THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 19, 1941
CHINA MAIL
-WINDSOR HOUSE
STATUS QUO
an
When all the signs point to an early intensi- fication of the world crisis with, possibly, a vast extension of the field of conflict, it is of interest to examine the arguments | of those who justify attitude of non-resist- ance to aggressors on the basis of a lofty contempt for the status quo. Brit- ain, they say, is fighting to maintain the status quo; United States aid to Britain assists her in that fell task. These cranks employ the expression accusingly, as if, for example, the existence of Holland as a democratic, capitalistic state were necessarily an evil, because Herr Hitler found the little country lying athwart his path to em- pire; as if, since the phrase, "Whatever is, is right," is admittedly fal- lacious, the opposite must be true.
But aside from this trick of logic, which İs probably only the usual result of over-simplifica- tion of terms in debate, there is a more serious objection to the facile use of status quo as a re- proach. This is the
un-
derlying assumption that
the democratic
KOMOYE
{WÀNG
WANTED: A EFTTLE MORE PLACE IN A LITTLE LESS SUN.
London Defies The Fury: I
London is the first city in the powers, world to have suffered for six the "have" powers, seek months the weight of German air to freeze the present state attacks and to be still breathing, of mankind, the bounds
ttning, working and producing.
beating, heart of a nation fighting,
By
Gottfried J. Keller
London Correspondent of the "Basior Nachrichten."
without
Hight, without water, without gas, without electricity, that the postal services were no longer functioning, the telephone: was cut off, whole streets could no. longer be used, the railways were: completely disorganised; the food shops had no goods to sell, and more stuff of this kind.
In my daily cables I have tried to correct this impression and to describe from day to day condi- tions as they really are.
of its habitation and its The capital of the United King- British Common- way of life.
Any such dom and the
wealth has became the chiei tar- assumption is false. With-get of the German air force be- in each
democratic cause it is the centre of resistance of the English speaking countries. organism there are con- it is the symbol of everything that servative and radical links the British Commonwealth
The purpose of these articles is tendencies, maintaining a
of Nations together.
to give the neutral reader a pic- Englishman to be only what he ture of life in London tension that is often cost-! It is the strong and regularly expected.
to-day, after six months of blitzkrieg from ly, to be sure, but always with all its power against subju-
the air-without The average Briton is surpris- or propaganda, without adding to:
embellishment fruitful of change. By this gation by totalitarian conquerors. ed that neutral observers per- or subtracting from the facts. process the British dom-:
petually wonder at his ability to The silent courage of London-take such punishment.
Dealing first with, communica- inions have evolved fromers who have taken and are still
tions, in a few cases these have been slowed down, in a few others the status of portions of taking so much upon themselves
During the last six months Lon-interrupted for a short time, but, without grumble or complaint; has
doners have certainly an empire to partners in often been noted by this neutral final proof that England is not ped entirely. Here
provided in no case have, they Been stop. -reporter. Many observers. have
and there, a commonwealth. By this sked themselves about the real the propaganda of her enemies when a station or a line had been process the United States background of this almost incon-
has asserted again and again hit, delays were overcome in an an overfed, decrepit, weakened astonishingly short time. is encouraging the growth ceivable will to hold out.
nation.
At the beginning of the blitz of a new nation in the Far The fact that England isi ta-day,
the mail was often delayed; but As a reporter. I have been liv-this defect, too, has long since East-the Commonwealth back and more certain of victory icuuty during the blitz.
not merely resisting, but hitting ing in London and its immediate been overcome. of the Philippines than ever, is considered by the watched life in the shelters--have As far as the telephone is con
I have Through all the territories
taken, refuge, in them..
İçerned, for a time the rule was of the great free States
that no unofficial calls, whatever. I have seen the damage in West should be made during: air attacks the evolution of the such forcibly held territ-South, East and North, as well as or alerts, This rule has now been principle of government ories in a world where law at the docks. I have journeyed revised. The telephone authorit
les have become more · accom→ by consent of the governed and a fair opportunity to talked to innumerable victims who modating and the calls continue, has been under way-and trade abroad prevail. By have lost their homes. To-day alarm or no alarm. it was accelerated during upsetting that law and vinced that war in the air alone there one of the many London ex- more than ever I am firmly con- It has happened that here and that very post-Versailles denying that opportunity can never succeed in breaking changes has been, affected by the the British will of resistance. blitz, but in most cases the dam- period when the democra- the totalitarian powers
age was repaired' and' normal ser- cies are accused of sitting|have, indeed, upset a Only a successful occupation of days.
Ivice resumed within one or two on the lid of a bubbling world order but it was England. by a gigantic hostile army
could subjugate this people even drive in
As ever, the famous red buses status quo.
not a static order; not an temporarily, and waiting for this through the streets of London, now unbelievable numbers To be sure, these order of forcible repres-invasion attempt are, as Mr. Chur- their number has even been, in- developments had
no sion such as is now in the chill has said, not only the Govcreased by additional, buses from [
ernment but also the fish in the the Provinces... Whero, a street direct effect on the "have making in Europe and channel,
has been blocked or its passage not” nations, but the fact Asia.
As is generally admitted. Eng-made unsafe by a time bomb, the that the “haves" were Should this new order that of her enemies is not. Dur- lish, propaganda is poor, while
street running parallel with it 14. used. steadily divesting them- prevail, the real evils of a ing the last weeks, however, Bus traffic has not suffered; selves of the power to status quo maintained by enemy broadcasts have indulged intely it has even been improved
|in' descriptions of conditions in by the introduction of exploit. their possessions force, with no outlet for London which have made: Lon routes. is a measure of the protest, no instrument of doners happy with laughter. In The undergrounds also aru necessity which change save the sword, to the thought.
these radio reports wish is father functioning day in, day, out, Germany, Italy and will be visited on the
(These despatches appeared in The Londoner was given the the Swiss newspa Japan insist upon - of world.
'opportunity, to hear that he was Nachrichten"
"
along the South Coast. I have
express