1940-04-05 — Page 10

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THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 5, 1940

MIRROR OF WORLD

OPINION

PEACEFUL PACIFIC

DARKNESS "AND `LIGHT

It should not be overlooked that

It is hardly possible to deny that the potentialities of actual warfare

things in general are upside down in the Pacific are still remote. Russia when lighting-up time has become

and the Allies are not at war and

war.. are not likely to be at

The rapid movement of events in Europe makes such a war a contingent possi- bility, to be sure, but is hardly more than that. Regardless of scareheads and pointed news dispatches, it is hardly time yet to lose sleep over a Bul- Pacific catastrophe.-"Manila letin."

*

...ISOLATIONISTS SHY One of the most encouraging fea- tures of the American public's reac- tion to Mr. Welles' trip is that very few people raised the objection that it constituted unnecessary

interven- tion in Europe's troubles. The isola- tionists in the past fought shy of any co-operation with other countries to maintain the peace of the world. This attitude was not entirely based on the fear that the United States might through the League of Nations sanc- tions or in some other way become also involved in the war. based on a conviction that the United States was sufficient unto itself alone -economically, financially and spirit ually. The Secretary of State, by this constant preaching of the virtues of his trade agreement policy has done much to break down the spirit of economic isolationism.

It

was

The longer the war lasts, the less likely, so United States officials fear, will the belligerent powers which finally triumph be to pay attention to the requests and desires of the neu- trals. A strong and united "neutrality front," however, might be able to accomplish more than any neutral could single-handed. A former Brit- ish Ambassador to Washington, Sir Esme Howard, was in the habit

of describing neutral powers as tertil gaudentes, or as he translated it, re- joicing third parties. The idea that any power, even a neutral, can pro- fit by war has now been discredited and the fact has been realised that war anywhere is of concern to peo- ples everywhere. But a neutral ob- viously does not suffer from a war as much as a belligerent. Ameri- can officials fully conscious of the fact that tions which have. shed their blood and spent their treasure

for a 'cause which they consider just may not be over pleased. when neutrals. wha have remained on the sidelines march into the confer- ence room to take their seats on terms of equality with those who have borne

heat the and burden of the

day.

are

na-

is

identifled with the time for blacking- but. Paradox in these matters has become so familiar that it now seens perfectly natural. We take almost as a matter of course the beginning of summer time in a bitter wintry spell, and we shall no doubt take just as philosophically its extension till win- ter is upon us again. It came per- haps as something of a shock to the upreflecting early riser that the be- ginning of summer time, this year plunged him straight back into the discomfort of getting up in the morn~ ing by artificial light, but compensa- tion came the same day in the al- most forgotten experience of getting home from work in the evening with- out it. In spite of all these vagaries, the year persists in giving its usual proofs of advance by the increase of light in duration and intensity. Even war cannot arrest that symptom of Once more, in reawakening Nature. spite of excursions and alarms fears and forebodings, defiant leven of A.R.P. and all its works, light is large and lambs are glad." The gloomiest of us cannot help being responsive to the growing light, however much be may object to being told so. Trees, grass, flowers, birds, and beasts know no such inhibitions. Untraubled by that gnawing self-consciousness which makes miserable man himself before he can decide whether he is really happy, they pay prompt and spontaneous tribute to increase of light and warmth. The "great and sane and simple race of brutes" is a much surer index of these recurrent blessings than that complex organism which has grafted on to a merely phy- sical stock the mysterious growths of imagination, reason, and spirit.

•

cross-examine

But these excrescences have, pos- sibilities of strength and beauty which far transcend the material basis on which, so far as human facul- ties may discern, they seem destined to have their being. Plant and ani- mal take light and darkness as they come, without question, reproach, or thanks, and undergo their mechanical..

THE INITIATIVE

We have to wrest the initiative from the Germans and wield it ourselves... How? Sea-power alone cannot do it and cannot be- gin to do it. Sea-power is a pro- digious force in itself. It provides the Indispensable means by which all the other resources of the na- tion and the empire may be brought to bear. But it is use- leas to blink the signs that the operation of blockade and con: traband control may be lower in this war than In the last though It was protracted for more than 'four years. The Nazi system is extending: Itp counter-resources every day, and we are certain to see the further development of this process during the next few months.-J. L. Garvin.

If a common neutral front. desirable to protect the interests and further the theories of neutral powers in a post-war settlement, then, by ex- tending the same theory a little fur- ther, it might be argued that a com- mon neutral front might be desir able to further the interests of the neutrals while the war is actually go- ing on. The neutrals might, for exam- ple, take a common attitude towards belligerent activities which adversely affect them. But since nothing really harms a neutral so much as the dis- location caused by the very existence of war time conditions, would, it not be possible for the neutrals in com- bination to force their own conception of peace upon the belligerent powers before the destru

Have gone Daily News.

WEE

China

reaction, good, bad, or indifferent. Man refuses any such merely automatic response. He is thankful for the light, but if it is not there he will devise

a passable substitute. He ac- cepts the darkness for the friendly purposes of rest and recuperation, but he can at will turn it to his own use for evil as well as good... He is not bounded by merely physical manifestations and effects. He is no slave to actual day ́and; night - · He is capable too of light and darkness of › mind and squl. În the brightest noonday he may be fill- ed with the blackness of despair. In the Egyptian darkness of the outside world, in the deepest gloom of his own spirit, he may yet by self-dis- -cipline and the power of faldte evoke an illumination which lights, all, the hard way before him, The Aak alarity of that super-physical vision may be reserved for the very few) but in eve the humblest of us there Is m a persistent instinct to lit up our eyes in the hope of catching Ung 2 that we can follow.

But

antoin, mines wi

ver