TOPICS OF THE HOUR

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1207, 12 November 1919, Page 7

TOPICS OF THE HOUR

[By Tkavet-lep. "j LONDON, August 21. Tlie war hook written by Ludertdorff is attracting a great deal cf attention in England. It is ;i wonderful volume, and contains much of a startling nature. To attempt any tiling like criticism would be entirely out of place in these notes. It is flattering, however, to bo able to notice how this great German soldier praises the British. Ho makes no secret of the fact that most of his uneasiness was duo to our activity or what he anticipated we might do. Another outstanding admission is that ho places the great offensives of the British forces on August 8 of last year as a decisive event of the war. More and more evidence is accumulating which distinctly shows that when we. launched our counter-offensive in August the movement completely shattered the German armies and brought about their collapse. Of course, there were manv other contributory causes of the defeat of the Hun. but truly we can claim that the British land forces played the most important part in the early days of August, 191 S. This is a big thing for a nation which Continental Powers have so often described as a non-military Power. That term might have been applied with some justification in 1914, but when the Great War came to an end the fact remains that the British" Empire represented the greatest military Power in existence. It is good to remember this, and it should make us all face the future with renewed confidence and hope. Once on a time we used to sing '• We don't want to light, but. by jingo, if we do." There is more than a grain of truth in this, and anybody who tries to twist the lion's tail too much in future may anticipate a pretty severe mauling. That we shall have again to fight for our very existence is a certainty, notwithstanding thi*League of Nations or other efforts to preserve the peace. Some readers of these notes may be able to recall this: prophecy in the future, and the writer's previous one that we snail have to fight a combination of Germany and Russia within the next quarter of a ceiturv. it' we "ill only realise the situation all will be well; but it will not do to scrap our Army, Navy, and .Air Force, nor «,, listen to the enemies of oiu- Kiiipire who would entirelv kill everything savoring of a military nature, including even the Boy Scout movement.

OTHKtt* NATIONS. That it will be a very excellent tiling if th" Continental idea of Conscription is done away with must, of course, be evident to every thinking individual. We need that every able-bodied man and woman shall •• pull their weight '' at the present time and help in the great work of restoration, and make up for the grievous losses brought about through the war. On the other hand, we must not lose sight of the fact that to get the best men and women we must take care that the youths of the Empire be properly trained i hysically as well as otherwise. To f end a few months' military trainim >r every youth would be a very exec' . thing. The physical training which >.-<s part of the military life during the war has had a most beneficial effect, which few who underwent it will deny. Opponents of a military training are often inclined to say that the whole time so spent is entirely wasted in the individual's life. That, however, is not the case. as undoubtedly the physical well-being: of the person is improved. whilst his mind is also enlarged and he is taught many things of great use and service to him in civil hie. Six months' military training, which embraces a great deal of physical exercises, must improve all those who undergo it. If it were compulsory that every youth on attaining the age of 18 had to present himself for this course of training it would be an excellent thing for the Empire. It would mean a healthier population, and fit our young men for the battle in civil lite. Moreover, we should always know that when the next great call comes our manhood would have had some instruction to enable them to better defend their homes and families, whilst they themselves''would be more physically tit to do so than if they had never undergone the training referred to. If the United States plans are carried through something of this kind will be the regulation, and it will lil> well if our leading thinkers adopt* similar measures.

OUR POLICY. Tin" Prime -Minister's speech on our future policy lias not given quite as much satisfaction as many of his past speeches. The policy outlined may be truly said to he one of compromise. For instance, we are told that the State will purchase the mineral rights ot mines, but that there will be" no .State working of the mines. Then as to trade policy. Restrictions on imports are to be abolished on September 1, but anti-dumping measures are to be adopted and schemes carried out to maintain certain key industries. Another important thing to note is that the Government will continue to guaran- | tee farmers and others a certain price for specified productions. Reading between the lines, this would suggest that our foreign competitors will still be free to send their imports into the country without duty, and that, so far as agricultural products are concerned, we shall try to meet the situation bv subsidising the producer. This is far from a satisfactory policy, and one cannot help but feel disappointed that some of the great lessons of the war have not been taken to heart as they should have been. There is a verw large number of people of both sexes without employment at the present time who would gladly take up certain agricultural pursuits. This particularly applies to .the production of the necessary bacon, butter, cheese, eggs, and poultry for our own use. Now, had the Government announced their intention to spend a certain sum in launching agricultural societies for this purpose, j tlie undertaking would have met with I every support. Obviously it would have been necessary to guarantee a certain price, so that the producer could pay wages to conform with our ideas and at the same time compete with the overseas sellers who are ablo to produce at a lower figure through the smaller wages prevailing in other countries. If this policy were adopted, it would not be many years before we could produce enough for our own consumption, and there would be no need to admit foreign produce. The advantages are far more than at first meet the eye, as, whilst we should have to pay more for our butter,' cheese, etc., than for the Danish variety, it would be more wholesome and, above all, mean a healthier nation; this for the reason that the more people _ we have engaged; in. agricultural pursuits sarily means a better stock. Then, again, there is the all-important point

regarding the money paid for this product circulating in our own country rather than going to swell the bank balances of our rivals in other countries. Sooner or later the triple policy will have to be tackled in earnest, but indications suggest that the present Government are trying to compromise. It seems a great pity that the presence of overseas Prime Ministers was not taken more advantage of. Whilst they were here would have been the time to confer and settle the Empire's trade policy, and also on the still more important question of an Imperial Parliament, with Home Parliaments for home affairs. This automatically would have settled the Irish question.

LONDON. August 28. U.S.A. AND EUROPE. The attitude of the United Stales towards European policy, and British policy in particular, is making patriots _ somewhat uneasy. With every desire in the world to improve the relationships between Britain and the United States, there is a limit to all things. During the war the United States did several things which many thought were hardly of a friendly nature. On the other, hand, we must never forget the difficulties confronting our best friends in America, and the hostile attitude of a large section of the citizens across the Atlantic, to this country. Moreover, the all-important fact remains that the U.S.A. were with us at the end. There are some who state that the next great war will be between the British Empire' and the United States, and the bone of contention will be trade rivalry. With this the writer entirely disagrees, and. whilst there must naturally be differences, yet the goodwill among the best sections of the people in these two countries will prevail in the long run. and lead to closer bonds. We have in our own Empire mischief-makers whose mission seems to be to create strife between Britain and the people of other nations. The same sort of thing applies to the United States, and even on a larger scale. There, we know to our sorrow, that a section of the .Irish and German races are ever striving to make differences among the British and, Americans. UNWARRANTED INTERFERENCE. Recently we have had several instances as to what length leading legislators in the United States will go in the direction of interfering with our domestic affairs. We ale told of representatives of Egypt, India, and Ireland having appeared 'before a body in Washington and siated their case for self-government. One wonders what would happen if we bad a commission in London to listen to the grievances of the negroes from. say. Virginia. It is easy to recognise that there is danger in the direction indicated, and it is. therefore, to be hoped that far-seeing Americans will put a stop to the attempt on the part of some Americans to interfere in British policy. It is, of course, understood that there are many people in the British Empire who consider Britain has no right to assist in the government 'of Egypt and India. Equally so, large sections of the Irish consider they should have absolute self-government. That, however, is no reason for the United States to interfere in the matter. It is rather curious that at the moment we are told there is a possibility of the United States taking action so as to bring about a stable Government in Mexico. This would merely correspond with the action of the United States regarding (Julia and the Philippines. Britain has never attempted to advise the United States in these matters. Consequently itwill easily be understood that resolutions by the United States Senators, which, to say the least, savor of criticism of our j Government, are somewhat out of place.

AVILD TALK. \ There was a meeting of Socialists. Labor i men. and other extremists in Bolton a few j days since, at which some extraordinary language was used. As a reporter on a local paper put it, "It vi-ould sully the paper to give in full some of the statements and utterances of the speakers!" One of the most extraordinary speeches was made by a woman, who said she was a Sinn Feiner, and who made no secret of her hostility to Britain. It really does seem strange that an enemy of England is allowed to stand up in a public place and make use of language of a disloyal character. It is often claimed that it is good policy to allow these frothy orators to air their opinions. Certainly the wild statements made at the meeting under notice, did more good thorn harm. Some of the men down to speak withdrew, obviously because they did not care to associate themselves with such extraordinary language. To hark hack a moment. The Sinn Feiner refeired to said she was tired of hearing resolutions against this Slid the other, and urged workers generally to take action. of the men speakers weie nearly as bad. The chief grievance was based on our government in Ireland and actions regarding; Russia. There is a certain type of agitator who suggests that the British Government tire trying to kill the revolutionary movement in Russia. This is by no means correct, and it will be recalled that when the revolution hroke out this country did not take sides. Events are so recent that it is easy to recall what happened, and very soon Kerensky, the leader of the first revolution, was overthrown. and Trotsky j and Lenin, who had been allowed to travel through ""• Germany to Russia, secured power. and proceeded to carry on the Bolshevik movement. There are several sections in Russia extremely hostile to the Bolsheviks, and which sections are friendly towards us. Our efforts are merely to assist these sections in overthrowing a murderous ban:! of Bolsheviks, whose policy is practically violence and robbery. A proper understanding of our foreign policy would soon change the opinions of many Labor men who have been persutfded that the British Government desire to interfere with the republican movements in Russia. It would therefore be a very excellent move if a big scheme of propaganda were undertaken, it is orjly*»occasionaliy that a reputable statesman goes among tlie people and explains "something of our foreign policy.

TOO MUCH FORMALITY. It has been a common complaint of overseas men visiting Englund that there is too much, formality and stiffness. Many visitors say liow extremely lonely they felt in London, though surrounded by so many millions. They complain that their attempts at friendliness arc often and usually coldly received. There is, of course, a great deal of truth in this, and travelled Britons will invariably admit that there is a far mole friendly spirit shown among, say, the white people of South Africa, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand than .among the residents of the average British town. A travelled Englishman was only recently relating that he had been three and a-nalf y%a_rs in the north of England on important war work with one of the big Ministries. During that time only two men associated with him in business or outside of it had extended an invitation to him to visit their respective houses. He contrasted this with the open hospitality he had met with in the United.. States, and South Africa, and it really would seem as thojighthe complaints of overseas men about our ■ fwpality and

stiffness are justified. One New Ze'alander has been writing to the Press explaining that he would like to have taken an English bride back with him, but that owing to our exclusiveness he had had no opportunity of meeting really nice girls. Many people are wondering if this complaint is really genuine or an attempt at "leg-pulling." Anyway, his letter lurd not appeared in print many hours before the editor of the paper concerned was swamped with letters from "nice girls," who showed every desire to come to the rescue of the lonely New Zealander. Undoubtedly many British people arc somewhat formal, but it would be a mistake to imagine that the average niee'girl in England is so tied to " Mother Grnndv " that she would refuse to make the acquaintance of a desirable man unless he were very formally introduced. Times are changing, and any overseas soldier who failed to make the acquaintance of many nice girls must have been exceedingly slow.