The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1924. CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR.

Southland Times, Issue 19435, 26 December 1924, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1924. CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR.

The world has seen momentous changes in the last twelve months, and the Christmas of 1924 has been celebrated in a more hopeful atmosphere than was the case with the preceding season. In December of 1923 the situation in Europe was entering a new phase, and there were signs that the long drawn out V i tle over the Reparations under the Versailles Treaty was approaching an end. The waning influence of M. Poincare in France was already apparent, but the Nationalists in Germany were still powerful enough to keep doubts simmering. When the Dawes Plan appeared, however, and the Allies displayed a readiness to accept this scheme of American design for the settlement of the problem there was born in Europe a new hope, which during the year grew steadily until we now find the world confident that the atmosphere of hate gener-

ated by the war is at the point of complete dissipation. It has taken Europe six years to recover the passions let loose in the stormy years between 1914 and 1918, and the length of that period is not difficult to understand, but in most countries the great lessons of the war have been learned, and to-day the chances of a sudden conflict are less than they have been at any time since the dawning of the twentieth century. Russia is still a danger spot, but in the last year the leaders of I the Soviet Government have discovered that the policy of political change by vio- I lent methods has lost its grip on the imagination of the masses, who can see that they have most to loose in the pursuit of forceful methods. Parliamentary government which seemed to be too conservative in the early part of the post-war period is now coming back into favour in those countries which have experimented with seemingly beneficient tyrannies. Signor Mussolini is credited with a desire to return to single constituencies based on the British parliamentary system because he has seen that a government based on an armed force outside the control of the State is always in a precarious position. The true basis of sound government is the approval of the people, and it is in the direction of this that Signor Mussolini ii moving. The Russians retain the stiff Soviet system which is the very negation of democratic government, but the forces which have moved the Italian Dictator to a change of view will change the situation in Russia. In all parts of Europe there seems to be a more tolerant spirit abroad, and the political situation is easier. Industrially, too, the world is more reasonable. It is being recognised that the need in every country is work rather than political short-cuts. In Britain the effects of the brave efforts to liquidate the liabilities of the war were hindered for some time by industrial upheavals, but to-day the situation is healthier and the future seems rosier. Christmas in 1924 sees a greater measure of goodwill in the world than was the case at Christmas in the previous year, and the outlook is certainly more hopeful than it has been at any stage since the Great War opened. The future is bright and the world can afford to give expression to its joyful confidence.