EMPIRE DAY

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25810, 23 May 1949, Page 8

EMPIRE DAY

ADDRESS BY SIR PATRICK DUFF « HIGH SENSE OF MISSION ” “The story of the British Empire has been, and still is, a wonderful story.” said the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom (Sir Patrick Duff) in an Empire Day broadcast last evening. “New Zealand's own history provides a pretty good illustration of Britain's policy of promoting selfgovernment,’’ he said. “But look at other former colonies also, such as Canada, Australia. South Africa, and see how they, within so short a span, emerged into full self-governnig nations. Look how, more recently, India Pakistan, Ceylon have blossomed forth into the same maturity. . . “The continent of India is as varied in peoples, traditions, and religions as Europe, with all its deep diversities, is. It contains 388,000,000 people speaking 24 different languages. Before the British came, India’s history had been one of bloodshed and rapine, of perpetual feud between people and people, and of periodical devastation as the devouring armies of one conqueror or another swept over the face of it. We gave them a regime of peace lasting longer than that continent has ever known in all its history,” said Sir Patrick Duff. The time had arrived a year ago for the conferment on India. Pakistan, and Ceylon of self-government so complete and unqualified as to carry with it the entire freedom of choice whether to remain any longer associated with the Commonwealth or the Empire femily, he said. At *he recent conference of Prime Ministers in London, it was decided that, notwithstanding her becoming a republic, India could remain in the Commonwealth, said Sir Patrick Duff The conference made a declaration that, “We remain united as free and equal members of the Commonwealth of Nations freely co-operating in the pursuit of peace, liberty, and progress.” “The majestic Commonwealth polity marches on, united and unimpaired,” he said. “The Commonwealth kaleidoscope has taken a further movement and fresh forms and dispositions, effervescing with destiny, settle anew into their places within that august framework. I do not say that Britain has never made mistakes. I do not say that the British Empire is perfect. I do not say that we have not gone too slow in some directions, or. maybe, too fast in others. But I will say that no people ever even attempted to tackle a job so vast or in so un-self-seeking a spirit, or held so high a sense of mission to help forward their fellowmen to share in growing fullness mankind’s heritage and mankind’s responsibilities,” concluded Sir Patrick Duff.