EMPIRE’S DESTINY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 234, 31 August 1935, Page 9

EMPIRE’S DESTINY

INFLUENCE FOR PEACE.

LUNCH CLUB ADDRESS

“In the onward march of the world it is quite evident that a definite place has been mapped out ior people who see a little further ahead than others and who in propagating their ideas are apt to be designated as cranks by bund people with closed minds. Anything that is new is always under suspicion. Any departure from custom, tradition and dogma savours of heresy, and, of course, is a grave danger. But very often the crank makes a discovery which becomes a valuable addition to knowledge. In every age, therefore, there will always be people clinging to old methods, and also people who are progressive enough to adopt the new. and this in itself, in all departments of life, calls out many of the petty hatreds that are unworthy of enlightened human beings. _ Possibly there was some excuse in the 16th century for such conduct, but there is none to-day.” This comment was made by Rev. J. S. Pate, of St. David’s _ Church, Terrace End, in prefacing his address to the Palmerston North Citizens Lunch Club, yesterday, on “More About the Empire.” “There are people who believe that they have all the facts of the case, and that the theory that holds the field must necessarily be right, and that everything new which runs counter to it must necessarily be wrong,” he added. . “The celebration of the King s Silver Jubilee has concentrated the attention of tbe world on one throne and one King. The most widely scattered Empire of all history has had its representatives at the centre of Empire, offering to the King the affection and loyalty of a united Empire. Never before in all the history of the world lias a King had such world-wide respect paid to him. Never before did the coloured races display such barmoney and interest in a king. Nevei before did the European nations see such a manifestation of solidarity in the Empire as was manifest on the occasion of the Jubilee celebrations. Never before in the history of the United States was such interest manifested ill the ltoyal Family. Such affection and loyalty made the potentates of the earth and dictators wish to lie enthroned in the hearts of their subjects in like manner. Hie celebiations were not only national, but international in the widest sense. the pessimists had every reason to be confounded. It may be said that there never was such a manifestation of underlying British sentiment. What is inherent in the British peoples always conies to the surface and is displayed in an unmistakable mannei a the opportune moment. There have been times in history when it was thought that Britain was decadent and on the eve of the break-up of the Empire. The Frenchman could not understand the Empire ; to him it was a wild notion and difficult to grasp. The prestige of the British Empire never stooci higher than at the present day. It is a real thing and stands for the worthwhile things of life- ''e have come to think, and indeed many of the nations of the world are deeply impressed with the fact, that the British Empire is a necessity' for the well-being of the world. The peoples of the Empire demonstrated their main quality, the beautiful one of loyalty to the King at the recent Jubilee celebrations. . “In certain quarters to-day it is almost a crime to say anything good about the British Empire and in spite of all that could be said in praise ot it there will always be a sprinkling of incurable pessimists. These people are not necessarily enemies and there are many, classes of them. “The reason why Britain is not on the down-grade,” continued Mr Pate, “is because it differs from all the Empires that have preceded it. It has a different character, is kept together in a different way. possesses a different constitution, is based on better laws, and is progressing to a finer destiny. Whether the Communists, Hitlerites or Fascists like it or not, the vision of the prophets envisages a King, a Kingdom and a Throne as the ideal.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. “There are big questions agitating the minds of the statesmen and all thinking people of the world to-day. The great cataclysm of 1914-1918 has set up a great revolt against the repetition of such an experience. The League of Nations, with its idea of collective security, is no doubt on the right lilies and much lias been accomplished of a temporary nature in nipping prospective wars in the bud and in acting as a deterrent to aggressive nations. Much lias been accomplished along many lines in keeping the world at peace and in helping weak and struggling nations. There call be no doubt that most of the nations of the earth are looking to the League as the guarantor of the peace of tTie world. Weak nations have nowhere else to look for protection, they feel that with the League to cnanipion their cause national safety is on a firmer basis.

“When any great nation keeps outside of the League, to that extent it is weakened. When the nations which are members withdraw their adherence, this again is a source of weeklies. If they set out to pursue a policy of their own without consulting the League or in defiance of its aims, they put ail additional burden on the shoulders of those who so eagerly desire the maintenance of the peace of the world. The lion’s share as mediator in the cause of peace generally falls on Britain. Her statesmen. taking a serious view of sucli defalcations, have energetically pursued the cause of peace; they have interviewed the statesmen of the different countries and have arranged conferences with a view to preventing the awful nightmare of another devastating war. While all this is going on and disloyalty by one and then another of the great Powers is shown there lias been revealed a great lack of community of interest in the composite membership of the League. There are many reasons tor this, and each nation is conscious of the fetters which militate against either its own advancement or its own ambitions. There can be no doubt whatever that in the past most of the treaties which have been drawn up at the close of a war have contained in them the seeds of a now war which only require time for germination. These peace treaties are human documents and, of course, to err is human. The nursing of revenge tor past defeats is always a powerful factor in tho formulation of further policies which, if allowed to come to fruition, will produce war. The past wars, treaties and histories of the various units of the League militate against the League’s objective and cause a constant state of ferment. This applies specially to the European Powers, because most of them have a land boundary which has often been crossed by the foot of the invader throughout the centuries. COMMUNITY OF INTEREST.

“The idea of community of interest is destined to play an important part in the future history of the world. The question urisse in our

minds: Wlmt nro the chances of this community of interest possessing the hearts and minds of those nations which at present compose the League? Can such a conglomeration of nations ever become the nucleus of a world state? There is no danger of war within a League of Nations which possess community of interest. That person would be an optimist indeed who would hazard the opinion < that this quality was possible of attainment within the present League. .In the present state of these nations such an achievement lies outside tho realm of practical politics. No matter what path we pursue in our discussion of a workable League of Nations, community of interest is the fundamental to success. Tho present tension must bo relieved while the world is in a transitional stage. Britain is the backbone of tho present League of Nations. She is the prime mover for pence. She has done more than all the Powers combined to keep the world at peace. Yet there is always the danger that she will bo drawn into war unless she is careful. The Daily Mail, of London, has been advocating the withdrawal of Britain from the League and to come out of all European entanglements. That seems a calamitous move from the point of view of pacifists, but circumstances may yet point out that path as the road which the Empire ought to take. Should that happen, then the main obstacle to America linking up more closely with Britain is removed and there can be no doubt whatever that these two great AngloSaxon countries would feel that a closer union would be for their mutual profit and also beneficial for the world. Can we visualise what this means? It means the union of the continent of North America (America and Canada). It mean thast the continent of Australia would be in the League, the nation of Now Zealand, and all India, and South means the whole of the British Empire plus America. It must be remembered that at tho present time a full measure of co-operation in the interests of peace is not being exercised by these English-speaking Bowers. Such a League lias community of interest which is so fundamental to success. Moreover, it would have power to withhold credits and supplies from the warring parties and also for enforcing moral and economic sanctions. Into such a League ail the peaceful nations of tho world would come. 'When Mr Joseph Chamberlain was told of this kind of League and of this exalted future of Britain he exclaimed in some such words as these. ‘My God, what a scheme of Empire!’ ’’ the speaker concluded. Mr A. M. Lascclles presided, and thanked tho speaker for his address. Mr J. A. Edwards (Palmerston North) was welcomed ns a visitor.