in the econom ic c o n t r o l s n e c e s s a r y to give d i r e c t i o n
to th e n a t i o n a l l i f e .
W e must e n su re t h a t th e n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s o f the coun
t r y are f u l l y u t i l i s e d . P r i v a t e i n t e r e s t must n o t be a l
lowed to s ta n d i n th e way o f n a t i o n a l w e l f a r e . For some
time to come raw m a t e r i a l s w i l l be s c a rc e and th e y must be
used to the b e s t a d v a n ta g e . The sa v in g s o f th e n a ti o n must
be d i r e c t e d i n t o th o se c h a n n e ls where th ey w i l l produce the
t h in g s t h a t a re most n e ed e d , n o t th o se t h a t w i l l give the
most immediate p r o f i t . I t i s obvious t o a l l t h a t b u i ld i n g
m a t e r i a l s and la b o u r must be employed on p r o v id in g f o r the
u r g e n t l y needed h o u s e s , sc h o o ls and f a c t o r i e s and n o t on
lu x u ry b u i ld i n g s and n o n - e s s e n t i a l s .
But the same p r i n c i p l e o f f i r s t t h in g s f i r s t sh o u ld be
a p p lie d to o th e r th in g s th an b u i l d i n g . We cannot a f f o r d to
w aste th e la n d o f th e c o u n try . We n eed a p ro sp e ro u s a g r i
c u l t u r e . W e need w e l l- p l a n n e d , w e l l - b u i l t c i t i e s w ith
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p a rk s and p l a y in g f i e l d s , homes and s c h o o l s , f a c t o r i e s and
shops in t h e i r f i g h t r e l a t i o n s h i p . W e do n o t want our
b e a u t i f u l c o u n try s p o i l t by h a p h a z a rd developm ent d i c t a t e d
only by hope of g a in . Enough damage has a lr e a d y been done
i n th e p a s t . T h e re fo re we must c o n t r o l th e use o f the lan d
and have power to a c q u ire what th e n a ti o n o r th e l o c a l
c o u n c il n e e d , p a y in g a f a i r p r i c e , b u t n o t an e x tr a v a g a n t
ransom e x t o r t e d on acco u n t o f th e n eeds o f th e community.
W e need a p la n n e d l o c a t i o n o f i n d u s t r y to giv e a b a l
ance to the co u n try and to p r e s e r v e s o c i a l c a p i t a l . We
must have no more d i s t r e s s e d a r e a s . Not one o f th e s e
th in g s can be e f f e c t e d w ith o u t g iv in g power to th e Govern
ment. The Prime M i n i s t e r made much p la y l a s t n i g h t w ith
th e r i g h t s of th e i n d i v i d u a l and the danger o f p e o p le being
o rd e re d about by o f f i c i a l s . I e n t i r e l y agree t h a t people
sh o u ld have the g r e a t e s t freedom co m p a tib le w ith the f r e e
dom o f o t h e r s . There was a tim e when em ployers were fr e e
to work l i t t l e c h il d r e n f o r s i x t e e n h o u rs a day. I remem
b e r when em ployers were f r e e t o employ sw eated women workers
on f i n i s h i n g t r o u s e r s a t a penny h a lfp e n n y a p a i r . There
was a time when p eo p le were f r e e to n e g l e c t s a n i t a t i o n so
t h a t thousands died o f p r e v e n t a b l e d i s e a s e s . F or y e a rs
e v ery a tte m p t to remedy th e s e c ry in g e v i l s was b lo c k e d by
th e same p l e a o f freedom f o r th e i n d i v i d u a l . I t was in
f a c t freedom f o r the r i c h and s l a v e r y f o r th e p o o r. Make
no m is ta k e , i t has on ly been th ro u g h th e power o f th e S t a te ,
given to i t by P a r lia m e n t, t h a t th e g e n e r a l p u b l i c has been
p r o t e c t e d a g a i n s t th e g re e d o f r u t h l e s s p r o f i t makers and
p r o p e r t y owners.
No one supposes t h a t a l l th e i n d u s t r i e s o f t h i s coun
t r y can or sh o u ld be s o c i a l i s e d f o r t h e w i t h , b u t t h e r e are
c e r t a i n g r e a t b a s i c i n d u s t r i e s w hich from t h e i r n a t u r e are
r i p e f o r co n v ersio n i n t o p u b l i c s e r v i c e s . I n la n d t r a n s p o r t
i s te n d in g more and more tow ards monopoly and i t i s unsafe
to lea v e a monopoly i n p r i v a t e h a n d s. A C o n s e rv a tiv e Gov
ernm ent has bought o u t th e owners o f c o al b u t p ro p o se s to
le a v e the g e t t i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g o f i t in the hands o f
th e same p e o p le whose i n e f f i c i e n c y has been condemned by
e v ery i m p a r t i a l i n q u ir y . Much o f th e p r o d u c tio n o f gas and
e l e c t r i c i t y i s in p u b l i c hands to th e g r e a t ad vantag e o f
th e consum ers. L a b o u r's p o l i c y i s to tr a n s f o r m th e whole
b u s in e s s o f p r o v id in g f u e l , power and l i g h t i n t o a p u b l ic
s e r v i c e . A s i m i l a r p o l i c y w ould be p u rsu e d i n r e l a t i o n to
i r o n and s t e e l . In every case t h e r e must be a s u i t a b l e o r
g a n i s a t i o n w hich, w h ile p r o t e c t i n g the p u b l i c i n t e r e s t , w i l l
give scope f o r b u s in e s s o r g a n i s a t i o n and th e a p p l i c a t i o n of
s c i e n t i f i c m ethods. There w i l l be p l e n t y o f scope f o r the
te c h n ic i a n and f o r t h a t e n t e r p r i s e which i s so o f t e n la c k
in g in p r i v a t e i n d u s t r y to - d a y . F a i r , b u t n o t e x c e s s iv e ,
com pensation w i l l be p a id . W herever t h e r e i s th e danger of
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m onopolies and c a r t e l , th e r e must be p u b l i c s u p e r v i s i o n to
p r e v e n t e x p l o i t a t i o n .
Those who cry out a g a i n s t S t a t e c o n t r o l a re g e n e r a l l y
th e lo u d e s t in demanding s u b s i d i e s , t a r i f f s , and o t h e r
S t a t e a id s f o r th e m se lv e s. I t i s L a b o u r's p o l i c y t o s tim u
l a t e i n d u s t r y and e s p e c i a l l y to h e lp o u r e x p o rt t r a d e , b u t
t h a t h e lp w i l l only be given on c o n d it i o n t h a t i n d u s t r y and
t r a d e are e f f i c i e n t .
I have n o t time t o - n i g h t to d e a l w ith o t h e r p o i n t s i n
L a b o u r's programme, in p a r t i c u l a r o u r p r o p o s a ls f o r th e s o
c i a l s e r v i c e s , f o r h e a l t h and e d u c a tio n and f o r th e a p p l i
c a t i o n of s c ie n c e to the problem s t h a t fa c e u s. My c o l
le a g u e s who w i l l be sp e ak in g l a t e r i n th e campaign w i l l
d e a l in more d e t a i l w ith s u b j e c t s to w hich I have r e f e r r e d
in p a s s in g . I t has been my p u rp o se to g ive you th e g e n e ra l
p r i n c i p l e s of L a b o u r's p o l i c y w ith some i l l u s t r a t i o n s o f
p a r t i c u l a r p o i n t s .
You may ask "Can th e s e t h in g s be done?" "Can we give
to our r e t u r n e d f i g h t i n g men and to a l l our p e o p le the k in d
o f l i f e which th ey so r i c h l y d e s e rv e ? " "Can we have th e
B r i t a i n we d e s i r e ? " My answer i s t h a t in th e war we accom
p l i s h e d f a r h a rd e r ta s k s th a n t h i s . I speak on th e eve of
th e a n n iv e rs a ry of D-Day. The p e o p le who p la n n e d and c a r
r i e d th ro u g h th e Normandy la n d in g s w i l l n o t be d au n ted by
any d i f f i c u l t i e s . The B r i t i s h p e o p le can do th e s e t h in g s i f
th e y w i l l them and work f o r them.
In the ranks o f the Labour P a r t y a re men w ith v i s i o n ,
e n th u s ia sm and v a r i e d e x p e r ie n c e . My Labour c o lle a g u e s
have shown t h a t they can a d m in is te r g r e a t d e p a rtm e n ts , a c
c e p t heavy r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s and p l a n and c a r r y out f a r -
r e a c h in g p o l i c i e s . W e are c o n f id e n t t h a t i f you give La
bour th e power, i t can and w i l l le a d t h i s c o u n try th ro u g h
th e dangers and d i f f i c u l t i e s of th e time- i n t o a h a p p ie r and
s e c u r e r f u t u r e . F o rty y e a rs ago th e Labour P a r ty m ig h t,
w ith some j u s t i c e , have been c a l l e d a c l a s s P a r t y , r e p r e
s e n t i n g alm ost e x c l u s i v e l y th e wage e a r n e r s . I t i s s t i l l
b a s e d on o r g a n is e d la b o u r , b u t h as s t e a d i l y become more and
more i n c l u s i v e . In th e ranks o f th e P a r lia m e n ta r y P a rty
and among our c a n d id a te s you w i l l f i n d numbers o f men and
women drawn from e v ery c la s s and o c c u p a tio n in th e commu
n i t y . Wage and s a l a r y e a r n e r s form th e m a j o r i t y , b u t th e r e
a re many from o t h e r w alks o f l i f e , from th e p r o f e s s i o n s and
from th e b u s in e s s w o rld , g iv in g a wide range o f e x p e r ie n c e .
More th an 120 o f our c a n d id a te s come from th e F i g h t i n g S e r
v i c e s , so t h a t y o u th i s w e ll r e p r e s e n t e d .
The p r e s e n t Government i s C o n se rv a tiv e ,. I do n o t s u p
pose t h a t th e Prime M i n i s t e r e x p e c te d anyone to ta k e s e r i
o u sly h i s claim t h a t th e a d d i t i o n to th e C o n se rv a tiv e ma
j o r i t y o f a few Independents who a re s t a y i n g on as tem po
r a r y c a r e t a k e r s and some tame L i b e r a l s who owe t h e i r s e a t s
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to Tory v o te s and obey s t r i c t l y th e Tory Whip r e a l l y makes
h i s Government N a tio n a l. I t i s C o n s e r v a tiv e . The C on ser
v a ti v e P a r ty rem ains as always a c l a s s P a r t y . In tw enty-
t h r e e y e a rs in the House o f Commons I can n o t r e c a l l more
th an h a l f a dozen from th e ranks o f th e wage e a r n e r s . I t
r e p r e s e n ts t o - d a y , as in th e p a s t , the f o r c e s o f p r o p e r ty
and p r i v i l e g e . The Labour P a rty i s , in f a c t , th e one P a rty
w hich most n e a r l y r e f l e c t s in i t s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n and compo
s i t i o n a l l th e main stre am s which flow i n t o th e g r e a t
r i v e r o f our n a t i o n a l l i f e .
Our appeal to you, t h e r e f o r e , i s n o t narrow o r s e c
t i o n a l . W e are pro u d o f the f a c t t h a t o u r c o u n try in the
h o u rs o f i t s g r e a t e s t danger sto o d firm and u n i t e d , s e t t i n g
an example to the w o rld o f how a g r e a t d e m o c ra tic p eo p le
ro se to the h e ig h t o f th e o c c a sio n and sav ed democracy and
l i b e r t y . W e a re prou d o f th e s e l f - s a c r i f i c e and d e v o tio n
d is p la y e d by men and women in e v ery walk o f l i f e in t h i s
g r e a t a d v e n tu re . W e c a l l you to a n o th e r g r e a t adv en ture
w hich w i l l demand th e same h ig h q u a l i t i e s as th o se shown in
th e war: th e a d v en tu re o f c i v i l i s a t i o n .
W e have seen a g r e a t and p o w e rfu l n a t i o n r e t u r n to
b a rb a ris m . W e have seen European c i v i l i s a t i o n alm ost d e
s t r o y e d and an a tte m p t made to s e t a s id e th e m oral p r i n c i
p l e s upon which i t has been b u i l t . I t i s f o r us to h e lp to
r e - k n i t th e f a b r i c o f c i v i l i s e d l i f e woven th ro u g h the c en
t u r i e s , and w ith the o t h e r n a tio n s to seek to c r e a t e a
w orld in which f r e e p e o p le s l i v i n g t h e i r own d i s t i n c t i v e
l i v e s in a s o c i e t y o f n a t i o n s c o -o p e r a te t o g e t h e r , f r e e
from th e f e a r o f war.
We have to p la n the b ro a d l i n e s o f o u r n a t i o n a l l i f e
so t h a t a l l may have th e duty and th e o p p o r t u n it y o f r e n
d e rin g s e r v ic e to th e n a t i o n , everyone in h i s o r h e r s p h e re ,
and t h a t a l l may h e lp to c r e a t e and sh a re in an in c r e a s in g
m a t e r i a l p r o s p e r i t y f r e e from th e f e a r o f w an t. W e have to
p r e s e r v e and enhance the b e a u ty o f our c o u n try to make i t a
p la c e where men and women may l i v e f i n e l y and h a p p il y , fr e e
to w orship God in t h e i r own way, f r e e to. speak t h e i r m inds,
f r e e c i t i z e n s o f a g r e a t c o u n try .
Source: J e n k i n s , Roy, ed. Purpose and P o lic y : S e le c te d
Speeches by C. R. A t t l e e . London: The N a tio n a l Book A sso
c i a t i o n , H utchinson and C o ., 1946. Pp. 3-12.
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APPTENDIX C
"BRITISH LABOUR POLICY"
BRITISH LABOUR POLICY
Need t o S t a r t Anew
I sh o u ld w ish , f i r s t o f a l l , to thank y o u , s i r s , f o r
th e g r e a t honour you have done me in i n v i t i n g me to ad d ress
y o u r House in j o i n t s e s s i o n . D uring the war you were a d
d re s s e d on two o c c a s io n s by my p r e d e c e s s o r , Mr. W inston
C h u r c h il l , a g r e a t w ar l e a d e r , whose words and a c tio n s in
the most c r i t i c a l tim e s o f t h a t lo n g -d ra w n -o u t c o n te s t
b ro u g h t courage and hope to m i l l i o n s a l l o ver th e w o rld .
For f iv e y e a rs I had th e p r i v i l e g e o f s e r v in g under him as
a c o lle a g u e . No one knows b e t t e r than I do th e r e s p le n d e n t
s e r v i c e s which he re n d e r e d to th e cause o f freedom . L ast
week in the House o f Commons, as l e a d e r o f th e O p p o s itio n ,
in em phasizing the im p o rtan c e o f f u r t h e r i n g i n every way
our f r i e n d l y c o n n e c tio n s w i t h y o u r g r e a t c o u n try , he w ished
me, on b e h a l f o f the whole House th e utm ost su c c e s s in t h i s
v i s i t .
In dem ocracies g r e a t men a re th e p o s s e s s io n of th e
whole p e o p le . Speaking h e re to d a y , I cannot b u t remember
t h a t g r e a t s ta te s m a n , P r e s i d e n t R o o s e v e lt. I sh o u ld be ex
p r e s s i n g , I know, th e f e e l i n g s n o t only o f th e p eo p le o f
G reat B r i t a i n b u t of th e Commonwealth and Empire in p a y in g
t r i b u t e to h i s g r e a t s e r v i c e s n o t o nly to h i s own cou ntry
b u t to hum anity. I t was a sorrow to us t h a t he was n o t
a b le to v i s i t B r i t a i n , where we sh o u ld have g iv en him a
welcome t h a t would have e x p r e s s e d a l l t h a t was i n our
h e a r t s . In th e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t th e fo r c e s o f ty ra n n y , the
names o f th e s e two men, C h u r c h il l and R o o s e v e lt, t o g e t h e r
w ith t h a t o f G e n e ra lissim o S t a l i n w i l l e v e r be lin k e d in
a c h ie v e m e n t.
Mr. T rum an's Courage
I was g la d to meet P r e s i d e n t Truman f o r a b r i e f moment
h e re in W ashington when I was r e t u r n i n g home from th e San
F ra n c is c o C onference and I h ad th e ad vantage o f o b se rv in g
and adm iring h i s courage and s ta te s m a n s h ip a t Potsdam,
where w ith him and G e n e ra lis s im o S t a l i n we so u g h t to d e al
w ith some o f th o se problem s w hich th e ending o f a g r e a t war
p r o d u c e s .
In what s p i r i t s h a l l we app roach th e s e h ig h m a tte rs ?
On Sunday a t A r l i n g t o n , I s t o o d w ith P r e s i d e n t Truman and
th e Prime M i n i s t e r o f Canada a t t h a t im p re ss iv e ceremony o f
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307
A rm istic e Day. I know t h a t i n th e minds o f the P r e s i d e n t
and m yself were rememberances o f when we were b oth f i g h t e r s
i n th e f i r s t World War. W e l i t t l e th o u g h t th e n , on Nov. 11,
1918, t h a t we sh o u ld w itn e s s a n o th e r w o rld war. I do n o t
th in k t h a t e i t h e r o f us th en th o u g h t t h a t we, out o f th e
m il l io n s o f our f e llo w s o l d i e r s , would be c a l l e d to s h o u l
der th e g r e a t r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f h ig h o f f i c e . Yet I am
s u re th e r e was p r e s e n t in our minds l a s t Sunday th e same
th o u g h ts we had y e a r s a g o - - r e g r e t f o r l o s t com rades, g r a t i
tu de f o r our d e liv e r a n c e and th e r e s o lv e to do what in us
lay to sp a re o th e r s th e o r d e a l w hich we had end ured .
We have ended t h i s seco n d w orld w ar, d e a d l i e r , lo n g e r
and more t e r r i b l e th an i t s p r e d e c e s s o r . We sh o u ld , none of
u s , be here today u n le s s a l l the A l l i e s had done t h e i r p a r t ,
u n le s s the un eq u aled f i g h t i n g f o rc e s and m a tc h le ss indus-.
t r i a l and s c i e n t i f i c r e s o u r c e s o f the U n ited S t a te s had
been thrown w ith o u t r e s e r v e i n t o th e p o o l. We r i g h t l y , t o
day, pay honour to a l l th e A l l i e s . There i s honour enough
f o r a l l , f o r th o se who fo u g h t i n the w e st and in th e e a s t ,
i n th e a i r , on th e la n d and on th e s e a , f o r those who
fo u g h t in the formed u n i t s o f th e g r e a t s t a t e s , f o r th o se
who s e rv e d in th e r e s i s t a n c e movements in so many c o u n tr i e s
and f o r th o se who s to o d f ir m when t h e i r homes were bombed.
A ll c o n t r i b u t e d , b u t th e g r e a t e s t c o n t r i b u t i o n was made by
th o s e " w ith th e g r e a t e s t r e s o u r c e s - - t h e U n ite d S ta te s o f
A m erica, R u ss ia and th e B r i t i s h Commonwealth and Em pire.
G re a t Leaders
Twice in a g e n e r a t i o n th e c o u n tr ie s o f th e B r i t i s h
Commonwealth and Empire came i n s t a n t l y to th e help of G re a t
B r i t a i n , and none made a g r e a t e r c o n t r i b u t i o n - t h a n Canada,
whose Prime M i n i s t e r I am happy t o see w ith us tod ay . W e
were f o r t u n a t e in f i n d i n g g r e a t p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s ; we were
f o r t u n a t e , to o , in th e men o f o u ts ta n d in g a b i l i t y who
p la n n e d our r e s o u r c e s and o u r campaigns and who l e d our
n a v i e s , arm ies and a i r f l e e t s i n b a t t l e . S ta n d in g h e re I
would l i k e to pay a s p e c i a l t r i b u t e to th e combined C h ie fs
o f S t a f f ; I would l i k e to r e c a l l many o f th e le a d e r s i n the
f i e l d , b u t I must c o n te n t m y se lf today w ith th r e e names o f
g r e a t men--one i n th e w e s t, two in th e e a s t - - G e n e r a l E i s e n
how er, G eneral M acA rthur and A dm iral N im itz .
Speaking h e re to d a y , when a l l o u r enem ies have been
b e a te n down, my mind goes back o ver th o se f i v e y e a rs i n
which I s e rv e d i n th e B r i t i s h War C a b in e t. I r e c a l l so
v i v i d l y th o se c r i t i c a l , days in 1940 a f t e r Dunkirk. How
a n x io u s ly we a w a ite d th e a r r i v a l o f s h ip s c a r r y in g r i f l e s
and ammunition from Am erica w hich gave us a t l e a s t some
t h in g in our hands to f i g h t th e in v a d e r whose t h r e a t was so
imm inent. I r e c a l l t h a t w ise and generous p r o v i s i o n o f
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l e n d - l e a s e . I r e c o l l e c t two y e a rs b e fo re th e e v e n t G eneral
M a rsh a ll u n f o ld in g to us i n th e C abinet room h i s c o n c e p tio n
o f th e in v a s io n o f E urope. Then I remember so w e ll th e
trem endous s t r e n g t h o f th e U n ite d S ta te s o f A m erica, slo w ly
a t f i r s t and th e n s w i f t l y d e v elo p in g to ta k e th e w e ig h t
from th o se who had borne th e b urden in the e a r l y y e a r s o f
th e w ar. Today th e U n ited S t a te s sta n d s out as th e m i g h t i
e s t power on e a r t h . And y e t America i s a t h r e a t to no one.
A ll know t h a t she w i l l n e v e r use h e r power f o r s e l f i s h aims
o r t e r r i t o r i a l ag g ra n d ize m e n t in th e f u t u r e any more th an
she has done i n th e p a s t . We look upon h e r f o r c e s and our
own f o r c e s and th o se o f o t h e r n a ti o n s as in s tr u m e n ts t h a t
must n e v e r be employed save in th e i n t e r e s t s o f w o rld s e
c u r i t y and f o r th e r e p r e s s i o n o f the a g g re s s o r .
When I was l a s t h e re I was ta k in g p a r t in th e San
F r a n c is c o C o n fe re n c e , a c o n fe re n c e summoned by P r e s i d e n t
R o o s e v e lt w ith w ise p r e s c ie n c e w h ile war was s t i l l ra g in g
in o rd e r t h a t as soon as v i c t o r y was s e c u re d we m ight have
an in s tr u m e n t rea d y to hand f o r th e p r e v e n tio n o f a l l wars
i n the f u t u r e . We have gone thro u g h a h o r r i b le , d e s t r u c t i v e
w ar. You h e re have l o s t g r e a t numbers o f th e flo w e r o f
yo u r young men: so have we in B r i t a i n , and so have a l l th e
c o u n tr i e s t h a t have been engaged in t h i s g r e a t s t r u g g l e .
But you have been s p a r e d th e d e s t r u c t i o n o f y o u r g r e a t
c i t i e s . You have n o t had i n Am erica th e s p e c t a c l e o f h u n
dred s o f th o u sa n d s o f broken homes. You have n o t had g r e a t
m asses o f p e o p le , d riv e n from t h e i r h a b i t a t i o n s , w andering
a b o u t s e e k in g somewhere to la y t h e i r h e a d s. You have n o t
had th e work o f c e n t u r i e s o f human endeavour d e s tr o y e d in a
few s h o r t h o u rs by a t t a c k s from th e a i r . But I know t h a t
you a re f u l l y c o n sc io u s o f th e t r a g i c f o l l y o f w ar. There
was a tim e , which I remember, when we in B r i t a i n e n jo y e d
th e same imm unity: wars m ight d e v a s ta te the C o n tin e n t b u t
we were s a f e b e h in d o u r m oat, the i n v i o l a b l e s e a .
Those days a re p a s t ; d e fe n s iv e f r o n t i e r s , m ountain
b a r r i e r s , the se a s and even the oceans a re no o b s t a c l e to
a t t a c k . The o ld d i s c o n t i n u i t y o f e a r t h and s e a has been
r e p la c e d by th e c o n t i n u i t y o f th e a i r . In o u r a t l a s e s t h a t
show th e d i v i s i o n o f la n d and w a te r , o f th e c o u n tr i e s and
s t a t e s , t h e r e s h o u ld be a b la n k page which s h o u ld r e p r e s e n t
th e a i r to make o u r c h il d r e n r e a l i z e t h a t th e s e o l d and
h i s t o r i c d i v i s i o n s do n o t e x i s t in the e le m e n t in which men
now move. I f n o t now, th en in a few y e a r s th e d e v a s t a t i n g
weapons w hich are a t p r e s e n t b e in g developed may menace
e v e ry p a r t o f th e w o rld .
A G reat M istake
I t i s in th e l i g h t o f th e s e f a c t s and in p a r t i c u l a r in
th e l i g h t - - t h e t e r r i b l e l i g h t - . - o f the atom ic bomb, t h a t I
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have e n t e r e d i n t o d is c u s s i o n w ith your P r e s i d e n t in o r d e r
t h a t we may g e t t o g e t h e r w ith a l l the n a t i o n s o f th e w o rld
and c o n s id e r what k in d o f a w orld i t i s n e c e s s a r y to have
i f c i v i l i z a t i o n i s to endure and i f th e common man in a l l
la n d s i s to f e e l s e c u r e . But in fa c in g w o rld prob lem s as
we m ust, i t i s a g r e a t m istak e in my view to th in k c o n
s t a n t l y o f war and the p r e v e n tio n o f w ar. W e have to th in k
r a t h e r o f th e b e s t means o f b u ild i n g up p e a c e . Speak ing
l a s t week in London, I s a i d t h a t the fo u n d a tio n o f p eace
la y in th e h e a r t s o f men, and I h o ld i t tr u e t h a t th e more
th e c i t i z e n s o f th e w orld can g e t to know each o t h e r th e
l e s s l i k e l y a re we to have the em o tio n al c o n d itio n i n which
w ar i s p o s s i b l e . W e have been f o r t u n a t e in t h i s war to
have welcomed to our sh o re s so many c i t i z e n s o f th e U n ite d
S t a t e s o f A m erica.
T here have been many f r i e n d s h i p s made, many m is u n d e r
s t a n d in g s have been removed, w hich alm ost i n e v i t a b l y a r i s e
b e c a u se knowing each o t h e r only from a d is ta n c e we see each
o t h e r i n a d i s t o r t e d way. A ll th e d i f f e r e n c e s are empha
s i z e d . The u n d e rly in g l ik e n e s s i s o b sc u red . But th e B r i t
i s h s o l d i e r and th e American s o l d i e r , when th e y came to
c lo s e q u a r t e r s soon found how much they had i n common.
I h o l d , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t o u r U n ited N a tio n s O rg a n iz a
t i o n , in w hich I p ro fo u n d ly b e l i e v e , must be so m eth in g more
th a n an agreem ent betw een governm ents. I t must be an e x
p r e s s i o n o f th e w i l l o f th e common p e o p le i n e v ery c o u n try .
M isap preh en sion s
P erh ap s I m ight a s s i s t today in removing some m isap p re
h e n s i o n s . I come b e fo re you as th e Prime M i n i s t e r o f G reat
B r i t a i n , b u t in acco rdan ce w ith our c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r a c t i c e ,
I am a l s o a p a r t y l e a d e r - - t h e le a d e r o f a m a j o r it y r e c e n t l y
r e t u r n e d to power in th e House o f Commons. I wonder how
much you know a b o u t the B r i t i s h Labour P a r t y . We a re n o t
alw ays v e ry w e ll inform ed on th e p o l i t i c s o f o t h e r coun
t r i e s . I d o u b t, in f a c t , w h ether very many B r i t i s h c i t i
zens know the e x a c t d i f f e r e n c e between a R ep u b lican and a
D em ocrat. You have h e a rd t h a t we are S o c i a l i s t s , b u t I
wonder j u s t what t h a t means to you.
I t h in k t h a t some people over h ere im agine t h a t So
c i a l i s t s are o u t to d e s tr o y freedom , freedom of th e i n d i
v i d u a l , freedom o f sp e e c h , freedom of r e l i g i o n and freedom
o f th e p r e s s . They are wrong. The Labour p a r t y i s i n the
t r a d i t i o n o f fre e d o m -lo v in g movements which have alw ays e x
i s t e d i n our country; b u t freedom has to. be s t r i v e n f o r in
e v e ry gene r a t ion.,..and th o se who t h r e a t e n i t a re n o t always
th e sam e. /Som etim es"the b a t t l e o f freedom has had to be
f o u g h t 'a g a i n s t K ings, sometimes a g a i n s t r e l i g i o u s ty r a n n y ,
som etim es a g a i n s t the power o f the owners o f th e l a n d , some-.
310
tim es a g a i n s t the overwhelming s t r e n g t h o f moneyed i n t e r
e s t s . W e in th e Labour p a r t y d e c la r e t h a t we are in l i n e
w ith th o se who fo u g h t f o r Magna C h a rta and Habeas Corpus,
w ith th e P ilg r im F a th e rs and w ith th e s i g n a t o r i e s o f th e
D e c la r a tio n o f Independence.
Freedom Not in Danger
Let me c l e a r your mind w ith r e g a r d to some of th e s e
freedoms t h a t are th o u g h t to be in d a n g er. In th e ranks of
our p a r t y in th e House o f Commons a re a t l e a s t 40 p r a c t i c
in g j o u r n a l i s t s : th e r e a re s e v e r a l clergym en, many l o c a l
p r e a c h e r s , p le n ty of P r o t e s t a n t s , some C a th o lic s and some
Jew s. W e are n o t l i k e l y , t h e r e f o r e , to a t t a c k freedom o f
r e l i g i o n o r freedom of th e p r e s s . As to freedom o f sp e ec h ,
b e l i e v e me, as a l e a d e r o f our p a r t y f o r 10 y e a rs I have
n e v e r lac k ed can d id c r i t i c s in my own ran k s and I have been
too long in th e O p p o sitio n n o t to be a s t r o n g s u p p o r te r of
freedom of speech and freedom of th e i n d i v i d u a l . W e b e
l i e v e in the freedom of th e i n d i v i d u a l to l i v e h is own l i f e
b u t t h a t freedom i s c o n d itio n e d by h i s n o t cramping and r e
s t r i c t i n g th e freedom of h i s fe llo w men.
There i s , and always w i l l b e , scope f o r e n t e r p r i s e :
b u t when b ig b u s in e s s g e ts too po w erfu l so t h a t i t becomes
m o n o p o lis tic , we h o ld i t i s n o t s a f e to le a v e i t in p r i v a t e
h a n d s. F u r t h e r , in the w orld today we b e l i e v e , as do most
p eo p le in B r i t a i n , t h a t one must p la n th e economic a c t i v i
t i e s o f the c o u n try i f we are to a s s u r e the common man a
f a i r d e a l. One f u r t h e r word: you may t h in k t h a t the Labour
p a r t y c o n s i s t s s o l e l y o f wage e a r n e r s . I t i s our p r i d e
t h a t we draw th e m a jo r ity o f our members from th e ranks o f
wage e a r n e r s and many of our m i n i s t e r s have sp e n t long
y e a r s w orking w ith t h e i r hands in th e c o a l m ines, th e f a c
t o r y or in t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . But our p a r t y today i s drawn
from a l l c l a s s e s o f s o c i e t y - - p r o f e s s i o n a l men, businessm en
and what a re sometimes c a l l e d th e p r i v i l e g e d c l a s s e s .
The Old School Tie s t i l l can be se e n on the Government
b e n c h e s. I t i s r e a l l y a p r e t t y good c r o s s - s e c t i o n of th e
p o p u l a t i o n .
You may a sk , why do p eo p le from th e w e l l - t o - d o c la s s e s
b e lo n g to our p a r t y . May I r e f e r to my own e x p e rie n c e ?
F o rty y e a rs ago as a young man s tu d y in g law , j u s t down from
Oxford U n i v e r s i t y , I v i s i t e d f o r th e f i r s t tim e my c o n s t i
tu e n c y , L im ehouse--a very p oo r d i s t r i c t i n E a s t London. I
le a r n e d from i t f i r s t hand the f a c t s o f p o v e r ty in our
g r e a t c i t i e s . I became co nvin ced t h a t we must b u i l d our
s o c i e t y on a j U s t e r f o u n d a tio n . The r e s u l t was t h a t I
j o i n e d th e S o c i a l i s t movement and e v e n t u a l l y , a f t e r many
y e a r s of s t r i v i n g , I f i n d m y se lf Prime M i n i s t e r o f G reat
B r i t a i n . The re a so n s t h a t im p e lle d me to j o i n the Labour
311
movement are the same t h a t a c tu a g e d so many o f th e members
of my p a r t y , e s p e c i a l l y th e g r e a t number o f young men from
the f i g h t i n g s e r v i c e s .
What i s our a t t i t u d e tow ard f o r e i g n a f f a i r s ? W e b e
lie v e t h a t we canno t make a heaven in our own c o u n try and
lea v e a h e l l o u t s i d e . W e b e l i e v e t h i s n o t only from the
moral b a s i s o f our movement, w hich i s b a se d on th e b r o t h e r
hood o f man w ith o u t d i s t i n c t i o n o f ra c e or c re e d , b u t a ls o
from an e n t i r e l y p r a c t i c a l s t a n d p o i n t . W e seek to r a i s e
the s ta n d a r d o f l i f e of o u r p e o p le . W e can only do so by
t r a d i n g w ith th e r e s t o f th e w o rld , and as good t r a d e r s .
W e w ish to have p ro sp e ro u s c u sto m e rs. The advance in
methods o f p r o d u c tio n so s t r o n g l y e x e m p lifie d in the U n ited
S t a te s has r e s u l t e d in an immense o u tp u t o f goods and com
m o d itie s o f a l l k i n d s . We i n our tu r n show th e same r e
s u l t s on a s m a ll e r s c a l e . Yet t h e r e a re hundreds of m i l
lio n s of p e o p le l i v i n g in th e w o rld a t a s ta n d a r d o f l i f e
which i s the same as th e y have had f o r a th o usand y e a r s .
There i s ample room in th e w o rld f o r the p ro d u c ts of the
g r e a t i n d u s t r i a l n a t i o n s l i k e our own to r a i s e the g e n e ra l
l e v e ls th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld . We, lik e you, b e lie v e in an
expansive economy, and we can see no re a so n why, the need
b ein g so g r e a t , th e r e sh o u ld be any undue r i v a l r y between
u s. W e b e l i e v e t h a t th e fo u n d a tio n s o f peace must be w orld
p r o s p e r i t y and good n e ig h b o u r l i n e s s ; t h a t where sc ie n c e has
p la c e d such p o t e n t i a l abundance b e fo re th e human race we
sh o u ld c o l l a b o r a t e to tak e advantage of i t r a t h e r than
scram ble and f i g h t f o r l a r g e r i n d i v i d u a l s h a r e s , which only
r e s u l t s i n an immense i n c r e a s e in p o v e rty .
W e re c o g n iz e t h a t our im m ediate ta s k is n o t easy .
Many a man in B r i t a i n r e t u r n i n g from th e war fin d s h i s home
b l i t z e d and h i s b u s in e s s r u in e d . He has to s t a r t a f r e s h .
Like him, we are f a c in g th e f u t u r e w ith courage and a de
te r m in a tio n to win th ro u g h . W e have n o t sto o d up to our
enemies f o r s i x y e a r s to be b e a te n by econom ics. I look
forw ard to an e r a o f an i n c r e a s i n g c o o p e ra tio n and f r i e n d
sh ip between the U n ite d s t a t e s of America and G reat B r i t a i n
- - n o t as b e in g an e x c lu s iv e f r i e n d s h i p , b u t as a c o n t r i b u
tio n to the k n i t t i n g t o g e t h e r w ith a l l p e o p le s th ro u g h the
U n ited N atio n s O r g a n iz a tio n in th e bonds o f p e a c e .
I n t e r n a l P o l i c i e s
In our i n t e r n a l p o l i c i e s each w i l l fo llo w th e course
d e cid ed by the p e o p l e 's w i l l . Vou w i l l see us em barking on
p r o j e c t s o f n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n , on w id e , a ll- e m b r a c in g schemes
of s o c i a l in s u ra n c e d e sig n e d t o give s e c u r i t y to th e common
man. W e s h a l l be w orking o u t a p la n n e d economy. You, i t
may b e , w i l l c o n tin u e in y o u r more i n d i v i d u a l i s t i c m ethods.
I t i s more im p o rta n t t h a t we s h o u ld u n d e rs ta n d each o t h e r
312
and o t h e r n a ti o n s whose i n s t i t u t i o n s d i f f e r from o u r own.
I t is e s s e n t i a l , i f we are to b u i l d up a p e a c e f u l w o rld ,
t h a t we s h o u ld have th e w id e s t t o l e r a t i o n , r e c o g n iz in g t h a t
o u r aim is n o t u n if o r m ity b u t u n i ty in d i v e r s i t y . I t would
be a d u l l w o rld i f we were a l l a l i k e .
In a town t h e r e may be a g r e a t d i v e r s i t y of c h a r a c t e r
and h a b i t among th e to w n sfo lk . To some o f my n e ig h b o rs I
may be drawn c l o s e l y by t i e s o f r e l a t i o n s h i p or by o ld mem
o r i e s ; fo r o t h e r s I may have more sympathy th ro u g h s h a r i n g
t h e i r r e l i g i o u s c o n v i c t i o n s , a lth o u g h perhaps e s tr a n g e d by
t h e i r p o l i t i c a l v iew s. Yet I may be on good terms w ith
them a l l and in c lo s e f r i e n d s h i p w ith some. I hope to se e
a w o rld as o r d e r l y as a w e ll- r u n town, w ith c i t i z e n s d i
v e rse in c h a r a c t e r b u t c o o p e r a tin g f o r the common good.
In th e B r i t i s h Commonwealth and Empire we o f f e r an e x
ample o f many n a t i o n s , some o f which have re a c h e d , o th e r s
of which are a p p ro a c h in g , f u l l s e lf-g o v e rn m e n t. Even d u r
in g th e war In d ia was given the o p p o r tu n ity of ta k in g com
p l e t e charge o f h e r own a f f a i r s , and in the c o l o n i a l empire
e i g h t o r n in e new C o n s t i t u t i o n s have been adopted o r are
b ein g worked o u t , a l l b ased on the e x te n s io n o f d e m o c ra tic
p r i n c i p l e s .
I hope t h a t th e r e w i l l be e v e r c lo s e r f r i e n d s h i p b e
tween our g r e a t d e m o c rac ie s. W e have much in common. W e
have the language o f M ilton and S hakespeare, of Burke and
Chatham, o f L in c o ln and o f J e f f e r s o n . W e have th e memories
of com radeship in a g r e a t a d v e n tu re . Above a l l t h in g s we
share th e t h in g s o f th e s p i r i t . Both o f our n a tio n s h o ld
d e ar the r u l e o f law; th e c o n c e p tio n of freedom and the
p r i n c i p l e s and methods of democracy; and most v i t a l of a l l
we acknowledge th e v a l i d i t y o f the moral p re c e p ts upon
which our whole c i v i l i z a t i o n i s founded.
Man's m a t e r i a l d i s c o v e r i e s have o utpaced h is moral
p r o g r e s s . The g r e a t e s t ta s k t h a t fac es us today i s to bring
home to a l l p e o p le , b e fo re i t i s too l a t e , t h a t our c i v i l i
z a tio n can only s u rv iv e by th e accep tan ce and p r a c t i c e in
i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s and in our n a t i o n a l l i f e of the
C h r i s t i a n p r i n c i p l e we are members one of a n o th e r.
Source: "Address to Congress by Mr. A t t l e e , " The Times
(London), November 14, 1945, pp. 4, 8.
APPENDIX D
"OUR COM M ON ENDEAVOR"
313
A SPEECH TO THE OPENING SESSION OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF UNO
10th January, 1946
The f i r s t meeting o f the General Assembly o f the
United Nations Organisation, in aooordance with the arrange
ment made at the San Franaisoo Conference, took place in
London in the early part o f 1946. As head o f the B ritish
Government and host to the delegates o f the fifty - o n e rep
resented nations, Mr. A ttlee addressed both the opening and
closing sessions o f the Assembly. At the opening session,
in the Central Hall, Westminster, he was introduced by the
acting president of the Assembly, Dr. Eduardo Zuleta Angel.
I have the honour to -d a y o f welcoming to London t h i s g r e a t
Assembly o f d e le g a te s o f the U n ited N a tio n s . I sh o u ld lik e
in th e f i r s t p la c e to thank you, Mr. P r e s i d e n t , f o r your
sp eech and a ls o to p la c e on re c o rd th e a p p r e c i a t i o n which I
am su re we a l l f e e l fo r the s u c c e s s f u l manner in which you
have c a r r i e d out the arduous and im p o rta n t d u tie s o f p r e s i
de n t of th e P r e p a r a to r y Commission. I know w e ll from my
c o lle a g u e s how much t h a t Commission has owed to your g u id
ance. W ithout your sense o f b u s i n e s s , r e a d i n e s s to a c c e p t
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , and the i n f lu e n c e which you have e x e r te d on
y o u r c o l l e a g u e s , we m ight n o t have been a b le to meet a t t h i s
tim e w ith the p ro ce d u re and programme rea d y to hand.
I hope t h a t the p ro c e e d in g s of t h i s C onference w i l l be
an im ated by th e same sense o f u rg en c y , th e same p r a c t i c a l
s p i r i t , and th e same c o - o p e r a tiv e atm osphere as has c h a r a c
t e r i s e d th e work o f the P r e p a r a to r y Commission. I know t h a t
g r e a t q u e s t io n s were d e b a te d f r a n k l y and even p a s s i o n a t e l y ,
b u t a t the~ s ame T:ime th e r e was a l i v e l y s p i r i t o f c o n c i l i a
t i o n and good w i l l which le d e v e n t u a l l y to alm o st com plete
u n a n im ity .
I have s a i d t h a t we welcome you h e re to London, and i t
w i l l be o u r endeavour to make you f e e l a t home in t h i s our
c a p i t a l c i t y so t h a t you may speak as f r e e l y and f r a n k l y as
i f you were m eeting in some s p e c i a l t e r r i t o r y under i n t e r
n a t i o n a l c o n t r o l . W e s h a l l do our b e s t to make y o u r s ta y
h e re p l e a s a n t w ith in th e l i m i t o f o u r m ean s. W e w ish we
c o u ld do m ore, b u t I am su re t h a t a l l o f you in th e course
o f y o u r s t a y w i l l r e a l i s e t h a t a n y th in g t h a t i s la c k in g in
314
315
y o u r e n te r ta in m e n t i s n o t due to any absence o f g o o d w ill,
b u t to th e e f f e c t o f th e m a lic e o f our enem ies w reaked upon
t h i s a n c ie n t c i t y . The e v id e n c e s o f t h i s you w i l l see
around you.
L ast n ig h t we l i s t e n e d to an i n s p i r i n g sp eech by His
M ajesty th e King, in w hich he s a i d b e fo r e us in a few words
the n a tu r e of th e t a s k w hich we have to a cc o m p lish , the
v i t a l im portance o f the i s s u e s a t s t a k e , and th e keen d e
s i r e o f a l l the n a ti o n s o f th e B r i t i s h Commonwealth, f o r
whome he spoke, to make t h i s f i r s t m ee tin g o f th e U n ited
N a tio n s O r g a n is a tio n a com plete s u c c e s s .
I had the p r i v i l e g e o f ta k in g p a r t in th e d is c u s s io n s
a t San F ra n c is c o from w hich was e v o lv e d th e C h a r te r o f th e
U n ited N a tio n s . The i n i t i a t i o n o f th e s e d i s c u s s i o n s , w hile
our enem ies were s t i l l in th e f i e l d a g a i n s t u s , was a t once
an a c t o f f a i t h in our v i c t o r y and an acknowledgment of th e
cause f o r which we were f i g h t i n g . The p u rp o se s and p r i n
c i p l e s s e t down in the Pream ble and in A r t i c l e I of the
C h a r te r have the w h o le h e a rte d s u p p o r t o f His M a j e s ty 's Gov
ernm ent and, I b e l i e v e , of th e whole o f the p e o p le o f t h i s
c o u n try , to w hatever p o l i t i c a l p a r t y th ey b e lo n g .
W e r e a l i s e t h a t as p e rh a p s n e v e r b e fo re a choice is
o f f e r e d to mankind. Twice in my l i f e t i m e a war has bro u g h t
u n to ld sorrow to mankind. Should th e r e be a t h i r d w orld
war the long upward p r o g r e s s tow ards c i v i l i s a t i o n may be
h a l t e d f o r g e n e r a t i o n s , and th e work of m yriads o f men and
women through th e c e n t u r i e s be b ro u g h t to n a u g h t.
The pream ble to the C h a r te r o f the U n ited N atio n s a d
m irab ly s e t s o u t th e i d e a l s f o r which men and women l a i d
down t h e i r l iv e s d u rin g the w ar. But the a f f i r m a t i o n of
p r i n c i p l e s is e a sy ; the t r a n s l a t i o n i n t o a c t i o n , the making
o f a w orking r e a l i t y out o f an i d e a l i s very d i f f i c u l t . In
the s t r e s s and s t r a i n o f war i t i s p o s s i b l e to fuse the
i d e a l aim w ith p r a c t i c a l e f f o r t . When in the summer of
1940, t h i s co u n try was l e f t open to th e imminent danger o f
in v a s io n the whole o f th e p e o p le were anim ated by one
s i n g l e aim, and t h a t aim was im m e d ia te ly t r a n s l a t e d i n to
a c t i o n . Every man and woman le a p e d fo rw ard to se rv e w her
e v e r n e ed e d , and th e s t r e n g t h o f t h a t p u rp o se e n d u red
th ro u g h f iv e y e a rs o f war. D uring th o s e f i v e y e a r s , as
n a t i o n a f t e r n a t i o n jo in e d in th e s t r u g g l e , th e e f f o r t s o f
th e F ig h tin g F o rc e s , o f th e w o rkers b e h in d th e lin e ,, of th e
r e s i s t a n c e movements in so many c o u n t r i e s , were a l l co
o r d i n a t e d and d i r e c t e d to th e s i n g l e p u rp o se o f v i c t o r y .
P r i v a t e i n t e r e s t s and i n d i v i d u a l n a t i o n a l a s p i r a t i o n s were
sunk i n th e common end eavo ur.
Now to -d a y when v i c t o r y has crowned o u r arms we have
to b r i n g t o th e t a s k o f c r e a t i n g perm an en t c o n d itio n s of
p eace th e same sen se o f u rg e n c y , th e same s e l f - s a c r i f i c e
and the same w i l l i n g n e s s to s u b o r d ia n te s e c t i o n a l i n t e r e s t s
316
t o th e common good as b ro u g h t us th ro u g h the c r i s i s o f war.
W e a l l , t h e r e f o r e , must a p p ro ach our work w ith a r e a l i s a
t i o n o f i t s o u ts ta n d in g and v i t a l im p o rta n c e .
The U n ited N a tio n s O r g a n is a tio n must become th e o v e r
r i d i n g f a c t o r in f o r e i g n p o l i c y . A f t e r the F i r s t World War
t h e r e was a tendency to r e g a r d th e League o f N a tio n s as
som ething o u ts id e th e o r d i n a r y range o f f o r e ig n p o l i c y .
Governments c o n tin u e d on th e o ld l i n e s , p u r s u in g i n d i v i d u a l
aims and fo llo w in g th e p a t h o f power p o l i t i c s , n o t u n d e r
s ta n d in g t h a t th e w o rld h as p a s s e d i n t o a new epoch. In
j u s t such a s p i r i t in tim es p a s t in th e s e i s l a n d s g r e a t
n o b le s and t h e i r r e t a i n e r s u se d to p r a c t i c e p r i v a t e war in
d i s r e g a r d o f th e a u t h o r i t y o f th e c e n t r a l governm ent. The
time came when p r i v a t e arm ies were a b o lis h e d , when th e r u l e
o f law was e s t a b l i s h e d th ro u g h o u t the le n g th and b r e a d t h of
t h i s i s l a n d . What has b een done in B r i t a i n and in o t h e r
c o u n tr ie s on a sm a ll s ta g e has now to be e f f e c t e d th ro u g h
out the whole w o rld . W e must a l l now to -d a y re c o g n is e the
t r u t h p ro c la im e d by th e F o re ig n M i n i s t e r o f th e U .S .S .R . a t
Geneva: "Peace is i n d i v i s i b l e . " Looking back on p a s t
y e a r s we can tr a c e th e o r i g i n s o f th e l a t e war to a c ts o f
a g g r e s s io n , the s i g n i f i c a n c e o f which was n o t r e a l i s e d a t
the tim e. F a i lu r e to d e a l w ith th e Jap an e se ad ventu re in
th e Far E a st and w ith the a c t s o f a g g re s s io n o f the F a s c i s t
r u l e r s of Germany and I t a l y le d i n e v i t a b l y to the breakdown
of the r u le of law and to th e Second World War. In the
l a s t fiv e y e a r s the a g g r e s s io n o f H i t l e r in Europe drew
e v e n tu a lly i n t o the c o n t e s t men from a l l the c o n tin e n ts and
from the i s l a n d s o f th e s e a . I t sh o u ld make us a l l r e a l i s e
t h a t the w e lfa re of every one o f us i s bound up w ith the
w e lfa re of the w o rld as a w hole, and t h a t we are a l l mem
b e rs one of a n o th e r.
I am g la d t h a t th e C h a r te r of th e U n ite d N a tio n s does
n o t d e al only w ith Governments and S t a t e s o r w ith p o l i t i c s
and w ar, b u t w ith the sim ple e le m e n ta l needs of human b e
in g s w hatever be t h e i r r a c e , t h e i r c o lo u r , or t h e i r c re e d .
In the C h a rte r we r e a f f i r m o u r f a i t h in fundam ental human
r i g h t s . W e see the freedom o f the i n d i v i d u a l in th e S ta te
as an e s s e n t i a l complement to th e freedom o f th e S ta te in
the w orld community of n a t i o n s . W e s t r e s s , to o , t h a t s o
c i a l j u s t i c e and the b e s t p o s s i b l e s ta n d a r d s o f l i f e f o r
a l l are e s s e n t i a l f a c t o r s in p ro m o tin g and m a in ta in in g the
peace of the w orld.
I have s a i d t h a t th e s o l u t i o n o f th e problem o f e s t a b
l i s h i n g peace and p r e v e n t i n g war i s u r g e n t and v i t a l as
n e v e r b e f o r e . W e p e rh a p s i n th e s e i s l a n d s , which were f o r
so long immune from a t t a c k b e h in d th e b a r r i e r o f th e s e a ,
f e e l more th an any o t h e r s t h a t we a re l i v i n g i n a new age.
The developm ent o f p o w e rfu l weapons o f d e s t r u c t i o n o p e r a t
ing from d i s t a n t b a s e s has d e s tr o y e d th e i l l u s i o n o f i s o l a -
317
tio n is m . The coming o f th e atom ic bomb was only th e l a s t
of a s e r i e s o f w arnin gs to mankind t h a t u n le s s th e powers
o f d e s t r u c t i o n c o u ld be c o n t r o l l e d immense r u i n and alm ost
a n n i h i l a t i o n would be th e l o t o f the most h i g h ly c i v i l i s e d
p o r t i o n s of mankind.
I welcome t h e r e f o r e th e d e c is io n to re m it th e whole
problem o f th e c o n t r o l o f atom ic energy to a commission of
the U n ite d N a tio n s O r g a n i s a t i o n . In t h i s d is c o v e ry we can
see s e t c l e a r l y b e f o r e us i n t a n g i b l e form th e q u e s tio n
t h a t f a c e s th e modern w o rld . Here i s an in v e n tio n f r a u g h t
w ith immense p o s s i b i l i t i e s , on the one hand of danger and
on th e o th e r of adv an tag e to th e human r a c e . I t i s f o r the
p e o p le s of th e w o r ld , th ro u g h t h e i r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , to
make t h e i r ch o ice betw een l i f e and d e a th .
I hope and b e l i e v e t h a t every d e le g a te who i s h e re t o
day has come n o t o nly in a s p i r i t o f d e te r m in a tio n b u t in
a s p i r i t of hope. We have always w ith us th e s c e p t i c s and
th e p e s s i m i s t s who w i l l t e l l us t h a t th e r e always has been
war and t h a t th e r e always w i l l be w ar, who p o i n t to th e
f a i l u r e o f th e League o f N a tio n s as a re a so n f o r s c e p t i c i s m
as to the su c c e s s o f th e U n ite d N ations O r g a n is a tio n . But
the p r o g r e s s o f c i v i l i s a t i o n has been one o f c o n ti n u a l
f a i l u r e and o f l e a r n i n g by e x p e r ie n c e . To tak e an exam ple,
the h i s t o r y o f th e t r a d e unio n movement i s marked by f a i l
ure a f t e r f a i l u r e . A f t e r e v ery d e f e a t the s c e p t i c s and the
tim o ro us s a i d , "You can n o t g e t the w orkers t o combine, the
s e l f - i n t e r e s t o f th e i n d i v i d u a l i s too s t r o n g . " But even
t u a l l y u n i t y was a c h ie v e d .
I have i n t e n s e f a i t h t h a t we s h a l l make th e U n ited
N a tio n s O r g a n is a tio n a s u c c e s s . We have l e a r n t from p a s t
m is ta k e s . The o ld League of N atio n s s u f f e r e d from many
d i s a b i l i t i e s , most o f a l l p e rh a p s because two g r e a t n a t i o n s ,
the U n ited S t a t e s o f Am erica and th e Union o f S o c i a l i s t
S o v ie t R e p u b lic s , were n o t p r e s e n t in i t s fo rm a tiv e s t a g e s .
To-day as n e v e r b e f o r e th e w o rld i s u n i te d . F u r t h e r , the
c o n s t i t u t i o n of th e new o r g a n i s a t i o n i s e s s e n t i a l l y r e a l i s t
in t h a t i t p ro v id e s f o r th e s a n c t i o n of fo rc e to su p p o rt
the r u l e o f law.
I t h i n k , to o , t h a t a t th e p r e s e n t time th e o r d in a r y men
and women i n e v ery n a t i o n have a g r e a t e r r e a l i s a t i o n o f
what is a t s t a k e . To make t h i s o r g a n i s a t i o n a l i v i n g r e a l
i t y we must e n l i s t th e s u p p o r t n o t only of Governm ents, b u t
o f th e m asses o f th e p e o p le th ro u g h o u t the w o rld . They
must u n d e rs ta n d t h a t we a re b u i ld i n g a defence f o r th e com
mon p e o p le . In th e p u rp o se s o f th e U n ited N a tio n s o r g a n i
s a t i o n we h a v e , lin k e d w ith th e achievem ent of freedom from
f e a r , th e d e l i v e r y o f mankind from the p e r i l o f w ant. To
th e i n d i v i d u a l c i t i z e n th e s p e c t r e of economic i n s e c u r i t y
i s more c o n s t a n t , more imminent th an th e shadow o f w ar.
Every i n d i v i d u a l can be b ro u g h t to r e a l i s e t h a t th e
318
t h in g s t h a t are d is c u s s e d i n co n feren ce h e re are th e con
c e rn o f a l l and a f f e c t th e home l i f e of e v ery man, woman
and c h i l d . W ithout s o c i a l j u s t i c e and s e c u r i t y t h e r e i s no
r e a l fo u n d a tio n f o r p e a c e , f o r i t is among the s o c i a l l y
d i s i n h e r i t e d and th o se who have n o th in g to lo s e t h a t the
g a n g s te r and a g g re s s o r r e c r u i t t h e i r s u p p o r t e r s .
I b e l i e v e , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t im p o rta n t as i s th e S e c u r
i t y C o u n c il, no l e s s v i t a l i s i t to make th e Economic and
S o c ia l C ouncil an e f f e c t i v e i n t e r n a t i o n a l in s tr u m e n t. A
p o l i c e fo rc e i s a n e c e s s a r y p a r t of a c i v i l i s e d community,
b u t th e g r e a t e r the s o c i a l s e c u r i t y and c o n te n tm e n t o f the
p o p u l a t i o n th e le s s im p o rta n t i s the p o l i c e f o r c e .
F i n a l l y , l e t us be c l e a r as to what i s o u r u l t i m a t e
aim. I t i s n o t j u s t the n e g a tio n of w ar, b u t th e c r e a t i o n
of a w o rld o f s e c u r i t y and freedom , o f a w o rld which i s
governed by j u s t i c e and th e moral law. We d e s i r e to a s s e r t
th e p re-e m in e n ce of r i g h t over might and th e g e n e r a l good
a g a i n s t s e l f i s h and s e c t i o n a l aim s. We who a re g a th e r e d
h e re to -d a y in t h i s a n c ie n t home o f l i b e r t y and o r d e r are
a b le to meet t o g e t h e r because tho usand s o f b rav e men and
women have s u f f e r e d and d ie d t h a t we may l i v e . I t i s f o r
us t o - d a y , b e a r i n g i n mind th e g r e a t s a c r i f i c e s t h a t have
been made, to prove o u r s e lv e s no le s s courageous in a p
p ro a c h in g our g r e a t t a s k , no le s s p a t i e n t , no l e s s s e l f -
s a c r i f i c i n g . W e must and w i l l su c ce ed .
Source: J e n k i n s , Roy, ed. Purpose a.nd P o lic y : S e le c te d
Speeches by C. R. A t t l e e . London: The N a tio n a l Book A sso
c i a t i o n , H utchinson and Co., 1946. Pp. 130-134.

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Creator Briggs, Nancy Elaine (author)

Core Title Clement Attlee'S Advocacy Of Democratic Socialism: A Reasonable Rhetoricof Revolution

Degree Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Program Speech

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag OAI-PMH Harvest,Speech Communication

Language English

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Advisor Fisher, Walter R. (committee chair), McBath, James H. (committee member), Miller, Howard S. (committee member)

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c18-438843

Unique identifier UC11362501

Identifier 7102510.pdf (filename),usctheses-c18-438843 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier 7102510.pdf

Dmrecord 438843

Document Type Dissertation

Rights Briggs, Nancy Elaine

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the au...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA