Nelson Evening Mail SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1932 THE BRITISH NATIONS’ LEAD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 August 1932, Page 6

Nelson Evening Mail SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1932 THE BRITISH NATIONS’ LEAD

THE danger of tlio world-wide economic crisis developing into a world-wide poliieal crisis is recognised by leading public men in Great Britain and elsewhere, and there must be many people in all parts of tho world who are asking whether therv will arise some latent political force which will stave off disaster, and rescuo the civilised nations from the danger which threatens them.

Unfortunately this is a time when there seems to be a dearth of great statesmen, when such groat statesmen as

exist seem to be absorbed in their own national affairs; so that it is doubtful if the civilised nations will make a concerted attempt to set tho world right, before it is too late. Without the leadership of outstanding politicians, nations in a time of crisis are likely to lead thiontselvcs, and it is interesting to examino tho political forces which arc actuating tho great nations of tho world. Thoso forces seem to divide themselves naturally into two kinds: thoso which are democratic, and thoso which are autocratic; and it is to bo notilced that democracy has grown out of aultocruey,

which at one time was almost universal in its supremacy. (Under the term democracy we would group republics and constitutional monarchies; under tho term autocracy we would group Stales ruled absolutely by individual sovereigns or dictators.; The questions is which of these forms of government is best able lo meet the political difficulties which necessarily aro caused by the economic cataclysm which is sweeping over tho wholo world. As a result of tho strain and stress of the Groat War three European Empires disappeared. One of thoso became divided into two republics and a Slate ruled by a dictator; another was divided into a number of republics grouped under a central republican government which is responsible for the management of the country as a whole and for its foreign relationships: and tho third of thoso falion Empires has bccomo tho Union of Soviet Governments, which is really an oligarchy presided ovor by tho dictator Stalin. So it would seom that tho imperial form of government is not suited lo resist abnormal political pressure which is liable lo bo generated in these modern times. AToreover, as a result of tho Great War, the map of Europe was considerably altered by tho creation ol eight new States, six of which aro republics, ono a kingdom, and ono ruled by a dictator. So it will bo soon that though as a result of tho great struggle autocracy lost ground in Europe, nevertheless it made good much of tho ground lost, and may bo expected to make further gains, if republicanism is unable to survive in Germany,

When wo turn to examine tho democracies of tho world, it is found that they are innumerable; tho republics outnumbering tho constitutional monarchies. But republics and constitutional monarchies aro alike in this: that they are government by parliaments representative of tho people. ‘This necessarily makes them slow in action. Beforo a republican government can go to war with any feeling of assuranco, it must first consider whether or no the nation will support it, and beforo it can take any decisive step, it must first bo sure that it has the approval of parliament, of which it is tho executive. These considerations make for slowness of action by democracies. There usually lias to’ he much talk before a serious national decision is made, much written in the newspapers, much discussion by all classes of the people, before the nation can make up its mind as to what action should be taken. Yet if democracy is slow to move, it must be acknowledged that, when it moves, it does so with a momentum which is tremendous. The Great War was begun by the Empires of Germany and Austria, but it was the democracies of France, Great Britain, Italy, and the United States which triumphed on every battlefront, in 1918. Quickness in initiative belongs lo autocracies, but staying power belongs to democracies —those seem lo be two of the lessons of the Great War.

Tho world is now facing another crisis, or economic congestion or stagnation which has affected every civilised nation, and lias brought hardship and want to countless millions. And tho cause of all this distress is simply the collapso of the economic system of buying and selling whereby nations exchange their surplus commodities. Some months ago the Brazilians were destroying part of their coffee crop because they could not sell it, tho Americans were at a loss to know what to do witli their surplus cotton, British factories were idlo because the demand for their products was materially diminished. And as it was a year ago, so it is to-day; international trade is largely at a standstill, and no one seems to know what should be done to set tho wheels of commerce revolving freely once more.

ft is evident that the autocracies failed during tho Great War, and it does not seem that they are able to do anything remarkable during its aftermath. The hope of tho world, is in its democracies, but which of them will lead the way back to international > confidence and prosperity? Tho United States aro the greatest democracy, but international altruism is foreign to them. Their ideal, if it can bo called such, has been to make their country and nation independent economically of tho rest of tho world, and it is a question to what extent that policy has created tho present world-wido dislocation of trade. Tho next greatest economic integer is tho British Commonwealth of Nations, whose representatives are in conference at Olt: wa to-day. Prominent men who have gone as delegates to that gathering have declared that if tho Ottawa Conference should fail, there would be a danger of Civilisation collapsing. ft is hoped, at Ibis dale, that that Conference will lie largely if not completely successful in attaining its object, which is to restore tho economic life and activity of tho countries which give allegiance to His Majesty Kii»g George, in whom they aro united. If their high purpose is accomplished, then better times will bn ahead of tho nations of tho British Empire, and there will bo hope that other civilised nations, learning the lesson of tho Ottawa Conference, will follow the example of the British nations in arriving at such economic agreements as will restore their prosperity. There is good hope that democracy will triumph at Ottawa. It has been slow to move, but having begun to move it is likely to do its work completely and well. At Ottawa many minds, working more or less harmoniously together, aro laying tho foundations of the Empire’s economic well-being. Tho Conference’s success would be the triumph of democracy, and

an example to other democratic nations to act together in achieving similar cuds. No superman has arisen to propound a panacea for the world’s ills. So a number of men of good, average ability have assembled at Ottawa, to see what, they can do to restore prosperity to their countries and the Empire. What they are doing, su rely tho leaders of the European nations can do. All that is needed is a reasonable measure of reciprocity and good-will, coupled with a modicum of commonsen.se, and Europe might follow the Empire’s example successfully. Therefore tho responsibility

or the political leaders at Ottawa is very gieat, for Hie measure of tlioir success will mean the measure of tho Empire’s prosperity, and the Empire’s ability to set its economic bouse in order would lie an incentive to the civilised world lo copy its example.