AELSON EVENING MAIL WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1937 A GENEROUS GIFT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 23 June 1937, Page 4

AELSON EVENING MAIL WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1937 A GENEROUS GIFT

THE donor who has placed a quarter-of-a-million sterling at the disposal of Earl Baldwin for the purpose of strengthening still further the ties of the Dominions and the United Kingdom, who once more have demonstrated solidarity in a time of emergency, is a generous patriot and a true friend of the Empire. The time of emergency” referred to, was no doubt the anxious period before and after the abdication last year. The phrase “once more probably refers chiefly to the war of 1914-18, in which the Dominions and the United Kingdom were closely associated in the determination to resist the threatened tyranny of the German and Austrian nations, led respectively by the Emperors Wilhelm II and Francis Joseph. The ex-Prime Minister of Great Britain has announced his intention “to allocate the money in the interests of interimperial relations.” The fact is that the generous and anonymous donor appreciates the loyalty and strength of purpose which caused

the Dominions to rally to Great Britain in a time of great emergency, and impelled them to support Mr Baldwin subsequently when it was his painful duty to take a firm stand in a matter of constitutional importance. The question which the retired statesman will now have to consider is the manner in which he can best allocate the substantial sum of £250,000 for the purpose of strengthening the already firm ties which unite the Dominions and Great Britain, and it will be interesting to note his decision. The first step has been to call in the advice of others, for Lord Baldwin has said that steps are being taken towards the creation of an independent trust, and it remains to be seen what that body will decide. The great point is that the object of the trust will be to counteract those disintegrating influences which are at work in the Empire. But whatever steps Mr Baldwin may take towards the strengthening of “interimperial relations,” there should be formed in the Dominions powerful organisations whose work it should be to counteract any disintegrating movements directed by misguided people, who have no proper appreciation of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and do not realise its influence in a world which is almost distraught with political and economic troubles. When Mr Baldwin has created his trust, and it is working effectually, the funds which have been placed at its members’ disposal will enable them to engage in a publicity campaign which should effectually strengthen those benign sentiments which give the nations of the British Commonwealth their cohesion.