INTERNATIONAL EXAMPLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26779, 24 May 1948, Page 4

INTERNATIONAL EXAMPLE

Standing steadfast as a working example of many nations united in a lasting friendship, the British Empire had not been shaken by the trials of war and misfortune. Friendship was the secret thing which made nations secure, said the president of the Empire Day movement, the Earl of Gowrie, in Iris Empire Day message. In the long struggle for freedom many had given their lives and others had risked their fortunes. The Empire was not perfect, for it was a cosmopolitan commonwealth of violent contrasts, but in it men were free to come and go and speak as they pleased. During the past year India, Pakistan, and Ceylon had become self-govern-ing dominions, while Burma had chosen to become completely independent. “ The issue before us is clear,” he said. “We must save ourselves by our own exertions and serve the world by our example. Wq can only maintain our way of life by being a self-reliant community of free nations closely linked together, believing in the rights of the individual and the rule of law.” Two things were essential, trade to open the way to peace by bridging the gulf of suspicion in honest bargaining, and truth. A crusade for truth was needed so that the world would know what the British peoples stood for and what they could do. There was a war of ideas raging in the world to-day, between respect for truth and a cynical disregard for it, concluded the Earl of Gowrie. There was so much untruth around that the friends of truth in Britain and the Empire had to proclaim no uncertain faith. In his message to .children he emphasised the importance of individual effort. Due to the work of the founders of the Empire, to-day everyone in the Empire could feel that they were among friends, even though they were far from home, and the weak and helpless had a claim on the strength of all.