The house of Industry : a new estate of the realm

74 THE HOUSE OF INDUSTRY

of date before it is born. The plan outlined in the Manifesto requires at least five years to reach maturity. But worse, infinitely worse, if it be only a trade depression that confronts us, and if we should adopt the Mosley programme, then, when the tide turns, Capitalism will be immeasurably stronger and Labour, pro tanto, weaker and less able to regain its position, lost at the behest of the Mosley Group. For, however we look at it, the Mosley programme, aiming only at the survival of British industry, deliberately and in explicit terms postponing the Socialist struggle, means sacrifices by Labour. Moreover, there is not a word or hint throughout the Manifesto demanding powers for a competent body to control and co-ordinate industry. What is urged is a series of separate proposals, running on more or less parallel lines, but neither definitely related nor harmonious. A thing, in fact, of shreds and patches.

What of the other alternative? Is Capitalism as a system breaking down? Are we witnessing not a world depression but a world cataclysm ? If so, does Sir Oswald deny that Socialism is the next stage in our economic development? He is a declared Socialist and accordingly he must believe that the inheritance falls to Socialism. Then, can he seriously believe that Socialism is to be ushered in by an anti-Socialist autocracy ? The only possibility of that would be by a physical force revolution. Otherwise Socialism must take possession in orderly progression and with recog-