WEMBLEY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 July 1924, Page 8

WEMBLEY.

THE GREAT EXHIBITION. AND "WHAT IT STANDS FOR. LONDON, May 6. Dean Inge: “It i s to be hoped that of the multitudes who will be flocking to Wembley not many will forget to thank God that the British Empire st-ill exists. More than once during the Great War it was in danger of total destruction, and the result of that destruction would have been to turn Great Britain into a Rower of the second or third rank. It would be gross ingratitude to forget that the'British Empire Exhibition is primarily a corporate act of thankfulness for the preservation of all our ancestors won for us, and for our right to hope that the future of our race may be even grater then its past. “How blind our statesmen were as to the quarter from which the danger' was coming! In 1890 Sir Charles Dilke, perhaps the best-informed politician of the day in all Imperial affairs, ended his deeply interesting book, ‘Problems of Great Britain,’ by saying, ‘The only other Powers of the future that will count greatly in the world are Russia, China, and the United States.’ Not a word of Germany, though the Germans were already beginning to speak of the British Empire as a ripe pear which would one day drop into their lap. We were blind about Germany, and they were much more blind about ns; for they never dreamed that they would have to fight the British Empire, which they supposed was ready to revolt. The Exhibition will not rouse any vulgar feelings of jingoism in those who are capable of thought. We call ourselves an Empire, but we are really a League of Nations in being. The last century has witnessed two supremely successful and, infinitely interesting political experiments on a grand scale, and both are the work of the English-speaking peoples. One is the Federal Constitution of the United States. -. . The other great experiment .is the British Empire, which rests, of course, on the British fleet . As we wander from one hall to another of the great Exhibition, and admire the exhibits from Jamaica and Trinidad, from Natal and New Zealand, we may remember, the stout hearts and strong hands of those who won those provinces for the British race. Few will leave Wembley unstirred by thankfulness, patriotism, and hope. Internationalism is a fine thing, no doubt, but if we want to get good Europeans we had better begin by being good Englishmen.” The Times: “The King has spoken, audibly and immediately, to his. subjects and to the nations as no King over spoke to them before. The Sovereign who a few year s since probably commanded more fighting men than any Sovereign before him in history or in fable, has added this new distinction to his record. ... There have been many phases of Imperial consciousness in the past; but the visions to which they gave birth, wide and exalted as they often have been, bid fair to be surpassed by that which it is intended by ‘this picture of our commonwealth of nations,’ to excite. Wembley typifies nothing impossible, hut records, though on a seal© unprecedented, what is but actual and present, and susceptible, therefore, as all institutions that have the breadth of life in then*, are susceptible, of orderly and unremit, tent expansion and development.”. The Daily Telegraph: “The Exhibition constitutes a challenge in a warexhausted world to the fruitful pursuit of industry, and commerce, education, and recreation; and that challenge is offered in no vainglorious spirit, but in the strength of a sincere love of peace, by all the peoples of the British Commonwealth of Nations, Whatever pride we may feel in the achievement of a high purpose which the rising of the magical city of Wembley represents, we ask our fellow-citizens overseas to share it in full measure, knowing that they, in far-off lands, have revealed the stronger faith and the more com-j pie to trust in the destiny that is within our grasp if wisdom in council and courage in action are associated with the material conquests which we are seeking to make with the aid which spience can lend. Sajne years ago his Majesty struck a note of warning and admonition : ‘Wake up_ England!’ Yesterday lie made, as Sovereign, a no less insistent appeal to all the peoples in the British Empire, without regard to race or- religion or party. ‘Co-operation between brothers for the better development of the family estates can hardly fail to promote family affection.’- That must be the keynote of this wonderful drawing together, under the shadow of the greatest of all wars, of the manifold peoples who constitute the British Commonwealth of Nations. The Exhibition will not achieve its greater aim if it does not carry conviction to the hearts of it s millions of visitors that the victories of pea.ee are more glorious than those of war, and promote prosperity, while those of war blast it. Our task is not to seek more territory, but to develop that which has, more by chanco than design, fallen to us. While we set store mainly by the. co-operation of our own peoples, we realise, and-they realise, that the greater the goodwill and prosperity of our neighbours', East and West, the more ample will bo the success of our efforts to promote Empiic settlement and Empire development. We have our peculiar sources of pride and affection within our own lamily circle, hut there i$ ample scope for friendship with other nations: London. though it will welcome with particular a.f lection visitors to he counted iy the millions from the Dominions, Crown colonies, and protectorates overseas, which arc yoked with us in a common purpose, will also open its doors with eager hospitality to all. rememIvermg that this is an Imperial city, whose pleasure ig to do things greatly.” The Morning Post : “It is significant of much that whereas until now the common understanding and the common development of the Empire have been retarded by difficulties of communication. yesterday, upon the occasion of an event which should mark the beginning of a. new era, the King s speech was heard by thousands far away; and the time is near when a message will he sent with the speed of light to every part of the Empire. 'Yesterday the King's message was at once a message of hope in the present and for the future, and the call of the King-Em-peror to a great enterprise.” The Evening Standard: “The ultimaic essence of Wembley is its romance. Thou -amis of people who will never have- the time or the means- to go turt-hci i lian Dieppe or the Channel islands can sec there for themselves w iat, the content of the King's title, which they read idly enough on a treasury note, really means.” HV ,in ~ <nvr ’ : “The pageant of A\cni!)Jcy should help all tho*e '•■no cim; to think to realise something at least oi the enormous and varied "on!; t* which we possess -11 every corner oi (he earth. It should l, e our aim to make the ICmpire in being what i( already is in its potentialities—a- selfcontained and -self-supporting whole independent oi. any outside ai<l. That the spirit necessary to achieve such a task is already m existence as a real

and living thing is proved .by the showing made by every ' part- of the Empire during the Great War. A more splendid and more prosperous Empire means a better world. It is for us in our day to do our utmost not only to maintain but to ennoble tlxe great structure which Biitish courage' and enterprise have created- during centuries of' service and of sacrifice.” The Daily Express': “The Empire represents fraternal unity. But its unity is not built on rainbow dreams ' It is founded. on the solid reality of trade. ‘Co-operation-tween brothers for the better development- of the family estate.’ Let us develop the inexhaustible resources of our own Dominions and Crown colonies..-The Exhibition ought to persuade bur merchants and manufacturers to rediscover the half-forgotten lands across the sea They must turn their eyes away from the old markets of Eh rope to the new markets of the. Empire. ”