The Dominion TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1925. OPTIMISM IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 79, 29 December 1925, Page 6

The Dominion TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1925. OPTIMISM IN BRITAIN

England generally, it was reported in one of yesterdays cablegrams, celebrated the Christmas holiday in an optimistic .spirit T his is only one of many indications that the people of the Mother Country are facing their difficulties of the moment with undiminished courage and are looking ahead with cheerful confidence. The idea that Britain is a country hopelessly overburdened and on the down grade, and that she has permanently lost the place she formerly held in the world, finds no favour even with those of her own people who are most keenly alive to the gravity and magnitude of the problems by which their nation is confronted. For the spirit of optimism that’prevails even better reasons may be found than the portents of improving prosperity in 1926 on which attention has recently been concentrated. ( The British Prime Minister (Mr. Baldwin) went to the heart of the matter in his speech at the Guildhall last month. After reviewing on that occasion the outlook at home and abroad, Mr. Baldwin described as an illusion the idea possibly held in somb quarters that Britain, if not quite submerged, was at any rate within easy distance of going under. . . T , , The waters are falling (he added) and our spirits arc rising. I was cheered a few days ago by seeing a remark of someone that “there are far more honest men alive than ever get mentioned in the papers.” Of course, there are. There are millions of them in this country of ours—the same , sort of ordinary humdrum people who surprised the world and themselves in 1914 and who will always answer the call when their country needs help. The prosperity of a State, the life of a State depends—on what?. On the common people of that State. And it is because I have faith in the common people of this country that I look forward to the years to come with confidence, and maintain my faith in our destiny. . It is undoubtedly upon patient and well-sustained effort by its national rank and file that Britain must depend mainly, in working its way back to prosperity. No doubt it is easy to .point, to casesin which the national energies might have been organised and directed to better advantage, but Britain’s total record in the troubled years through which she has lately passed is one of which any nation might be proud. The credit undoubtedly is hers of having done more than any other nation to re-establish peace on firm foundations and lo give free play to the forces of reconstruction. Carrying as an outcome of the war an almost crushing burden of debt and taxation, she has nevertheless set an example of generosity to the whole world in her treatment of war debts and other details of the post-war financial settlement. She has taken a foremost part in every eft oit made to re-establish world peace, and it is largely clue to . the bold lead given on her behalf by Sir Austen Chamberlain that the agreement embodied in the Locarno Pact has brought a new fellowship of nations into prospect. Some people find fault with Britain’s post-war record on the ground that her statesmen have been more successful in. dealing with international affairs, and in extending aid to other nations, than in dealing with the affairs of their own nation. Britain unquestionably is carrying more than her share of the world s burdens, but within her own borders as well as in the wider international field she has a remarkable record of achievement. In her army of unemployed there is evidence of economic problems unsolved, but it stands to the credit of the Mother Country that in the years of economic stress since the war came to an end more complete and liberal provision has been made than ever before for the alleviation of distress and for the relief of those who are in want through no fault of their own. At some points the trade policy of Great Britain appears to .be halting and ineffective, but here also there is another side to the picture. Splendid initiative and enterprise have been shown in the organisation of the great Exhibition at Wembley, and in the various activities in which this Imperial undertaking is being followed up. Confronted as she still is by many troubles and difficulties, Britain is adding steadily to the achievements that have given her a place of leadership among the nations. The undimmed optimism of her people reflects the qualities that have made and are making her great achievements possible.