NEW CONSERVATISM

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 128, 2 June 1938, Page 23

NEW CONSERVATISM

PREMIER'S TENETS.

PRACTICAL REALISM.

DIVEST OF IDEALS AND SENTIMENT. (By R. A. SCOTT-JAMES in the "Christian Science Monitor.") A new kind of Conservatism exists in the world to-day, which is a descendant of nineteenth century Conservatism, yet is very different. It is still the antithesis of what may broadly be called "Liberalism"; but its ideas are based upon a different conception of power. It has been growing up side by side with the older Conservatism during the last half century/but!to : day it is becoming conspicuously predominant; I am not speaking of one cipuntry alone. These two divergent tendencies, Conservative and Liberal, have long existed in all the older civilised countries! ..an4. toj. some extent in new countries. There'have been and are Conservative and Liberal minds, in the United States .as Twell as in Eng-' land, France and Italy. But the types have been, more cleArly defined, more explicitly rfecpgnised|ia^Great. Britain than elsewhere, ancT tßeir characteristics can be most readily studied there.

Mr. Eden's Liberalism. The recent "political crisis jn" Great Britain arising from the resignation of Mr. Anthony Eden, Foreign' Secretary, illustrates the character of the new Conservatism, and shows Liberalism remaining what in essence it always was and what it always must be. Liberalism rests upon the sanctity of certain ideas, of which the first is freedom— freedom of the individual in thought and speech, freedom of the citizen to take a part in governing his country through representative institutions, the freedom of small States as against aggression from powerful States—and its conception of law, national or international, is that of a law based upon consent, all banding themselves together to defend mutual rights, through the strong hand of the State or through the collective security provided by a league or association. In domestic affairs it endeavours to promote the true freedom of the individual by social legislation which improves the condition of the most handicapped classes; in foreign affairs it seeks to promote the rule of law and order which will preserve States against aggression.

Evil That Good May Come. ' In this sense of the term Mr. Anthony Eden is a Liberal. As such he was necessarily opposed to the plundering of Ethiopia by a foreign Power and to foreign intervention' in the internal affairs of Spain, and he felt that policy should be directed so far as possible to discourage the violation of China by Japanese action. He is a strong supporter of the League of Nations and the conception of an international law and order maintained on the basis of collective security. .<_ Believing in the Bancity of certain fundamental ideas, -lie cannot lightly 1 acquiesce in the doctrine of doing evil: in order that good may come—that is to say, recognising the ;rigfits of conquest in Ethiopia. The Liberal is inclined to think- that: to ; recognise Italian sovereignty in Ethiopia is to compound a felony. It. niakos no difference that Mr. Anthony Eden has sat in Parliament, officially labelled as a Conservative. In reality he is simply a Liberal.

Now to -recognise, the virtues, of Liberalism is not necessarily to deny virtues to Conservatism. Conservatism in ' the. nineteenth century stood for the maintenance of tradition—for authority as tested throughout the ages and handed on from generation to generation.

The new' Conservatism arose out of the growing power of the bb'urgeois and the rise of the wealthy business class which tended to supersede the old aristocracy. To some extent it assimilated the ideas of the former ruling class, but its energy and inherent strength necessarily gave it other characteristics. When it appears in the field of politics it is practical, realistic, unsentimental, judging policies and 'measures by their immediate practical results. To such a mind the accomplished fact is always more important than a foreign hope.

In foreign politics, when confronted with the fact that Italy hae actually conquered Ethiopia, it ie inclined to say: "Nothing is to be gained by crying over spilt milk; since Italy is master of Ethiopia, it is no use falling out with her by refusing to recognise her." In regard to Spain it is inclined to say: "Foreign, intervention is an evil, but a 'greater .evil ie the disharmony between other countries caueedby quarrelling about it." In regard to Central Europe and. the position, of countries like Austria or Czechoslovakia, it, says: "Wo (in Britain) cannot possibly go to war to save, these countries if they are attacked. We must frankly admit there is nothing we can do for them."

Opposing Forces. Concerning the League of Nations: "Do not le.t us endeavour to bolster up a false sense of security of a eham idealism." In every case the rule adopted ie—Do not be governed too much by vague general ideas. Pursue the practical course which promises immediate advantage for your country. Use common sense.

That is the new Conservatism, which is represented by Mr. Neville Chamberlain. In the recent political disturbance in Britain the claeh was between this new Conservatism of hard common eenee on the one side and on the other the old Conservatism, standing for prestige and national honour, and Liberalism, advancing the caee for maintaining, even et a sacrifice, the cause of liberty and democracy. <