WORLD RULERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23428, 18 August 1939, Page 9

WORLD RULERS

SYSTEMS COMPARED FORMS OF GOVERNMENT EARL BALDWIN'S OPINIONS DICTATORSHIP MENACE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright MONTREAL, Aug. 16 Speaking before the Congress on Education for Democracy, called by the Columbia University, Earl Baldwin, formerly Prime Minister of Britain, outlined the common ideala that inspire Britain and America, and the differences of environment and circumstances. He then launched into consideration of international affairs at the moment. ".As the world is to-day," said Lord Baldwin, "great events in one continent have repercussions in another. No one can live out his life in a walled garden. "Democracy itself and government have become a 'great adventure." No student of history can leave any doubt but that democracy is far the most difficult form of government. In the totalitarian State the citizen has only to do as he is told. The success of democracy depends upon every one realising his or her responsibility to it. Democracies Need Watch Dogs "A democrat should work for and be prepared to die' for his democratic ideals as Nazis and Communists are for theirs. Every free human institution, if it is to be preserved, needs its watch dogs and no institutions more than a democratic government." Lord Baldwin then took up a discussion of' "ideas so loaded with dynamite that they may blow systems which appear to be founded on a rock into fragments." He mentioned Bolshevism and Fascism specifically, and emphasised that whatever good things might be achievable under them should also be achievable by democracy. " Totalitarian' Shortcomings Lord Baldwin reviewed the history of the general strike in Britain, and expressed the opinion that the worst danger from Communism was over in Britain. He said Britain had nothing to fear from Nazism and Fascism, except if great social suffering occurred. He insisted that "it is when the totalitarian countries try to impose their system on people outside its borders that their action becomes the concern of free men."