Nelson Evening Mail SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 1930 BRITAIN’S FUTURE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 14 June 1930, Page 6

Nelson Evening Mail SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 1930 BRITAIN’S FUTURE

WHEN Mr Lloyd Georgo addressed the Empire Press Conference last week on Lho question of Empire unity, ho stepped aside for a moment to speak of the industrial situation in Great Britain. “The centre of the Empire must be strengthened,” said the ex-Promier. “Britain would pull through her present trouble, but she was the heaviest sleeper, like all men of sound constitution, and must be awakened. Britain could bear the burden.” When the speech can be read in oxtenso wo expect these short sentences of the cabled precis will be made considerably clearer, and that some indication will bo given of the grounds on which the eminent British statesman bases his confidence in his country. But for the present wo can but guess at what was in the mind of Ah Lloyd George, and by reflection and reasoning determine whether or no iiis conclusions as to Britain’s stability aro well founded.

On the Continent of Europe there are two prevailing ideas as to the causes which decide the destinies of Great Britain. One of those is that her statesmen are possessed of an unerring judgment when deciding upon the course they shall pursue in any great crisis which they may see approaching, or which may suddenly face them. The other idea is that in the course of her Marvellous history Great Britain lias been attended by phenomenally good luck, which stuck to her through the terrible years of the World War, and may be expected to stand by her in the future. It is not our intention to examine closely these two divergent hypotheses—neither of which, we believe, can be substantiated —but rather to give what, in our opinion, may seem to our readers a more trustworthy explanation of Great Britain’s great successes in the past, and of Air Lloyd George’s faith in her future. And strangely enough that explanation was revealed in something which Mr Lloyd George had previously said when speaking of the development and unity of the Empire. Referring to the formation of the British Commonwealth of Nations, he said : This is The first chapter of Empire development. The second must be written by the Empire itself. T4e history of the world depends on the way in which it is written. I must walk warily. The safe way is to keep to the high ground of principle, and avoid details. A descent to the plain!

i of particulars generally • nds in f lisas ter. I will keep a middle course. The old and experienced British states--1 man would walk warily. On examination of the history of Great Britain it will be found that as a general rule the !gi eat statesmen who have guided her i destinies have adopted the very mental ! attitude towards their great problems which Air Lloyd George adopts towards the problem of cementing the Empire’s unity. They dealt with generalities, with general principles. They left particulars to be met as they arose. They were content to take one step at a time, and to see that each step was well and firmly planted. No grandiose programmes, complete in all their parts, for them; sufficient for the day Avas the solution of the problem immediately confronting them, whether it Avas great or little. Thus they made haste slowly, but surely, never or seldom falling back, but ever forging ahead; making secure their successes as they achieved them, Land “cutting” their losses without mur- , muring, whenever the varying wind of fortune adversely affected the even tenor of their way. The British Empire lias not been built in accordance with any plan Avhich AVas the product of the statesman’s brain: it contrary to the statesman’s wish—through the enterprise o? private citizens of Great Britain, rather than through the instrumentality of the statesmen who guided her destinies. Thus, the first British Colonies ill America were founded by small bodies of Englishmen. The Dominion of

Canada owes its origin partly to the genius of the elder Pitt and the military genius of General Wolfe, but largely to the enterprising spirit of those sturdy pioneers who added whole, provinces to already vast territory. The immense Empire of India became part of the British Empire through the instrumentality of the East India Confpany, a socieiv of merchant adventurers, who, under Charter from the Crown, traded with the East and, gradually drawn into the racial wars and inter-State rivalries which vexed' India, finally established themselves as the rulers of the whole ■country, to which they gave tile inestimable benefits of good government and peace. The colonies of Australia and New Zealand (with the exceptions of New South Wales and Tasmania) were formed by the private enterprise of spirited men of the British race, often without the assistance of British statesmen, and sometimes without their approval. Cape Colony was conquered. Natal was annexed. Rhodesia was created by a Chartered Company. Everywhere throughout the Empire the enterprise of adventurous British subjects has forced the British Government to enlarge the scope of its functions, and to add territory upon territory to the already immense areas of (he Empire, which to-day includes more than onefifth of (lie land-surface of the world, J and contains about one-fourth of the i world's population ! I 1 That wonderful work has been accom- | plished under the guidance of statesmen { who were accustomed to take one step | at a time, who wore content to perform -j the labour of the day without trying to f peer into the future too closely. The '

high position which Britain enjoys in the world is attributable to the greatness of the British character rallicr than to any marvellous foresight in British statesmen. The British people liavo faced great difficulties in the past, and liavo never failed to overcome them—as, for instance, when they lost their American colonies; when they were confronted by practically the whole of Europe in arms with Napoleon at its head; whoa after the twenty years of war with Napoleon, financially and commercially Britain was in much the same condition as she is to-day—there-fore there is good reason to hope with Air Lloyd Georgo that she “will pull through her present trouble.” The Welsh statesman did not say lioav. But it will surely bo through the unique position which Britain holds as the centre and most important part of the British Empire she lias created, and which owes her so much. A hundred years ago she restored her prosperity by utilising her Avonderful deposits of coal and iron for Hie purpose of developing her marvellous industrial activity. With the vast resources of her great Empire at her disposal, it will bo a strange tiling if, Avith her proved ability to make the most of circumstances, slio does not turn her present commercial depression into renewed prosperity which will eclipse her achievements in the past. Air Lloyd George lias faith in Britain. So must all those avlio know her history. Alost important of all is the fact that Britain lias faith in herself. In the strength of that faith she will certainly accomplisli great things.