Counting Chickens?
It is not wise, says the pro- verb, to count one's chicken's bo- fore they are hatched. I doubt whether this form of wisdom has ever been justified of her child- ren. Back in the early nineties of last century the Professor of Phi- losophy at whose fest I sat in Berlin University used to explain, with many citations of Aristotle, that true happiness consists in activity of body or mind with some hope or prospect of success. It was not, he explained, the suc- cess that mattered; it was the activity which one felt to have a chance of succeeding.
Dr. Quo -out-that isat.
as
On this principle quite a large number of my fellow countrymen must at this moment be feeling happy. Their thoughts and their pens are active in the hope, and with what they believe to be the
out prospect, of sketching
the main features of the better Brit- ain, the better Europe and the better sort of world which we, our Allies and well-wishers must and shall fashion when we have won the war.
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* * This fact, for fact it is, throws a revealing sidelight on our state of thought at a time when whole country is an armed and fortified camp, and we are sup- posed to be awaiting obliteration at the hands of Adolf Hitler. Those who do not live among us may be pardoned for wondering whe- ther we are not whistling to keep our courage up as they read or hear our asseverations
that we
By Wickham Steed
are not afraid, and are ready for the worst Hitler can do. Yet the is simple and unrecorded truth that large numbers of our people feel sure enough of themselves and of the triumph of our cause to spend hours and days and weeks. in trying to work out policy for all-round renovation when the war has been won.
There was nothing like this in the first two years of the last World War. Not until the end of
a
1910 did the Western Allies begin to put down on paper their "war aims," and then only at the re- quest of President Woodrow Wil- son. What they put down was by no means a world-shaking statement. Indeed, "war aims? only began to take definite and almost "revolutionary shape after the same President Wilson had delivered his "Fourteen Points" address to Congress on January 8, 1918. That address shook 'the world, not so much because it was delivered by a President of the United States, as because it said, broadly, what the great majority feeling and thinking. It of the Allied peoples were dimly
fore shadowed a better sort of world.
This struggle over Lon- don is the complete sym- bol of the largely unseen struggle of civilisation against barbarism. Every pilot of the Royal Air Force, every bargee at the Thames docks, every humble householder in As the first year of the war eight years, Dr. Quo Tai-chai has she undoubtedly longs to do."
Admitting that this partial im- comes to its end, Britain fights on becn Chinese Ambassador in Lon- the East End is a cham-coone in Europe against the anti-don. American educated he is a mobilisation of Japan is not un- pion of world culture and democratic forces of Naziism and graduate of the University of connected with the fact that the Nominally, of course, Pennsylvania-Dr. Quo is acknow- United States has been keeping its Christianity. After all the Fascism.
Poland, ledged to be China's leading diplo- flect based at Hawaii, England still has allies. hairsplitting over the Norway, and the Low Countries matist in Europe. He has twice nevertheless points- war's causes, all the tota- are still formally aligned with the been Vice-Minister for Foreign China's' active resistance
these Affairs and has held other impor- least as important a factor British Empire, although litarians' twisted propa- countries, like France, have been tant posts in the Chinese Govern-American naval maneuvres,
"A second important Chinese ganda, all weighing of overrun by Germany. But it is ment. More important still, per-
to the Great Britain which actual haps, he is, to all who know him, contribution
struggle past mistakes, that is the practice bears alone the brunt of a gracious living symbol of the against mechanised aggression," the battle against aggression in truly democratic charm and deep he said, "is that our successful re- simple fact.
culture that is China.
sirtance has proved it is possible Europe.
to withstand and to defeat the Those who cherish the
robot forces of motorised military In an interview at the Chinese might when the correct strategy best the human spirit has known sense this situa- clear that this is a world-wide Embassy in London, Dr. Quo Tai and tactics are utilised. Our policy the underlying has been to trade space for time. struggle. No continent can be cer- chi emphasised
Imperial Germany rejected it tion. The spirit of Lon-tain of remaining isolated for unity of the great democratic peo- This policy has justified itself
offhand-but- invoked it as the doners against odds which long. Africa is already embroil-ples, particularly Britain, China, through more than three years of basis for an armistice nine months
are ed. "On the opposite side of the and the United States. "Support- fighting. The fact that we later when military defeat-stared no one dared count is be-earth Australia is under no illu- ed both economically and morally still fighting after three years, and her in the face. Soe halting
fighting with good grounds for our as to what its fate would!
were defeated.
hopes of victory, surely must Peace was presently made on the mean much to-day to beleaguered The trouble was that the Gov- Ioundation of a hasty armistice. Britain, not only idealistically buti ernments of the European Allies.
had not co-ordinated their policies with President Wilson's "princi- ples," and that President Wilson had not thought out the practical applications of his "principles." Therefore, in course of time, the
in
The war, however, is not merely
a European conflict. Every week that passes makes it increasingly
yond praise. Their magni- cions if Britain
bé ficent courage has been America cungs anxiously to un- truly voiced by Winston comfortable non-belligerency → Churchill, the nation's all that is left of its outmoded isolationism. From the Atlantic to spiritual strength by Lord Halifax.
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By Mallory Browne practically."
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This is where the activity of so many thoughts and pens among us comes in to-day. They take it for granted that we shall win the war want to make sure that we shall also win the peace for others be and in the sides ourselves. Hitler, they see, has swept through a great part of
Europe like a tornado. Heis carrying out a bad revolution, a revolution of destruction and en- slavement. We must carry through
A third important contribution the Pacific the conviction is slow-by America, China in the East, ly spreading across the North and Great Britain in the West, are which China is making, Dr. Quo American continent that this is a the two main outposts of freedom listed as "the development, gen- But one of the most world war against evil forces that and democracy. Each is now be-erations sooner than would other confident tributes to the! imperil all civilisation. Precisely ing attacked within its citadel. Yet wise have been the case, of the peace was lost.
because the United States does both are busy preparing to go great south-western and north- and western provinces of China." This British people's staying look westward to the Orient, as forth at the right moment
well as keeping watch on the At carry the war into the enemy's immense area in the heart of Asia power comes from
the lantic, it is perhaps more aware camp. Both remain confident, of constitutes "a self-contained em- writings of an American: than preoccupied Europe that, in survival; of ultimate victory and pire in itself," he said. Here the
Asia too, the struggle in defence of worldwide reassertion."
.world's three populations con- In But in this connection Dr. Quo verge: India, China, Russia, with because we must. But they Let who will fail, Eng- of democracy is under way.
fact, while Europe's conflict is referred to the increasing import- more than 1,000,000,000 people and land will not. These peo- only nearing the end of its first ance of the United States as the with untold riches, under the ple have sat here a thou-year, China's fight against aggres- world's arsenal," and mentioned earth, in the soil, sand years, and here will sion moves on into its fourth year. the fact that the trade record for sturdiness and industry of the
the first four months of this year prolific peoples. of exports and imports between "We have only begun to realise continue to sit. They will
the United States and Japan show- the potentialities for peace in the not break up or arrive at
ed a considerable increase as com- future, like those for war in the
the same present or future, that lie in this a good revolution, a revolution of any desperate revolution,
pared with that for like their neighbours; for
period last year, and appealed to new Chinese hinterland that is constructive liberation. It must be the American Government, and to-day no longer a hinterland." In at once political, economic, and people, they have as
their traditional this inner empire, he said, China social. It must rid the world of and the, nightmare of armed aggres- energy, as much contin-
friendship for China and their is carrying out industrial sense of fair play and justice, to educational projects of vast pro- sion. We must prepare for it, plan
an portions. Already the Chinese for it, now.. Chickens ence of character, as they Nevertheless, China to-day is in stop further war supplies to
the fullest sense democracy's oth- aggressor nation.
manufacture most of the small hatched without warmth and air. ever had.
arms used by their armies, and If we give our ideal chickens er ally. Britain, ita back to the
Listing the services which China even some of the heavier arma- warmth and air it may help them wall before the threat of German Invasion, is not fighting alone. is rendering to British-and there- ment is now being produced to break their eggshells at the china, too, is at war for freedom's fore indirectly to American — de-locally. The industrial coopera- right moment,
These are the thoughts that run sake. At bay for many months mocracy in this historic crisis, Dr. tive movement has advanced by against the mechanised, better Quo Tal-chi put first the fact that leaps and bounds. Schools and through many minds in "belen- equipped, and better trained Jap China by her continued resistance universities have been opened and guered Britain." Before very long anese troops, China has fought on. "now holds Japan bogged down in are being multiplied. The mach- they may take concrete shape; who knows? —— they may Among those who have done the Far East so that she cannot inery of democratic government and most to forward an understanding so easily imitate Germany and has not only been preserved, but, even help to win the war by off- of China's role in the defence of Italy in their blackmailing ad- despite the stress of war, is actoring other people hope and a democratic civilisation, Dr. Quo ventures. She cannot now play ually being developed, Dr. Quo pledge that grace, when it comes,
|will not again ba Tal-chi ranks high. For the past, both ends; against the middle as Tai-chi declared...
The essential similarity, if not outright unity, between China's struggle in Asia, and Britain's in Europe, is fairly obvious. Yet it has not been much emphasised. At times, even, it is almost over- looked in more acute anxiety over
with much
Emerson wrote that a hundred years ago. It is true to-day. And all who give thanks for those who stand so staunchly in the front line can find means of making their gratitude effective.
the war in the West.
are never