THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1939 A ROYAL RALLYING-CALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23356, 26 May 1939, Page 12

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1939 A ROYAL RALLYING-CALL

Ouu King's broadcast speech from Winnipeg was all that the Empire's peoples had good reason to expect that it would be. It handled great things with a sure and reverent touch. The unmistakable eloquence of truth gave its every word an appealing glow. Its language, as befitted the nature of its theme, was clear and direct, with never a suggestion of any other concern than that of reaching the minds and hearts of those listening to him. They must have been a vast company. Most, no doubt, were British, living beneath the flag in various parts of his wide domain. To them it must have brought heartfelt reminders of his beloved father, for in tone as well as spirit it breathed the manful sympathy that so graciously marked his use of the microphone thus on memorable occasions. These hearers could not but feel a glad and grateful pride in their Sovereign. To others also within the British realm, races with their own native tongues but more than content to dwell within the bounds of British law, this speech must have been deeply welcome as its purport became known lo them in translations. Wider still, however, in these

days of overhearing by radio, its intent would be cordially appreciated, especially by the Englishspeaking neighbours of Canada in the United States, who heard His Majesty's reference to a long chapter in North American history that is a record of profound gratification to dwellers on both sides of the peaceful border. All this eager and approving welcome must be noted if the noble value of this speech is to be justly estimated. But there is more. It was a deliberate entry into the troublous sphere of international politics, and the manner of the entry was morally splendid beyond description. Comparisons are sometimes inevitable. It is no new thing for the head of a nation to employ this means of comment upon national and international affairs, to use speech to one people as a vehicle of admonition to others, if not to make such admonition an over-riding purpose; but this was different. All the world might listen and take heed, yet here was no hectoring threat, no vulgar imputation of foreign scheming, no announcement of resolve to crush a cause deemed despicably alien. There \ras not even the offering of paternal counsel to others against peace-breaking. Instead, His Majesty kept throughout in heart-to-heart touch with his people, while manifestly moved, by sorrow, not anger, to lead them to face aright the crisis of these anxious days. The listening world heard a plea, not; a challenge. There was no thunderous salvo, no tiniest glint of steel, anywhere in his words. Nevertheless, these carried a positive implication of the unspeakable wrong of trouble-making amid the nations. It was as if he said, for all to understand, "As for me, and mine, we will serve a better purpose," and the necessity of avowing what that was led unavoidably to comment upon the doings that now fill half the earth with dread. This dread is real, and His Majesty, it can be said, shares fully the widespread longing that war may lie averted. Yet no whisper of ignoble fear escaped him. Such fear ho knows not. Even his solicitude for his people's welfare could not induce him to harbour any thought of shamefully buying peace. Instead, a golden thread of courage ran through his utterance. Never did Britons hear a finer rallying-call in the face of peril. Yet the peril was; not minimised for a moment. Instead, he spoke words illuminatingly plain about the imminent risk. "The sense of race may be a dangerous, disruptive force" —it has become so in the Old World, under erring, leadership in German and Italian politics. "The Christian civilisation of Europe is now profoundly troubled, and troubled from within"—the Nazi elevation of nationality to a religion scornful of all other has become an assault upon the whole range of the Christian virtues. "For a long period in history it was the mind of Eurpoe which led the march and fixed the aims of progress in the world, but that tide of inspiration is no longer running as it did in times gone by" —a hostile current, menacing the world with a returned paganism, has rushed athwart the flow that promised increase of good. Who dare dispute the sanity o:F this description of the prevalent danger? To confront it is a duty, involving vigour in national defence and a courageous impact upon international affairs. But, in His Majesty's reading of the facts, even this is not enough. 01: Europe he said "We arc striving to restore its standards, but the task is long and hard." So he "has pointed to examples in the New World, where once again may be found adjustments that will serve "to redress the balance of the Old." These .examples, in Canada's experience both within and without, have shown that pride in distinctive cultures is compatible with a broadening of freedom and security. Not "dominion over other peoples," the fallacious aim that has captured many minds in Europe, but a rendering of mutual service, gives assurance of true national greatness. His Majesty's emphasis upon this truth —not new , but in danger of becoming effete —carries both condemnation and encouragement. It may not be heeded where dogmas of another kind have taken root, but in enunciating it so signally our King has stated, in clear terms, where the British peoples stand — "for freedom, justice and peace in equal measure for all, and security against attack from without and from within." These peoples will surely gird themselves afresh for the task, whatever its valiant doing may involve,.