FAITH IN DEMOCRACY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21088, 14 July 1938, Page 7

FAITH IN DEMOCRACY

AMERICAN TRIBUTE TO LATE KING Freedom and Comfort for People STRONG INDICTMENT OF DICTATORS Plea for Succour for Refugees British Official Wireless (Received July 13. 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY. July 12.

The American Ambassador (Mr James Kennedy) unveiled the Winchester Window to the memory ot King George V., presented to the Cathedral by groups of American citizens. Mr Kennedy said: “George V occupied a very warm and special place in the hearts of Americans, and my fellow countrymen will always cherish his memory. Certain nations have attempted to relieve the suffering of some of their people at the expense o. other inhabitants. In those parts of the world where the idea still exists that the national good is the sum total ot the welfare of all its Individual Inhabitants, we are now being called upon to stretch our already hardpressed resources to cover the care of refugees cast out of their native land because they belong to certain races, or profess certain religions, or think the thoughts of free men. Let us do what we can to take care of this immediate emergency. The Refugee Problem "Representatives of a number of well-minded nations,” added Mr Kennedy, “are now in session trying to devise ways and means to see that these refugees do not perish cruelly and hopelessly. Our hearts are with our delegates in their difficult, but humane task. We must always be on the alert to defend the thesis that no permanent national happiness can ever be achieved in the kind society to which we are accustomed, and which we wish to preserve, by one segment of our populations at the expense of others. Has Democracy Failed? “I have heard it said in London as well as in Washington,” Mr Kennedy continued, “that Democracy failed. That the system of representative government is as outmoded as that of the ancient Greek States; that the individual can no longer claim to have inalienable rights, such as those guaranteed in the Magna Charta, but only those which the State may, as matter of convenience, grant to him; that a system of more or less free economy, under which we try to transact our business, is self-destructive, and that all 'ndivlduallsm must be crushed by the increasing weight of industrial and financial combinations. I am sure King George V never believed any of these things, nor would he believe them today. As far as he could tell, observing his activities and life from across the Atlantic King George v determined that the humblest of his subjects should possess an ever increasing store of rights and comforts, and that the economic machinery of this nation and world should operate to Increase the prosperity of happiness of all British subjects.

Rights of Citizens “I am certain that never in his life did he wish any guaranteed right of any citizen to be diminished or abolished,” concluded Mr Kennedy. "Let us then do all we can to preserve, for our own countries, at least, the kind of life George v stood for and advocated. Decency and respect for the rights of others, and a yearning for liberty, have not been abolished from our hearts. Let us make sure they never are.”

Call for Progress Stating he had Just returned from a Visit to the United States, Mr Kennedy observed: “One gets there much the same comforting feeling of solidity which is characteristic of the people and life of Britain. In both countries, people want change—they insist on constant progress and betterment. We must never rest on our laurels, and think we have achieved the ultimate design for an ideal way of life. So long as we are holding out to the mass ot our people, the hope that their Government and their State is working ceaselessly and unremittingly for their benefit, Just so long will those people pin their faith to Democracy.”

“GOOD NEIGHBOUR POLICY” FRENCH GESTURE TO GERMANY United Press association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright PARIS, July 12. The Prime Minister, M. Daladier, in a speech, said: “When European events a few weeks ago were formidably tested, the peace and good will of all avoided a disturbance of the balance which would have plunged the nations into catastrophe. The British and French will to peace met the other nations, and it is my duty to say of Germany and France placed confidence In the peaceful aspirations which Herr Hitler always publicly avowed. This experience authorises us to trust the future. We do not want to regard it as accidental, because thus alone will the sufferings of mankind in many countries be ended.”