INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 12 (Supplement)

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

•THE CALL TO UNITY,” by John [Entrican (Wilson and Horton;, p.p. ’ Turn to any country of the world today and examine its conditions. What ; will you find? Certainly not prosperity. Place two countries together. I Will you find a singleness of purpose, a unity? You will not. Why? What are the causes of the present state of chaos, what are the remedies? These ■ are the salient features of John Entrican’s “Nationalists Letters on the Call to Unity.” Addressing himself to a Hindu, an American, a Moslem, Gernan, Russian, Irish, Japanese and a British nationalist he elucidates thi present state of their respective countries, delves into the past in some cases, swings forward with the years to show the trend of events leading up to I the present time and then points to a Iway which will lead the nations to unity. To-day when world conditions

are in an unenviable state his letters arc full of interest to those who are concerned with and study causes and effects o> a slackening in the march forward of prosperity. His originality of thought and forcefulness ot language stimulate reflection, and, although one may not always agree with him on all his points assertions merit being considered and weighed.

Writing to a Hindu Nationalist the author stresses the delicate political situation of India and says “the campaign of boycott and annoyance embarked upon by the National Congress leaders has brought results detri mental to the cause of self-Govern-ment.” He invites a study of the Hindu religion and points out that a belief in nature and the recognition of natural forces is its fundamental. Dealing with the emancipation of India he claims that v/hile Indians pursue a policy which is at variance with their religious precepts they cannot attain nationhood. “Indians are preaching one thing and practising another. The whole of Hinduism is being rendered profane while the majority of people do not realise it- . . . Nationalism is born out of environment. . . while an all-embracing religion demanding truth and progress, can by its soothing power, promote the interests of a community." He points out that there is little or no efficient industry in the country nor an all-embracing religion while there is also a lack of education. ‘•’The masses swelter in the heat of mysticism instead of bathing in the waters of knowledge and enlightenment." He urges the nationalists to popularise their faith without political or riotous disturbance and inaugurate a campaign of industrialisation and religious unity so that education may rise spontaneously. The British Raj is said to be offering to assist development and that, when through co-operation by reflection and work, India is prepared for the responsibility of statehood Great Britain would withdraw to leave the reins of industry and government in India’s charge. “Meanwhile preach your faith and doctrine. Exhort the misguided and rebellious partisans to cease hostilities and pour their exuberant energies into local industrv, ,} hiadds as a final message. Jt is'a fine but rather a tall order. America hoarded gold, war debts, reparations and unemployment—such are rhe genii ready to rise when that nation’s name is referred to, very much like the monster which appeared when Alladin touched his lamp. America’s position in the world to-day. its attitude towards Europe and the conjectures as to what it will do and what attitude it will take up in the future are matters of common interest.

America can be said to be. the hub round which the wheel of progress revolves or is stopped. Kr. Entrican’s views on that country are of more than common interest. He draws an analogy between England and America. He recalls England .s prestige and prosperity before ine days of the war, its metho’d of financing new countries and its collection ot interest by payment i n production, then the war. England busv with its army but America busy with its production and research work, building up a trmle that usurped England’s place. Step by step the standard of American life rose, production increasing constantly through the application of wartime scientific discovery. . . . By the end of the war. Europe was probably I' years behind the American continent in the process of manufacturing domestic produce. .. . The United states. . . with its industry organised and efficiently controlled, had secured the world’s trade ... If you place the war loans aggregate alongside an estimate of all that trade, foreign and domestic, which we (America) secured, you will be amazed at the. magnitude of American profits. . . . } et our war loan figures assume a place of precedence in national ac counts. Can the so-called European war debt to the United {States be liquidated in the same manner as was being liquidated the pre-war American debt to Europe? Air. Entrican’s examination Is well worth reading. America is unfavourably criticised m regard to its stand with regard to reparations. America also figures in Germany’s problems while the internal affairs of that country provide a wide field ox exploration. Russia’s conditions are also bad. “Class hatred is springing up again, and, instead of the harmonious blending of natural and artiificial environment to support each other, there is a loss of initiative and the minimum of production through the widening gulf between urban and rural industry.’ > In Ireland the Oath of Allegiance and land annuities loom large. The Roman Church is criticised and the opinion held that “for 700 years the supremacy of the Pope and the fear of purgatory have been ground into the Irish people." Rome is said to be a temporal power, a political body which is utterly opposed to the equitable dis tribntion of wealth and which arrogates to itself the position of world dictatorship. So the Latins levy tithes and collect good Irish money which is sent out of the country. No wonder the people are impoverished.” Japan and its present hobby, Manichuri?., and i!s relations with China. Russia, and the League of Nationn i.ave an interesting letter built round them. Air. Entrican says that he can fine no evidence that the penetration into Manchuria proceeds from national ideas unless Japan’s future policy results in international co-operation a«3 assistance in that, territory. Britain’s position has been left until the last and, unlike the previous letters which deal chiefly with the internal affairs of the various countries, Continental events are reviewed. Europe, today, says the writer, presents a striking picture of indefinite policies an! conflicting aims. The new States of Czecho-Slovakia, Yugoslavia, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Rumania have become isolated personalities, shut off from one another by tariff barriers and smouldering jealousies. In northern Europe the story reads somewhat the same. Great Britain’s relationships with the Continent are reviewed and it is said that its wants can be served adequately if Britain persists wi-.h monetary reform. It is an interesting letter and shows what importance is attached to Britain’s relationships with Continental countries.

The student of world affairs will .de rive much pleasure from this hook, and, although he may disagree with many views propounded in it ho will, at the least, acknowledge that Air. Entrican is to he congratulated.