UNITY OF EMPIRE

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9520, 8 May 1940, Page 3

UNITY OF EMPIRE

BRITAiN AND HER DOMINIONS

INTANGIBLE BONDS ( SERIOUS STRESSES OF WAR 1 This war has shown the strengt! _ of those intangible bonds which lin! f the British Dominions to England t Under the Statute of Westminster . the Dominions of Canada and Soutl . Africa are independent of the Moth- . er Country as to foreign policy, ye [ they, as well as Australia and Nev . Zealand, rallied instantly to its sup- . port upon the outbreak of war , There is good reason to believe thai . this was a major and most unpleasant surprise to Hitler, who was convinced that the British Empire would break up rather than be drawn into another European conflict. Nothing would be less helpful, however, than to pretend that no strain has been put upon the unity of the Commonwealth by the war. That there have been serious stresses and even some cleavage is only too evident, and there is no effort to deny this in Whitehall. The storm over the sudden and unexpected elections in Canada and particularly the resistance by the Nationalists in South Africa, as well as questionings and unrest in India, illustrate the gravity of the test through which Britain’s Empire is passing (states the “Christian Science Monitor”.). INDIVIDUAL TROUBLES In Canada protests aroused by the elections seem to have been motivated mainly by political considerations. Nevertheless, the unity of the Empire is indirectly an issue, although it takes the form, not of whether Canada should continue to aid England—this is questioned only by a small minority—but whether enough is being done to prove Canada’s.determined loyalty and active allegiance. Likewise in India the unrest and dissension brought to the surface bv tlie problem of Indian aid to the Allies is to some extent political. The Congress leaders and other Nationalist elements are in a measure exploiting the present situation against England; that is to say, they are standing out against Indian participation in the war in the hope of obtaining from London more precise pledges of independence in return for the support which presumably they would then give. In South Africa, on the other hand, the trouble goes much deeper. It is not merely a conflict of personalities between General Smuts and General Hertzog, and it is much more than a purely political or parliamentary battle. Fundamentally, it is a pro - blem arising out of the federal basis both of the British Commonwealth and of South Africa itself. It is a test case of the ability of the federal system to function properly and to endure when exposed to the heat of wartime friction. SOUTH AFRICAN PROBLEM For the present strain on Soutn African unity results from the sharp racial and national cleavage which goes back to the Boer War. The conflict in Europe has once, again brought to the surface this division. It has uncovered a situation too often slurred over, namely, that the Afrikaans-speaking people in the Union have differences not only of language but of outlook which have tended to make them respond sympathetically to certain Nazi teachings, despite their own deep-rooted individualism and love of liberty. The question must be put, and to-day is being asked, why the English-speak-ing population have failed to do more to win them over, to awaken a stronger loyalty to the democratic ideals for which Britain is fighting, and on which the unity of the Empire depends. . COMMUNITY OF IDEALS That this need has beef) laid bare and is now more clearly seen is an encouraging sign. Once the problem has been perceived, steps can be taken to solve it. The unifying force in South Africa itself, as in the larger federation of the British Commonwealth, is the community of spiritual ideals —ideals of law, liberty, democracy and justice. The strength of the unity, in both cases, depends upon the purity and vitality of tlie ideal. If there is a need for burnishing up these ideals in thought and for applying them with greater humanity in practice, surely this need, once discerned, can be met. It is of the greatest importance, not only to South Africa and the British Empire but to the world, that every possible proof be given of the practicability of the federal system and of its ability to surmount the difficulties and resist the disruptive forces which war puts in its path.

COMING EVENTS

(As Advertised in “Telegraph") FRIDAY— Labour Party’s Paddy’s market, Miners’ Ilall. illllIllllilt3li:illllll!lt2imilllllllHIIIIIII!llllt3IIIUIIIIIIIt3llllll!lllll£]!> BUTLER’S SERVICE STATION, Rosemont road, is made full use of oy motorists, who are able not only to secure supplies of petrol and oil, Vut to have llieir cars scrutinised hy courteous attendants. That the name “Butler’s” is known far afield is proof positive ol’ the enviable reputation which the firm lias acquired.