1939-05-26 — Page 10

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Hong Kong, Friday, May 26, 1939.

A UNION OF DEMOCRACIES

the aspirations but much of a fast-shrinking world's natural de- velopment.

Me

It is not likely that the art of the story-teller will ever lose its hold upon the popular of the cul- tured imagination. From the re- cited narratives of the Homeric minstrel to the novels and thril- lers of to-day fiction in various forms has continued to delight listeners or readers.

2

But it no longer holds the field undisputed. To-day it has

An autobiography has as good a chance of being a best-seller as a novel.

serious rival.

But it is only in comparatively recent times that persons în have every walk of public life been constantly solicited to write their lives: and when they pro- duce their books, these compete In the present seemingly in successfully against the novels. secure state of the world it is The fact is that autobiography encouraging to find considerable deals with much the same mat- interest aroused by the recent erial as fiction. In both, human new proposal for world settlement beings, and character play a lead- which, whether one agrees withing part. Narrative carries the ac- it or not, affirmed with much tion on in the one case as in the sound logic that a brighter poli-other. The writer of his own tical future for humanity could life may approach his theme as be assured simply by pursuing intimately and frankly as the democracy to its natural end. novelist. There should be a unity This evolutionary, rather than in the theme selected by the revolutionary, plan, devised by novelist, but one's own life seen Clarence K. Streit, Geneva cor-in retrospect appears to have a respondent of the "New York certain unity of its own, Times," would establish a world thing leading to the success republic, taking as a nucleus the failure, or the half-success which fifteen remaining democracies, as men are apt to feel in their own being the most highly developed careers. forms of self-government avail-

There is likely to be too much able. It is, practically speaking, irrelevant episode in the auto- elaboration of the League biography, and much the novel- Covenant on a revised basis. The ist would certainly reject. change of basis is to avoid the the writer on his own life has inter-play of national govern- this great advantage, that he is ments that has proved so ruinous describing what he really knows, to the Geneva organisation. what he has

The national governments in- felt or seen others experiencing experienced and deed would get short shrift, and feeling; and if he has any since they would turn over some talent for writing it is up to of their main functions-peace, him to prove that fact is no less

an

war, foreign policy, trade agree-interesting than fiction. ments to the federal union gov-

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every-

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But

vernment, delegates to which Suburbia on Its Own would be directly elected by the 300,000,000 or so electors of the

According to a recent state-- democracies. While the nationalment by the vice-chairman of governments, therefore, would London Passenger Transport give up a large slice of their pre- Board, traffic figures show that. cious sovereignty, the sacrifice the London suburbs

now rival would be made good in some the West End as centres for measure by the power retained shopping and entertainment. No. by the individual.

longer, it seems, does the subur- There can be little doubt that ban youth on pleasure bent ad- once a system of this description here to the slogan "Go West,. had been installed the problem young man"; and though some of security would largely disap-people would still hold that Bond pear, while the freedom from Street has a few advantages over tariffs among a group of nations Balham in the matter of shops, controling about two-thirds of one gathers that the inhabitant the world's trade would settle of the latter place who voiced. some of the major economic isues such a view would probably be of the day. In fact the whole treated by his fellows, as Bal- super-union might, with a little ham's ass.

change in peoples' thinking, work There is, however, very good as smoothly as the Union of the reason for this change of attitude North American states has done. on the part of suburbanites: they Neither does it strain the ima- may not have quite the last word gination to see that some day, in luxury shops, but their great despite the present blatancy of femporiums bear competition from nationalism, the progressive con-any; the film of the moment does quests of time and space will not make its debut in the suburbs, make some such system almost but it can be seen there reason- inevitable.

ably soon, and in circumstances -

To find ways and means of that are some compensation för liquidating, some of the cherish-being "a day ahint" Mayfair. ed functions. of our powerful Not only thất, but the best dra- - national governments, as the plan matic art, which was once rigid- demands, would be a formidable ly confined to "theatreland," has undertaking. Were these govern- often of late years received an ments succeeding in giving the impetus, from the suburbs, which Individual the security that it is have succeeded in drawing fash- their function to give, it might|ionable circles into orbits that be a long-delayed one. It may have included Hampstead be a salutary reflection for gov-Hammersmith, Croydon and ernments that if they do not Swiss Cottage. In fact, the agree on any form of world get suburbs are doing so well on. tlement, the people have now be their own, that the West End fore them an attractive alterna- may eventually find it difficult to- tive pattern which its not only keep its end up.