1940-07-18 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 18, 1940

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSES

BURMA ROAD

The sense of outrage felt by China at the de- cision of the British Gov- ernment to compromise with Japan on the closure of the Burma Road was inevitable.

In the result, on the face of things, we have succeeded only in anta- gonising our Chinese friends, without any ob- vious compensating fac- tor. It is doubtful wheth- er the "condition" could have had any important value had not the Yonail Cabinet tendered its re- signation on withdrawal - of Army support. Under the regime which seems! likely to succeed the Yonai Administration, does it matter whether the agreement is pushed through to the signature stage or not?

He would be a bold man nevertheless who would venture to recommend, as absolutely correct and sound, an alternative line of policy in present cir- cumstances. The Craigie policy may be unwise; it is easy to rush to that conclusion. Difficult is the task of plotting a more effective course.

WHERE NEXT, MEIN FÜHRER

(Copyright in All-Countries }

Do You Understand The

International

Situation?

The ordinary reader opens his find out what is wrong with in-try. they are usually impossible into the channels where it can newspaper every day, but con-ternational relationships as a to any extent with the men of an-minister best to the general im- sciously or unconsciously, finds whole. Why are they so peculiar-other country. Therefore, it is provement" not only of national The problem which aimculty in understanding. This ly difficult at the present moment much harder to bring our ordin- but of international life.

of in-

faces the British Govern-is because, beneath and behind and what can we do about them?|ary moral attitudes-sympathy, How Can a Nation Become

current events, lie principles and He breaks up the problem into patience, kindness, scrupulous Politically. More Matura? ment is not exactly an en- facts, which are either vague and three elements: political, economic justice into play such as we do When he turns to the political viable one. Its entire ener-hazy or quite unknown to him, and, moral. But the main theme in the narrow circles of our pri-element in the problem

ternational relations, Sir Alfred gies are and must be con- How is he to learn to distinguish of this pamphlet is that both the vate lives.

ale- the essential facts. in a situation? political and the economic

Zimmern writes: 2. Politics is concerned with a

"In the last analysis, the poli- centrated upon the threat or to form a judgment on what ments are ultimately and basically very dangerous thing, power. Pow-tical problem of Europe to-day

moral. We do not apply suffi- er is for politics what money is to the heart of the Empire, he reads?

Problems of population. Econo-ciently high moral standards to for economics. Power in

can be summed up in a single itself and it is encouraging to mic Self-Sufficiency; Colonies and our political and national rela-is neither good nor bad. How sentence. It is the problem of the note that the Chinese Raw Materials; the problems tions. For example, he shows it is used depends on the motives political immaturity of the Ger- Government, while indig-ulan to the Danube Basin, how "the economic problem aris- and the skill of those who use it, man people an immaturity the those many others are all ing out of the unequal distribut- But, like wealth, it carries with causes of which lie deep in Ger- and the German man history to-day, alltion of the nant at the turn of events, vitally important

resources it great, temptations and great op character." has not failed to appre-very difficult to understand

figure in the news, and yet are

portunities for misuse."

Whole books have been devot- 3. "Men, "" says the writer, fed to this question. and among ciate the reasons govern-less we understand the history be-

"find it hard to-day to apply

their writers have been men, who, moral standards to politics be-

their interest ing a hard, unpleasant dehind them,

A series of pamphlets, designed,

cause they are so often not sure of without limiting cision. We did not like to give information to the ordinary

their own moral standards." This, to modern politics, have sought international taking action against the reader on current

of course, is a serious statement the causes in history. It would topics, are being published by

and many would agree with it, but obviously be out of place even to such a discussion, however fundamental it may be enter upon

un-

world's

Miss K. Henrey

on

tics.

·

have

French Navy. There is no the Press of Oxford University. reason to suppose we like They are written by man who are amongst the world's peoples is re-to this enquiry, its study and cure here, nor does Sir Alfred attempt

1 experts each in his. line-histor-lated to a deeper problem this step any better.

He does, however, what is perhaps ians,

economists, lawyers, etc. problem involving the motive for go far beyond the bounds of poli-to do so in a. 32-page, pamplilet: more useful; he gives a few con- Mr. Cordell: Hull's criti- New numbers are continually be-which these resources are requir

The Economic Problem:

in regard con- And this

structive suggestions ed in each case. ing, produced. cism of British readiness

"THE PROSPECTS OF

flict of motives — the motive of the Danger of Power.

to the prevention of the political' to 'make the best of a bád

Sir Alfred Zimmern devotes immaturity of a nation. CIVILISATION"

consolidating inilitary power

There is no royal road to the This is the first pamphlet, which the one hand and the motive of several pages to a short descrip- job' represents a point of

tion of the Economic Problem. He political maturity of a people, ex- is rather more general, or intro-diffusing welfare on the other -

than view, but it is pertinent ductory, in outlook the cannot be settled by the sweeping describes the vast changes brought cept through experience and edu- We must be prepared which was away of trade barriers, or even of about, in little over a generation,cation, to observe, in the same larger number, and

written by Sir Alfred Zimmern. barriers to migration, or indeed by by the Industrial Revolution in for this road to be long and costly. even in the most connection, that the like-Sir Alfred Zimmern is now Mon-any solution on the purely econo-England at the end of the 18th and Most people, lihood of adoption of a tague Burton Professor of Inter-mic plane. For motives belong to the beginning of the 18th centur- advanced nations, have two char- scientific discoveries acteristics; they are (1) very national Relations at Oxford the realm of morals, not of econo-lies. New 'strong policy by the University. He has held a num-mics. Thus a so-called 'Economic were made, which applied to In-conservative and (2) very limit- United States (which has ber of important positions, both in Conference,' the parties to which dustry, revolutionised the methods ed. in interests and outlook.

1. The general run of me the educational and in the politi-entered upon the discussion with of work, and workmen's lives. In no immediate preoccupa-cal world, in connection with in-policies inspired by differing a seemingly endless procession, and a nation is mostly made up In this little motives, would be foredoomed to Mankind invented or discovered of very ordinary people change tions in Europe) is ex-ternational affairs. tremely reluctant to show booklet he rentions, arst, that failure. The deadlock would be or mastered railways, steamships, their habits and their outlook very

In ma-slowly, the ancient world, neither the general optimism of there from the beginning in the power-looms, innumerable itself if it exists.

twenty years ago regarding the minds of the participants. For a chines, motor cars, flying machines, this did not matter vory much; future of international relations conflict of motives, is, at bottom, a wireless, etc. etc. These discov-but to-day, chiefly, as a result of We cannot applaud, or nor the recent widespread pessi- conflict between moral ideas: and cries all represent

new. forces; modern science events even condone, negotia-mism have sufficient justification. when it is an organised conflict, they bring power and abundance moved for quicker than men's

The nations have a real and often it is a conflict between moral into our lives as we never possess-minds. "The result," says tions which result in con- baffling task before them but it sustenis."

fed them before.

writer, "is the maladjustment

around us to sent, whether for 30 days would be cowardly in both men Why, lo it to Difficult

We have not done enough, says that we see. Apply Moral Standards to. Sir Alfred, to turn this Industrial fashioned, ideas, programmes, and or three months, to mak- and nations to abandon

Political Life?

Revolution into a Social Revolualas! oven battle-cries being ap- ing the task of China har- What is the problem which we The writer offers, several rea- tion; to control these forces and plied to conditions for which they turn them into beneficent chan- no longer have any relevance, der. But it is possible to must all face? How can we sons.

territories conquered thenols..

for their solve it?

1. He points out that in plead, in extenuation, THE NATURE OF THE" world of politics and especially, in Perhaps some countries more booty in an age of abundance, that we are not the only INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM the world of international politics, than others, but to a greater or territories barricaded against the Of course, at the present mo-we are "in a large-scale, imper-lesser extent all countries, have world's, commerce in an age of third Power with interests ment, the problem of international sonal world removed from actual used these forces, not to increase interdependence."

people SO 2. In regard, to man's limited in the Far East. And, relationships exists in its most human contact with the individ-the welfare of their

| aggravated form between England uals on whose affairs we are much as to add to their military outlook, Sir Alfred says our pro- if we say it is difficult and France, on the one hand, and forming a judgment". How differ- strength, and BQ effect trade blom is that of "primitive man to quarrel, at this parti- Germany on they seeks to-dig soon as it becomes personal. What not to improve or further inter-more exact, of small-scale mark in as blockades, They have used them in the modern world; or, to be other, but Sirent any cular stage in Empire his down to basic principles and to a change in our feelings for a national relations but to cutja larga-scale, world." Some men tory, with the principle of

person when,, instead of merely themselves, off from, the rest of rarely think beyond their village, first things first, that does wide feeling of misgiv-hearing about him, we meet him. the world. They think of gold many do not think beyond their How much better we understand as that which may be hoarded up province, most do not think beyond not mean that anybody is ing; Lord Halifax has not him and how much more we sym- by: a nation or used entirely in hon their country; yet, through the happy about it, Lord missed the gravity of the pathise. But to whatever extent own interests; not as "a stream of force of circumstances, we are all such personal relationships may Common Wealth that passes being drawn more and more lḥto Cecil has expressed the issue,

be possible within our own coun-through their hands to be directed International relations,

selves to despair..

them-

the

old-