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Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 70, 25 April 1941, Page 2

The British Commonwealth of Nations is the hope of the future. How can we justifiy that claim? .

Before the dawn of history, when the human race was fighting for us existence, every man’s hand was against his neigbour.

Slowly, taught by stern necessity, families-joined together, forming tribes or clans. , Centuries passed. Clans were welded into nations, speaking the same language, defending a common heritage. . •

Within the nation there was peace and order, and the people flourished accordingly. Yet the frontiers of peace and order still ended at the borders of the nation. This question forced itself on men’s minds. Could nations be welded, as families and clans had been welded, into ever larger units? One way of answering that question has been tried many times— create a universal .empire order imposed by conquest, peace maintained by the sword. This, too, is the Nazi’s dream: to unify the world under the grip of the Gestapo. Always the plan has failed, because it was roted in tyranny, and tyranny bred revolt.

To that age-long question there is another answer. It is the answer of the British Commonwealth.

Britain and the great self-governing Dominions have proved that nations can live together in unity and at the same time be free.

This alone is a great achievement: but still greater achievements are on the way. When India reaches the full nationhood already possessed by the Dominions, the freed and equal partnership of the Commonwealth will have been extended beyond the white races to 380 millions of. the peoples of Asia.

Nor is this the end of Commonwealth achievements. Within its shelter are many other peoples who are also moving forward to the position of full partners. ~s

The British Commonwealth is to-day the guarantee of liberty and progress to 500 million people. With unconquerable souls and with vast resources at our command, we, who are members of this Commonwealth, are fighting for our lives against the hosts of evil.

We are doing more than that. This Commonwealth is a family of free nations, the most perfect example of international co-operation that men have yet devised. In fighting to preserve it, we are fighting for the world’s future.