BRITAIN WITHIN

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1942, Page 3

BRITAIN WITHIN

EFFECTS OF WAR Rejuvenation of People [Special to N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec 6.30.) LONDON, April 25. Soft, sunny Spring days have arrived, finding a new spirit abroad m Britain. It is a spirit of offensive, of attack, revealing a new Britain, one which is entirely different from the pre-war days, when the country was flabby in minds and in bodies. It is also a different British from that in the days of the fall of France and the Blitz period, when she was down and worried, but determined. To-day, although she is facing a period which may mean disaster, ultimately, 'Britain is like a man recovered from a grave operation. Britain is now feeling now strength both of spirit and body, which is fortified by the knowledge that she no longer stands alone, but has strong and determined allies. A realisation that she can now hit Germnay extremely hard from the air: pride in her commando raids; coupled with such incidents as the Tokio raid, the Russians’ confidence and the United States’ growing power—an these, are causing a wellingup of national spirit. It is toughened by the knowledge that the Germans will launch a big attack against Russia, and possibly also against Egypt; and that there will be further Japanese incursions. These facts are accepted, but no longer defensively, because a hardening of war muscles of the Allied nations is now becoming a daily process. It has been most interesting to watch this metamorphosis of the nation from the pre-Munich days, when it wrung its hands like a trembling schoolgirl at the mere thought of war, to the present time when it is more like a rising young boxer who, after several defeats, feels he has had enough experience to fit him to win a championship.

There may still be certain uneasiness, as evidenced by the recent discussions on the composition of the General Staff directing the war, but that is part of an offensive spirit also.

The seriousness of the shipping position is graver than is generally realised. This does nothing to detiact from a demand for action, but only intensifies it. Paradoxically, it mav be said that the war has resulted in Britain re-finding itself and her Empire. For instance there is more interest in the Empire than for many years, now that a part of it has gone. For many years there lias been ignorance on the part of the man in the street regarding the Empire generally. He has not been “sick of it,” as some observers apparently think, but has taken it for granted, and, if he has been disinterested, that has been because comparatively little has been done to interest him in it individually, while during the slump years , he had more than enough personal troubles. Another interesting thing to observe is a tremendous admiration among a great mass of the people for Russia. This probably is as much a reaction from a tendency for many years in certain sectors of public opinion, which have been

afraid of Russia, to cry her down, as it is from high regard for Russia’s proven ability to withstand the Germans, and to show herself the first nation capable of beating them. It is possible that a section, of public opinion may, be afraid of Russia’s influence after the war from the point of view of their own personal interests;. There are others equally uneasy lest British and American relations with Russia may not be as happy as they could wish, due to the possible difference of opinion as to whether Russia will retain her 1941 frontiers after the war. There is not the slightest doubt that any failure to co-operate fully with Russia in every way will cause deeprooted resentment among the mass of public opinion. Yet another interesting aspect of Britain’s thinking is post-war reconstruction. Britain had hardly entered the war when she already began to think in terms of trade after the war. But this attitude was hurriedly given up, when it was realised that there was a distinct possibility that her postwar period might be under Nazi domination.

To-day, people are inclined to be sceptical of the glib politicians who talk of a brave new world. They are fighting for freedom, and that means freedom, not return to the - dole economic and depression, but freedom to allow Mr Roosevelt's four freedom points the fullest growth. There are many who say: “Ws heard all that after the last war.” (But it should, be realised that, just as every war differs from the previous one, so every peace differs. It will be a very different world after this war from the world of the. nineteen twenties and thirties. Britain has many trials and difficulties ahead of her, but the war has given the greatest opportunitv to rejuvenate and also to shake off not. only prosaic methods, but elderly prosaic minds, which cannot grip and grasp modern conditions, and use imagination for the future. One of the reasons why Russia is so admired is the fact that she proved herself a country young in thought and action, where youth is given every encouragement, and where the rulers and nation’s leaders are not elderly before they are givsn the job of leading the country. There i? no denying or overlooking this rejuvenation, which the ill wind of war has brought to Britain. It is the happiest augury for her in helping to win the war, and what is equally important, in tackling vigorously post-war years.