NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22413, 8 May 1936, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS

MODERN STATE CRITICISED Instead of a source of spiritual inspiration, the democratic Stato has become a materialistic pawnshop, writes Sir Ernest Bonn in his book "Modern Government as a Busybody in Other Men's Affairs." Far too many public men to-day look upon themselves as something in the nature of almoners. It is no longer merely a question of helping the poor alone. Everybody is entitled to help. Almost everyone is asking for it; all the Governments of tho world are providing it, and in consequence civilisation is on its last legs. We are still a long way from a full realisation of the wisdom of leaving trouble alone. By 1936 wo have atrophied honesty with a moral narcotic called "social justice"; avo decline to look into any face unless it is made up with legislative lipstick. INFLUENTIAL PUBLIC OPINION It was not sufficiently realised how great a change had come over tho whole of the foreign relations of Britain in tho last 20 years, said Viscount Esher, speaking in tho House of Lords. Since the war there had been tried an experiment in open diplomacy, and the result had been that an intelligent and enlightened public opinion had been created. Public opinion recently was successful in destroying the Secretary of State for Foregin Affairs, a thing which had never happened before in Britain. It had become quite clear that future Governments would not bo allowed to light wars unless they had public opinion behind them. A democratic Government must be more sensitive to public opinion and be prepared to scrap treaties under Article XIX. of the Covenant of the League of Nations tho moment it felt that tho treaties no longer represented the opinion of the people of the country. DOMINIONS AND AIR POWER "Air power, rightly used, can help to solve certain problems of Imperial defence," said Air-Commodore J. A. Cliamier in a recent 8.8.C. broadcast. "Isolated outposts, like Hongkong, which are of value as advanced bases and could defend themselves in former days until relieved, are now faced with modern armies, if these forces are landed or deployed just out of gun range the fortress would speedily be reduced. Defending aeroplanes can force tho enemy to land or deploy some hundreds of miles away and thus gain for the garrison the one thing that matters —time for relief. There arc also the problems of Dominions such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and many of the Colonies. These fear no large-scale invasion so long as the British Fleet can command the sea, but they may suffer serious raids. If guns alone are used to protect their coasts great numbers would be required and 'tip and run' raids may do a lob of damage before withdrawal beyond gun range. Air power can be concentrated rapidly against such attacks and can pursue the raiders a distance of 24 hours' steaming out to sea; tho Emdens of the future will not be able to carry out their daring attacks with impunity." GREATEST POLITICAL SOLVENT Lord Halifax, Lord Privy Seal, in a recent speech in London, said that there were those to-day who were tempted to apologise for the British Empire, and were even tempted to give away part of it to other people. He confessed that he did not belong to either of those croups. He was told that the British Empire was a continuous bewilderment to men and women of foreign lands. " A prominent characteristic of the British Empire," he said, " is that it is founded upon the most successful reconciliation of unity and diversity through the alchemy of liberty that tho world has even seen, and the result is that we of the British Empire are one not because we must be. but because we will. It is said by those who scan anxiously the horizons of the world that there is no future hope for the world unless it can erect some superState vested with independent sovereignty and independent force to compel allegiance to that sovereignty. When 1 hear such 'gospel preached I am tempted to feel despair if that is tho only hope for the world. 1 wonder when one ponders on how great lias been the passage of thought during tho past 150 years, whether it is in fact as inconceivable as some

attempt to think, that we may look forward to ;> future when men of different nations may come in the fullness of time under the guidance of providence to learn the same lesson the British Empire has learned, that reason based u'i liberty is the greatest solvent of differences and disputes which arise between sections of the human race." FREE CHURCHES ON WAR A motion in favour of Churches declaring that they would take no part or lot in war and expressing strong opposition to the British Government's rearmament programme was debated by the recent conference of the National Council of the Evangelical Free Churches. Speaking against the motion, Alderman Dymond, of Plymouth, asked, "What would have happened to the Free Churches to-day if Oliver Cromwell had been a pacifist 0 " There were times, he said, when they had to take a stand and face real issues. He denounced a teaching which tended to emasculate young men by making them declare that in no circumstances would they take up arms, even to defend their homes, their mothers, and their wives. The assembly will be letting themselves down in the eyes of the nation and the Km pi re," he continued, "if they are going to accept a resolution of that kind. Wo are loyal to the League, and every effort for peace and disarmament, but do not let us let ourselves down by showing we are guilty of fear." Dr. F. W. Norwood, replying to the discussion, said that it would grieve him deeply if it were supposed that lie was in the camp of the militarists. He did not sec that anyone could look facts in the face and suppose that the cause of peace woidd be advanced in the world if it were known that the British nation would never fight again under ■any condition. He begged them not to become subjects of mere passion in the discussion of peace. The amendment was lost by an overwhelming majority.