TWO IMPERIALISMS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 175, 19 April 1940, Page 10

TWO IMPERIALISMS

British And German Conceptions COMPARISON DRAWN Fundamental Issues At Stake (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 17. Speaking in London todav on ’’The Two Imperialisms." the Dominions Secretary. Mr. Anthony Eden, opened by saying: " I his war is not a clash between rival dynasties. Its basic causes are not economic. nor is it even a struggle to decide the balance ot power. Nazidom's record of broken faith has established long since that the Nazi Government cannot lie negotiated with. But even this is not the whole and heart of the, problem. The German Government s conception of the world’s future is not compatible with ours, nor is there room for both. “For Nazism humanity consists of one race that rules —the German race —and the other races are all ami always inferior. We are convinced, on the other hand, that there can be no hope for mankind unless peoples, small as well as great, are free to develop their own civilizations hi security and peace. It is, therefore, fundamentals that are at stake. No more vital issues have ever been fought out in any war in history.” Mr. Eden proceeded to make a comparison of German and British conceptions of imperialism. Tlie Nazi ideal, lie said, was based on subjection and repression, and lie cited the type of world peace envisaged by Hitler in “.Mein Kampf” as being one ‘‘that can be guaranteed by the triumphant sword of people endowed with the power to master the world." Free British Institution. lit contradistinction to this statement, Mr. Eden recalled a 1926 Imperial Conference resolution, which declared of lhe British Commonwealth, "Ils free institution is its lifeblood, tree co-oiier-ation its instrument.” While nations with divergent internal systems, lie continued, could live together, provided iheir conceptions of interimtionul conduct were approximately Hie same, there was no room for the practice of two fundamentally antagonistic conceptions or world order, and Mr. Eden added: "Hillier Hie German doctrine of submission or our doctrine of equality must prevail.” At the present moment, said Mr. Eden, both systems could be seen in practice. He warned his listeners not to regard Hiller as a phenomenon distinct from the German nation. He was the direct expression of a great part of it and the inheritor of earlier exponents of German faith in brute force. Mr. Eden pointed out Hie German aggressive war had not been lor economic gain, but had been aimed to make tlie world yield to German authority. He asked bis audience not to underestimate the conviction that this idea held, saying: "The Nazis believe that it is for the good of Germany that tlie world should lie ruled by the Nazis., and what is good for the Germans must lie good enough for the world. If otliers cannot understand this crude and simple proposition, tliey must be beaten till they do." “Unhappy Truth.” Illustrating what he described as “this unhappy truth,” Mr. Eden read an official Nazi announcement published in a captured Polish city, which document concluded: "Poles who have not yet grasped that they are Hie conquered while we are tlie conqiierois, and will nor comply with the above decrees. will be punished witli all the severity of tlie law.” Giving another illustration, Mr. Eden reminded his listeners Hurt while the German minority in Czechoslovakia had the use of its own schools and language, and a great German university flourished in Prague, today in Hie whole country tlie Czech language was suppressed ami the only university surviving was German. Mr. Eden I hen Hi rued to the working of the British Commonwealth and pointed out tlie fallacy ol the ofteurepented statement that Britain owned a quarter of the world. No ptrrt of the Empire owned any other part, lie continued. Britain no more ruled over Canada Hum Canada over Britain. or Australia over Now Zealand, or Britnin over either. The equality of each mid nil of the self-governing Dominions was complete and absolute. Speaking of the Colonial Empire Mr. Eden said that Britain subscribed to Ibe principles ol’ Article 22 of the League Covenant and regarded rhe government of the colonies its a trust. He said: "In some neutral countries, which are not at all enamoured of our enemy, the belief persists that this is merely a war of interests. One imperialism against another imperialism. One profiteer against another profiteer. Profit is its only basis, self-interest its only motive. No! Many wars have been fought in tlie past on that basis mid that motive, but this is not one of them. This is much more than a conflict of interests. It is a conflict of worlds. Tlie whole story of civilization waits upon ils issue.”