Empire Day Messages From The President

Grey River Argus, 24 May 1947, Page 8

Empire Day Messages From The President

The Earl of Gowrie, V.C., P.C., G.C.M.G., C. 8., D. 5.0., has given the following message for Empire Day (to-day). Two years after the triumphs of battle, we are still engaged in a vital struggle to win peace and wellbeing for the peoples of the earth. The struggle is as critical as war itself, for man’s inventive genius, having outrun his morality, has brought him to the brink of selfextermination.

The British Commonwealth is a cross-section of the races and creeds of the world. Such diversity gives rise to grave and far-reaching problems; but it also offers unique opportunities of welding together for joint constructive effort men and women of different stock, different faiths and different cultures. The member-peoples of the Commonwealth and Empire are held together by no coercive bonds, but are freely associated in a partnership. “Free institutions are its life blood. Free co-operation is its partnership. Peace security and progress are among its objects.” No previous empire has been based upon the principle of liberty, and no other empire has ever included in its membership at the same time great nations and communities of European, Asiatic and African blood. The United Kingdom and the self-governing Dominions—nations of the north and south Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans—constitute a fellowship of independent democracies. As such, they can wield a harmonising influence among the other representatives of European civilisation —with them still lies the maoin responsibility for world peace or anarchy.

Again, Britain offers India a partnership with herself on absolutely equal terms. If that great object is attained, the result can hardly fail to be a new and powerful element of stability in, the uneasy relations between East and West. In the Colonial Empire there is a vast range of communities at widely different stages of development. In many territories Britain is cooperating in great practical measures to raise the standard of life, and so increase the pace towards self-gov-ernment. Such work is a fundamental contribution to world peace and progress. All of it—Britain’s co-operation with the Dominions, with India and Burma, and with the Colonies of Africa and elsewhere —depend for success on mutual goodwill. Goodwill grows out of understanding; and understanding can be deepened only by better knowledge of each other. There lies our duty and our opportunity. The celebration of Empire Day is a public acknowledgement of there responsibilities. MESSAGE TO CHILDREN This 1947 Empire Day Message is one of hope for happier days to come. I call you to a great adventure. War and misunderstanding are caused through ignorance, greed and selfishness. In order to live together .in peace we must be more generous, kindly, unselfish and friendly with each other. The leaders of many nations are trying to create this spirit of goodwill throughout the world. We of the British Empire have already tried to set an example for others to follow. You are all free members of an empire whose greatness is based on

liberty and frendship. No other empire has ever included nations and peoples of European, African and Asiatic blood, living and working together as friends, sincerely trying to be helpful to each other and to those I outside the empire. I When celebrating Empire Day, ■I 1 call upon you to do all in your power in the to learn more them your friendship, and so be good citizens of your own countries. This exciting adventure lies before all children of the British Commonwealth and Empire.