Sir Patrick Duff Sees Empire As Mankind's Hope

Northern Advocate, 13 March 1948, Page 6

Sir Patrick Duff Sees Empire As Mankind's Hope

NEW PLYMOUTH, Sat. (Sp.).—“Mankind has an immense way to travel in spiritual and moral discipline before such change of heart can be brought about that war shall be eliminated from the world in the same way that slavery has been eliminated. The United Kingdom High Commissioner in New Zealand (Sir Patrick Duff, KCB, KCVQ) said this at the annual conference of the New Zealand Retailers’ Federation at New Plymouth last night.

“The cease fire sounded in 1945,” said Sir Patrick, “but today in 1948 the evil against which we fought is not destroyed; the peace for which we looked eludes us; and the security which so many hoped to gain is nowhere to be found.

regimes which their conquei’ors prescribe for them. . “But both of them have their thoughts, depend on it. “It will require an indoctrination of one at least, and probably generations to reorientate their moral and spiritual outlook. TWO MORALS

“After the first World War people generally, with touching simplicity, expected the dawn 0 f a new world. _ “Sad experience has made people more subdued and realistic as to how high they can pitch their hopes after the second World War. “Even so; there is a pathetic amount of wishful thinking and of the escapism Which leads people to pin too automatic hopes on UNO, charters, security councils, and the like. “But there is no machinery, no parchment, no paper on which world peace can be founded. NEW SPIRIT

“If we have to admit that the world peace for which we hope is a long way off, there are two morals which we can draw from that admission, Sir Patrick continued. “One is: not to be discouraged. “The second is: if in the , British Commonwealth and Empire we have got something which has proved a great success; which, covering as it does so wide a part of the earth’s surface, is an instalment already of the wider universal peace which we hope to see; which is an example of many diverse nations and peoples in various climates and conditions living amicably together; let us most earnestly seek to preserve it and maintain it both in its idealism and—what is equally essential —in its strength. COUNTER TO RUSSIA

“A peaceful world order can only be safely based on a new spirit and outlook, widely spread and actively practised among the nations. “Nevertheless, things are drifting from bad to worse,” Sir Patrick continued.

“One nation, in particular, shows very little will to reach agreement. “it has set up a Comintern whose professed purpose is ‘to combat the U.SA. and their satellites, Britain and France,’ thus openly drawing a division between East a»d West Europe. “In the council of the United Nations, whose own respective theories and practices of democracy differ about as much as chalk from cheese, the manifestations of mutual trust and mutual forbearance and real solidarity are—not particularly impressive. THE DEFEATED COUNTRIES

Referring to Russia, Sir Patrick said: “The atittude of that country towards the comity of nations is disconcerting and the tyranny which she imposes on her small neighbours is tragic. “Bearing witness to this are Poland, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Roumania, Albania, and, within the last week or so, Czechoslovakia.

“The only counter to this is that majestic polity known as the British Commonwealth and Empire.

“The League of Nations broke, but that league of nations known as the British Commonwealth did not break. “It makes to the world a contribution in the human qualities of balance and moderation, good sense, good humour, fair play, moral purpose, and outlook of a very special nature.

“Leaving out of account other areas of enmity, it is worth having a look at Germany and Japan, countries temporarily prostrated by defeat and in the firm grip of their conquerors. “How long will it be before one could reasonably expect Japan, left to herself, or Germany, left to herself, to be a safe and good neighbour? “To bring about a redisposition of the German or of the Japanese mind a generation of schoolteachers would need to receive liberal education from primary school up. “The present generation of pre-war Japanese or German and civil servants would need to be dead. “At the present ■ moment, with tongue in cheek or with uncomprehending docility, the two late aggressor nations are conforming to the

“Twenty-nine years ago, after the first World War, the League of Nations set out to do for mankind what the British Empire was already doing for a quarter of it. “The association covers a quarter of the habitable globe and over a quarter of the human race dwell in it. “Might it not be that this unique and majestic polity from which the world learned the art of freedom might yet teach the world the art of unity?”