AGE OF INDECISION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22911, 19 June 1936, Page 14

AGE OF INDECISION

The clash of views that occurred at the Easter conferences of several English organisations illustrates well (notes the'Spectator) the conflict of ideas which Dr Cyril Norwood criticised in a recent speech. lie attributed it largely to the decay of certain ideas of patriotism, imperialism, religion and morality, which had dominated a previous generation. The decay of those ideas is, indeed, too obvious to he denied —though the pendulum may not always swing one way —and it reveals itself in an indecision on fundamental questions which affects even British foreign policy. “It may be said,” continues the Spectator, “ that we have lost confidence in the faiths of our fathers and" have found no sure substitute for them. In the absence of any dominating ideals, we can find, in polities, in culture, in morals, no single purpose which corresponds both to our reason ami our instincts. A short time ago, in polities it seemed that a humane internationalism realised in a community of nations was an ideal on which everyone could agree, but the events of the last few years have, for many people, thrown doubt on the value and the possibility even of that.”