Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1924 1924

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 31 December 1924, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1924 1924

THE year which is closing has been notable for the ‘ constructive efforts of statesmen bent on restoring the commercial prosperity of Europe generally,' rather than for any remarkable advancement achieved by any particular State, either politically or commercially. >t has been a year of peace. No nations of any importance have been at war with each other, though in one or two States there has been serious internecine trouble. The great work of the year has been done in the council chamber rather than in the camp, and by the statesman rather than by the soldier. The outstanding event of the year is probably the putting into operation the Dawes' Plan for the rehabilitation of Germany economically. That plan redounds to the credit of the eminent American who conceived it, and to the statesmen of Britain and Franco and Germany who accepted it and put it 'into operation. It is true that as yet it has not had time to bear miitTi fruit, but, if the enmity of the German monarchists and militarists and the apprehensive attitude of the French, will permit the plan to be given a full and honest trial, it well may be the means of restoring Germany’s prosperity and prestige. It enables Germany to renew her industry and to meet her' liabilities. It remains to be seen to what extent she will avail herself of the opportunity thus afforded her.

Another outstanding event in world politics has been the endeavour of the members of the League of Nations to perfect tlm Covenant of the League, with a view to preserving peace among the nations. It was a, most praiseworthy attempt, conceived in the right spirit, but unfortunately one of the nations, bent on turning the machinery of the /Teague to. its own purposes, was permitted to introduce into the Protocol an amendment which not only threatens the independence of States in regard to the management of their internal affairs, but endangers the very fabric of the League of Nations itself. Fortunately the Protocol does not become operative until it has been ratified by the States concerned, and it is expected And hoped that the British States which are members of the League will bo toe first to signify their disapproval of the Protocol as framed at Geneva.

While there has been peace between the nations, the Spaniards have met with disastrous reverses in their Moroccan territory. But the defeats of the Spanish army are attributable, not so much to the military pi’owoss of tho Biff tribesmen, as to the decadent state, of Spain itself, where, an eminent publicist. has recently said,. “poverty, Ignorance, cruelty and injustice oppress the lives of more than half the inhabitants, who are the victims of darkness and corruption.” In Russia a, revolution

iu the Caucasus was ruthlessly suppressed by the Soviet Government with a cruelty which spared neither women nor children, but resorted to practices which once again stamp Bolshevism as the cult of blood.

When we turn to review the happenings in the British Empire, the outstanding event was undoubtedly the advent of a Labour Government iin Britain. Itcame into power under unfavourable auspices, since it did not possess a majority in the Commons, hut depended for existence on the sufferance of the Liberal Party. The consequence was that Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s policy was much restricted- Ho could not provoke the disapproval of the Liberals by giving rein to the wishes of the more extreme among the ranks of his party, and so was unable to do anything very definite in formulating a Labour policy, much less iu carrying it- out-. He therefore expended bis energies mainly in the direction of promoting co-operation among the nations*. Internationalism became his strong suit. But- it- led him into recognising the Soviet government of Russia, and into signing with the Bolshevist. leaders a commercial treaty—neither of which actions commended themselves to the British electorates — with the result, that when the Liberal? joined the Conservatives in expressing their want of confidence in his Ministry, Mr MacDonald appealed to the country. The country gave its decision in such an emphatic manner, that the chances of there being a Labour Government in power in Britain within the next few years are very remote indeed. So far as the Empire and especially India and these distant Dominions are concerned, the chief result of the political change in Britain lias been the decision, definitely and finally made by the strongest Government Britain has produced for many years, to construct- at Singapore a naval base which will enable the British Navy to operate for the protection of India and Australia and New Zealand, and of the trade-routes leading from the China Sea and Western Pacific to the Indian Ocean. For New Zealand the year 1924 has been a prosperous one. The demand for the country’s produce has been ex. c client : the prices paid have been highly remunerative. This has been especiallv so in the case of wool, aDcl the prospect is that, with a Government in Britain which has made the development of the Dominions’ resources one of the principal features of its policy for restoring the commercial prosperity of Britain,. the future looks bright, not r illy for New Zealand, but for Australia and every Dominion which chooses to co-operate with Britain in her constructive and progressive policy. For these reasons we think we ai'e justified in congratulating our readers on the year that- is past—a year of national prosperity in which every individual of the nation shares, either directly or indirectly —and for the same reasons we think that the coming year may bo contemplated with a feeling of confidence and expectation. With the hope that 1925 may be as prosperous as 1924, we wish our readers

A Happy New Year.