TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20184, 3 May 1937, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Optimism Not Enough “ Optimism is not enough in these grave times, and may be seriously misleading. When we speak of recovery we must not forget that the immediate world outlook is in many ways dark and menacing, as it has not been since the world war,” said General Smuts in a recent speech. “ The trail towards international collaboration and world peace and security which we have been steadily following since the peace has recently become more blurred. The best efforts of our statesmen seem unable to allay a tension and forces which are driving the nations farther apart. In a spirit approaching panic they are arming on a scale never known before, and such that the world cannot long endure. “In these circumstances why not try economic solutions pari passu with political solutions? International trade and commerce may prove the way out where the way is blocked to purely political solutions. Let our aim be the opening of the barriers to international trade and commerce and the lowering of the tariff walls which now segregate the nations. International trade has always been one of the most civilising agencies of our human advance. That has largely been the British way. Let that once more be our solution of the present crisis*-”-