Thames Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1921. THE DAY.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14727, 4 August 1921, Page 4

Thames Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1921. THE DAY.

"If, in a crisis like this, we ran away from our obligations of honour and interest with regard to the Belgian Treaty, I doubt, whatever material force we might have at the end, whether it would be

of very much value in face of the ' respect we should have lost." — Sir Edward Grey, in the House of Commons, August 3, 1914., This is one of the great anniversary days in the history of the Empire and the world. On August 1, Germany had declared war against Russia, and then against' France. Britain had addressed to the nations involved a simple question: Would they respect their treaty obligations with regard to the neutrality of Belgium. France promptly replied with an affirmative. Germany replied in the negative by word and act, and at midnight on August 4, 1914, two great Englishmen, with tears streaming down their faces, signed the momentous declaration that Britain was at war with the Hun."" Looking back at that event through the years, with a better perspective and a sounder realisation of all that was involved, the British people have nothing to regret". .

After a struggle to maintain the peace that will make the name of Viscount Grey, of Fallodon, live for ever in British history, the Home Government followed a course dictated by national honourj without hesitancy or sign of weakness.; The Germans could not understand it. That a nation should arm in defence of a "scrap of-. paper", was beyond their conception of national righteousness, and it earned for us as a people the hatred of a whole empire. But British statesmen stood firm, with u united people behind them, and/seven years: ago to-night the storm clouds burst. It is a time for reflection; a time for a careful examination. The ideals that drew the Empire together in face of danger must not be lost sight of in days of peace. The need to serve this people remains. The duty to serve the country is a constant one, and'it is as imperative now as •at any time. There are difficulties ' ahead, but if they are approached in the spirit of 1914 they will all be overcome. We have come into a heritage of freedom, but the price paid must not be forgotten. It is a great and glorious thing to die for one's native land, and it is also great and glorious to live for it. The war has altered the standards, and service is now the test of a man's life. Not, what he has, but what he does is the thing that counts. This is the day when we should renew our determination to make this country great, in. the best sense of the word; a country worthy of the men who gave themselves that ir might remain,free.

There's but one gift that all our dead desire, One gift that men can give, arid that's a dream. ; Unless we, too, can burn with that same fire Of sacrifice; die to the things that seem; Die to the little hatreds; die to greed; Die to the ignoble selves we knew; Die to the base contempts of sect and creed," And rise again, like these, with souls as true. Nay (since these died before their task was finished) Attempt new heights, bring even their dream to birth, Build us that better world, O, not diminished By one true splendour that they planned on earth. And that's not done by sword, or tongue, or pen, There's but one way. God make us better men.