THE CHURCHILL GOSPEL

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1932, Page 6

THE CHURCHILL GOSPEL

Economic Imperialism AGAINST RUSSIA, INDIA AND CHINA. WASHINGTON, February 17. “I do not think this is the sunset for the British Empire, it is dawn,” Mr Winston Churchill said to-day, concluding an interview with Canadian correspondents. He described the forthcoming Ottawa Economic Conference as “a great chance, far the best the Empire ever had and if thrown away, practically the only one.” He said: “With really goodwill, why should we not be hopeful of substantial results. It is obviously the import ant thing to put a ring fence round the Empire, eve n if not a very high one. to make the Empire economically self-conscious.” The British quota on wheat, he assumed, would be just as effective as if achieved by duty. The question would be what reciprocal privileges would b-e given to British manufacturers. Referring to gold he said that Britain was the greatest trading nation, that operated for years on a small gold basis. She never dreamed of accumulating gold, although nothing would have been easier. Now, when nations accumulated gold, they were held up as being thrifty. The present situation he compared to a number of backgammon games in which two players held all th-a dice. Referring to Socialism and Communism, Mr Churchill said the thing to do was to show no weakness. “I think about Russia that all the nations should deal with her together; otherwise Russia might destroy one market after another, by the product of what amounts to slavery. I have no doubt they can make anything. There should be an international conference immedi ately.

“In India things are much better. The Government is doing now what I always urged, upholding law and order putting down the restraint of trade.” Apart from fighting among Mohammedans and Hindus, he did not think there were so many killed in India since Gandhi was gaoled as in New York or Chicago. As to the Far East. Mr Churchill thought it would be difficult for the Japanese to stop before obtaining a decisive victory. If the situation was left as it is, there would be a recurrence of Chinese nationalism directed against all foreign Powers. He thought the question must be cleared up.