1940-08-24 — Page 7

THE CHINA. MAIL, AUGUST 24, 1940

CHINA MAIL Is This Revolution?

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WINDSOR HOUSE

BURMA ROAD

(In the New Republic)

I believe the peoples of the democracies have been tricked in-i

ad-

The Burma Road agree-lo a false attitude by the more ment may have been sign-vehement enemies of totalitarian-

Ism-those who hated the ed-but the issue is not|versary more than they loved and being permitted to lose it-understood what he was attacking self in forgetfulness.

In the interest of shaking our- from the delusions Questions in the Com-selves free

that can lead only to disaster, a mons: this week and the few rough theses may be present- deputation of the China ed, for further discussion.

·

where

consequences every-

ism if democracies will accept the

This war cannot restore the Campaign Committee to kind of Western world, or the Mr. Butler are an expres-existed at its beginning. No mat- kind of societies within it.. which sion of a widespread feel-ter who wins, there will be re- ing, not only that China volutionary gets a pretty poor deal, The result need not be Hitler- but that the apparent necessary economic means and divergence of policy from use it for their own ends. The that of the United States lob does not require political dici tatorship, or mystic racism, or must not be perpetuated hostility to science, or concentra- a moment longer than is on camps, or espionages among citizens, or terror against minority absolutely necessary. | groups.

The Churchill Government

in

It is of urgent concern Britain has placed all industry that the attitudes of the and property at the service of last powerful defenders of the State, while retaining the rule of Parliament, substantial order and freedom should freedom of speech and civil not be allowed to become rights of citizens. babour organ

isation is not destroyed but, on clouded or confused. AC-the contrary, its leaders have been tually there can be no placed in positions of real com

mand. Britain is advancing social doubt about these atti-measures even under the pressure tudes. They face in the of defeat in war and the threat. of invasion-she is forced to do so same direction. And more as a measure of defence. Thus vital to Britain and the she has called to the support of the State the enthusiasm of es- United States than any sential democracy. of their purely Far East- ern interests is the pre-a peace of defeat, there cannot vention of Adolf Hitler's Democracy will be compelled to capitalising upon appear-use a mobilised industry for social ances that belie facts.

#

✡

When peace comes, if it is not

be demobilisation to the old basis.

ends within each nation. But the turning of this instrument to

While Americans ap- creativeness rather than destruc- prove of Mr. Hull's strong! statement on the Burma Road as a sign of Ameri-|

By

can determination ert George Soule

to

stand firm in the Far

•

forget ton will depend absolutely on the

There must be organic political

com-

In

TO GIVE ALL

TO DARE ALL

TO ENDURE ALL

St Rugs

GREA

PLAN OF

FLIGHT

80

rims.

It is

East, they do not

building of international order: that the United States which will not consist merely of also has had its influen-weak States which do not com- agreements between small and tial advocates of appease-prise efficient economic units: ment of Japan, and that and economic unity in Europe, and while it insists on keeping economic order throughout the open the channels world...

"I don't like the look of this, Adolf. Your map only shows to surrender..ali"."" of The democratic world must re- world trade it does not al-'capture from Hitler and Musso- Flight after dark. The faces of

Jany shred of claim to British ways use these with that which-largely for

lini the revolutionary slogans

the servants are sad, for they are

nationality. The quay is beset by |a surging mob trying to reach the foresight which is neces-purposes--they have stolen. The bags are carried down the steep propaganda Sorry to see us go, and uneasy too;

ship. sary to keep them from it is not fixed, but leaves the way cloister, to the road where a car household possessions, beds and mote and unreal; they have seen very mark of democracy is that white stair that leads from the everywhere. Trains full, cars full

The grim, solid houses of the little hotel courtyard, once a

and overflowing with pathetic its tapering Gothic fleche look re- [grey, old town and cathedral with being closed by the spread open for continual and repeated is waiting. Flowers smell sweeter of aggression.

revolution, by constitutional at night, and ineans. Its hightest value is not bruises the white alyssum that heavy-eyed from want of

one of the bags cat, the householders themselves Wellington drove

rugs and blankets, the household something like this before when Moreover they may well its past achievement but its pro droops over the wall as we pass, weak from lack of food, old cars,

Marshal Soult sleep, recall that the role of nise. It was born with, energy giving a pungent, delicious scent. surely rescued from the scrap-the air warm, but terror lurks be-

up to Toulouse and Orthez. and with devotion to the

It is night. The sea is calm, and sea-power they have as-munity.

The little town sleeps boside the sumed-that of guarding and self-seeking sort

Its true essence is not tideless sea, breaking in wavelets heap, trundling along the endless neath the moonlit water, dogs our the diffuse, the lax and careless on the beach that has seen

[roads, travelling almost on their flight in this stage of a desperate of thing the Pacific while Britain about which those who say we thousand years of so-called civili-anything that runs on wheels.

[many flights, so much war, in a

Perambulators full too; journey. Sleeping figures lie about shall have to surrender guarded the Atlantic-

the decks, wrapped in rugs or in it are now wringing their

sation.

Alas The car speeds towards

for flight! hands.

never what other coverings they have places upon them a res-crisis it has always

Naples, round sharp bends and picturesque. Now it is terrible, been demanded,

able to bring, arranging the Far and henceforth it will demand times through an open door are tragic fugitives? Behind them are chairs or on the bare planks, try-

through silent villages; ponsibility in

some ugly. Where can they go, these themselves as best they may on more regularly, the disciplined | East which must fall cooperation of free men in the seen, within the lit interior, happy dogs of war pursuing, attacking: ing to sleep and forget for a while heavily upon their should-

use of all material and human re men and women who need not fly so the fugitives must go 'some- the events of the last few days. sources in the service of the com- yet. In one village a fair is being where. Arrived in a town, they At least it is quiet; only the throb ers at this time when Bri-mon good. The chief present duty its height. Every booth is bright-ed. As in another Flight, there is the ship at the highest speed the held which seems to have reached know at once they are not want- of the propellers as they drive tain faces invasion

of democrats is to end the power ly it with at

of those internal parasites who coloured lanterns which illumine friendly faces look from the win- unknown British port.

flaring tapers and no room at the inn. Hostile, un-engines are capable of towards an home. Indeed, the impli-have kept it weak and static and the dark faces and shining eyes dows. No room, no room. "Com-gives a sudden cry, but is hushed A child cations of the naval poli-have nearly betrayed it to

of the populace which swarms plets" are the hotels, and restaur-off again, and a fitful sleep de- cies of the United States

round the stalls piled high with ant doors are locked lest a hun-scends once more gaudy merchandise... Some are gry wanderer should push in. In weary souls. The ship sweeps on, and Britain should serve Ai peril of extinction, demo-dancing in the roadway or seated the churches tired people may sit every now and then showing what to explain why Mr. Hull vet resume the historical about a table enjoying a "fiasco" and rest, and gaze with weary dunger has been avoided by the initiative which belongs to it. of home-grown wine, while dark-eyes on the tall crucifix whence a sharp curve in which sho heels takes a strong stand while This Initiative, for mere military ness, like an. inverted bowl, compassionate Figure looks down over at an alarming angle. Britain seemingly

purposes, will have to be express-isolates the whole scone from the on a tortured world. re-ed first of all in the

The dawn breaks, and the clear economic outside world... front. It can and must be used,.

Passers-by have no ideas to summer sky is lightly veiled'here Now a turn in the road between offer; as often as not they What makes for pos- military power than any which it sky the Bre of Vesuvius glows here and there seeking where to cumbent figures begin

not merely to create a stronger two ourving mountains. In the strangers too, and

are and thereby wisps of moving are hurrying cloud. The sun is up. Silent re- sible misunderstanding of may have to face, but a firmer sullenly like

to move a bloodshot eye. find a lodging, a bed, a couch, and stretch their cramped limbs the positions of the two structure, a better and more Where are we going to-night, and anything better than a cold stone as they gaze out to sea. It is easy

wholesome life for all its citizens. why? Is it all a bad dream that stair, a doorstep, or a street. nations at this moment is The purpose of mobilisation must we must leave this lovely friendly

to read their thoughts. They are that one is at war and the but to win.

be not merely to prevent defeat, land where we are always

How can a little seaport town toolting at a derelict ship; her so accommodate an extra thousand back broken, slowly sinking. None And it must be not welcome? The whole picture is people all at once? Some families can tell her story, but she tells other is not. Naturally the merely to win the war, but to unreal, but the faces which greet sleep in their cars, of which not a her own.. United States tries to em-peace, more genuinely revolution-minus are

establish a sound and creative us on arrival at the railway ter-few show marks of bullets. In- The long day wears on, and ploy all diplomatic pres-lary in answer.

side them intimate baby care is hope increases with each hour, At "I am sorry England has had a going on, and overtired children the approach of evening a low, sure that it can command

reverse,'

e," says a voice in Italian. cry and turn away from the un- grey, misty line appears on the to

Come, this is better, more what accustomed food. protect its interests ca's use of force in the we should expect. But

horizon ahead, and gulls are those Flight, it is always flight, and wheeling above our wake. There without becoming em-Far East and cannot friendly voices are not the utter-where shall we fly next?

is less of excitement than thought- broiled in armed conflict. afford to diffuse its own destiny. We must leave the sun beside the quay, but she is only for last half-hour as the ship throbs ance of those who rule Italy's The big ship awaits the tide fullness on men's faces during this Naturally, while Britain naval power, it makes and flowers and dazzling azure sea those who have the right to enter homeward to England, and friends and fly.. cannot count on Ameri-what terms it can.

Britain British, or those with a France in night, Fugitives British wife, or those who have DOROTHY HAMILTON DEAN,

treats.

enemies.

*

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Its

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as usual.

on anxious,