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Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 91, 14 October 1931, Page 8

The shooting by the Japanese of a Chinese, boy for tearing down a military proclamation in territory which does not belong to them and rumours of their intention to occupy the Chinese capital; the fatal blow which is thus threatened to the authority of the League of Nations, the prospects of the Disarmament Conference, and (lie hopes of the world's peace; the panic-stricken proclamation of Gcrimany's desperate condition, and of llic insolvency of the Reichsbank by an ex-President of that institution; the cheerful alacrity with which Mr. Gandhi contemplates the sacrifice of a million lives on the altar of India's freedom; and the staking of the British Empire upon the chances of a confused and bitter election fight— these are some of the subjects which are presented for the consideration of the newspaper-reader to-day. Between them they present a strange commentary on the hope of thirteen years ago that the great struggle which was then drawing to a close would "mnke the world safe for democracy." It might even be plausibly argued that a combination of these events are of greater importance than the issue of that other titanic struggle which is reported from New York to-day in the words:

In the fifteenth Camera was out on his feet, Sharkey gaining the decision.

Yet even in the great ccftmlry which claims to be the greatest in the world it is probable that none of these things nor the Hoover-Laval conversations which are eagerly awaited in London is "likely to initiate a world movement to solve the economic difficulties" are exciting what in comparison with the thrill of the Camera Sharkey meeting is but a very languid interest.

Though in interest and in importance Japan's perilous adventure in [ Manchuria, which may soon be supported by a blockade of the chief ports of China and the occupation of her capital, may seem lo eclipse all the other events that we have mentioned, the peaceful campaign that was opened by Mr. Mac Donald at Seaham on Monday may in its ultimate consequences prove to be of equal concern to the world. Whatever may happen in Mukden or in Nanking, an enfeebled Britain and a shattered British Empire would aggravate indefinitely the troubles of the world. She has been the mainstay of peace ever since the Armistice, and until the United States gets a good deal further than urging the League of Nations from a position of independence and irresponsibility to "assert all pressure and authority within its competence" to settle a dangerous international dispute, there is not the slightest chance of Britain's being relieved of that responsibility. If Britain had imitated the stand-off [attitude of the United States the League of Nations would never have been born, and if at any time she had withdrawn it would have collapsed at once. Mr. Henderson, the Labour leader, is, of course, as good a League of Nations man as Mr. Mac Donald himself, but he is committed to a financial policy which would be the ruin of Britain, and by disabling the nation whose moral and material strength has been the chief security of peace would also be the ruin of the. League.

The world as well as the nation has therefore vital interests at stake in the campaign which Mr. MacDonaid opened on Monday, and if he is not as obviously "the centre of the world's desire" as he is "the pillar of a people's hope," the reason is not that the interests are not comparable, but that the'world has not an equally clear perception of the fact. To some observers Mr. Mac Donald may seem to be taking an undue risk in declining the offer of a safe scat in order to stand again for the constituency where the party which returned him before has disowned him since he asserted his independence and became a national statesman in order to save the nation. But in taking this risk Mr. Mac Donald is showing his consistency, for he is again sacrificing himself to the cause. If courage is not too common among public men it is none the less appreciated on that account, and the Prime Minister's courage can hardly fail to have a bracing and inspiring effect upon a nation which loves a fight and admires a fighting man. At the last General Election Mr. Baldwin was severely criticised for laying too I much emphasis upon '"safety first" —a phrase which represents an excellent policy, bul makes a poor slogan. But il was at any rule of ihc nation's .safely lhal Mr. lialdvvin was speaking, whereas, il Mr.

Mac Donald had preferred a walkover in Sunderland or somewhere else to the risks of Scaham, lie would have laid himself open lo the launL that he was resorting to the policy of "Safety First" for his own protection. The idea of "the Nation First" which supplied the keynote of his appeal to the country has also been allowed to determine his choice of a constituency. And even if Mr. Mac Donald's courage does not receive the reward that it deserves il will have served as an inspiring example to others, and another constituency will be easily found lo accept the honour that Seaham declined.

Though there is less detail and less colour in our reports of Mr. MacDonald's speech than the importance of the occasion had led one to expect, the points that are given are all excellent, and it is evident that lie struck the right note. He is standing as "a Labour candidate," but as a Labour candidate who ' had not always obeyed the caucus, and who "was not scared to snap his fingers at political excommunication." He stands as a Labour man, but in the interests of the nation, and with his eyes on a still wider gallery.

He appealed to electors generally to vote for representatives of the National Government in order to prove to tho world that the country stood united during these days of trial and uncertainty. There was a tremendous moral effect when the word went round the globo that Britain in distress would stand together. Ho urged that they should give the world another thrill on 28th October.

It is probable that no British Prime Minister ever had occasion to make a broader appeal. Of specific points the most striking was the candid reference to the divisions which are discrediting and may imperil the Government.

Some social organisations, said Mr. Mac Donald, were determined to use the crisis for party ends. That was not playing tho game. It was a denial of tho very essence of National Government.

That most stalwart and consistent of Freetraders, Lord Grey, is not allowing the tariff to prevent him from giving the Government whole-souled support, and he therefore carries great weight when he denounces the opposition offered to Sir Herbert Samuel by the tariff advocates as "unpatriotic." If Mr. Baldwin will denounce in the same way the similar tactics of the North Cornwall Conservatives, he will put himself right and his party right, and help to protect the Government from a serious danger.