WORLD PEACE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 5, 9 March 1937, Page 17

WORLD PEACE

ESSENTIAL FACTOR

EMPIRE SOLIDARITY

LORD BLEDISLOE'S APPEAL

An appeal for solidarity between all the countries of the British Commonwealth of Nations and the United States of America as the surest way to world peace and world prosperity was one of the leading points in a speech made by Viscount Bledisloe, former Gover-nor-General of New Zealand, who was the guest of honour at a meeting of the University Club in Cape Town recently. "There is in the minds of all a great anxiety regarding the year through which we are about to pass, not only in respect of industrial prosperity, but regarding the peace of the world,1' Lord Bledisloe said. "Might I, apart altogether from- any suggestion of a League of Nations (possibly in amendr ed form), suggest that a means of maintaining the world's peace-is the solidarity of the Empire and co-operation with the United States of America. If these people of the British Commonwealth and of the United States oE America make up their minds that there shall be no war there will1 be no war. (Applause.) "Mutual knowledge, based on mutual trust, should be the aim of all of us. The people of New Zealand, which Dominion I know best, do not know enough about Great Britain and Great Britain does not know enough'about the requirements, aims, and ideals and outlook of that Dominion. If we have mutual knowledge and trust and a determination that whatever happens in the world, our pwn interests are guaranteed to stand for world peace, we need never fear for the future of the British Empire.", (Applause.) .Viscount Bledisloe .'referred to the fact that he had presided over the New Zealand committee for the selection of Rhodes Scholars and said that he had been instrumental in: altering to some extent the ■ qualifications for those scholarships. '"I utterly decline to admit," he said, "that examination results as appended to applications for scholarships were sufficiently convincing, evidence for selecting particular candidates. We went out of our way to look for originality of mind, creative outlook, and, above all, a sense of leadership. FARMER CHOSEN. "Until three years; ago no agriculturist had been selected in New Zealand for a Rhodes Scholarship. It struck; me that agriculture being, a primary industry, it was high time that. someone who regarded the cultivation of the land as a .'.means'•'.of- livelihood should be selected for such a .scholarship. The first agricultural Rhodes scholar went from New .Zealand two years ago and he has proved a great success, not only in the field of scholarship but also, in the field of athletics. (Applause.) "As an old Oxford man, I can say' that Oxford has done much to mould Rhodes scholars, but I can also say that Rhodes scholars have done much to expand the outlook of Oxford and help it to face its problems in the somewhat revolutionary (or should one say, the somewhat revolutionist) world in which we are living. "There" are problems today .which must be faced with the help of men who have had the privilege of university education if we are to ensure that our young people shall enjoy the heritage of the Empire. It is above all for leadership, not only in the political i world, but in the worlds of industry, "\ finance, and commerce and in social c activities that we look to university o men. .■». .-;■ ,■ ■■ - ( -. -■■ : ; o

"I mention the matter of social activities because at the request of the late King, I acted as chairman of the National Services Institution : and .. :I came into' touch with young•.men- in some ot those' areas in' Britain where industry has almost ceased to exist. It seems to [me 'that young men [lack resourcefulness, self-reliance, and adaptability such as is needed to build up an Empire and are simply cogs in a manufacturing wheel, unable to turn their hands to any other work. ; "If ■we are going to solve the very difficult problems which ' face' us, we must make those young people more resourceful and imbue them more with tho.-.pioneer spirit. If we do not, how are we to people the lands of the Commonwealth which is their, heritage? How, otherwise, are we to save those lands from countries which are crying out for places in the sun and which are saying that the British Empire is largely occupied and dominated by 'dogs in the manger?' Our task is to render these, young men fit' for the task of taking up their heritage. Some of the defeatists in Great Britain suggest that Britain is unable to supply sons to carry on overseas. "I decline to be a defeatist on the ground that the birth-rate is falling. If it is true, and scientists tell us that it is true and the population of Great Britain will be materially less in 30 years' time, then I think we are [justified in learning a lesson from our. competitors—l will not say our enemies. "If dictators, of whom we see a growing crop—if Hitler and Mussolini can put a premium on a larger number :of sound 'human beings r in order to .populate:countries which, do not yet belong: to them, Jn order to satisfy their, ambitions, surely it is up to us to put. a premium on the multiplication of men of the r right type, to occupy: our Empire countries. ';, "When. I .was in New Zealand I was struck by the lack of sense of nationhood, v iThsy. still looked to Great Britain' for, leadership. "" I, tried to preapH^that1 gospel of cohesion there because .J:..thi,nlc it is; essential to. cqoperatioh"/^' vf* '■■ ■ i ■ ■■■■■• "I am first a farmer, and I think that' unless ybu;[have a ngtign, rooted 4n mother earth you cannot achieve that stability which a nation should possess. Remember the old saying, 'The best thing to do; on earth is to cultivate it,'; and that Cultivation should not becon-i fined to.the land, itself but also ... to human being; who live on it. What tlie; Empire V needs [is a good relationship; between all, without regard to class,; race, or colour." : •.'.'.•■ i