THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST, 28, 1940.
LORD BEAVERBROOK YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED AN ALL-TIME RECORD IN JULY
CHINA MAIL
WINDSOR HOUSE
THE NEAR EAST
While some clarification of the political man- oeuvrings in Egypt would seem desirable, there need be no anxiety. Sabry Pasha continues as Prime Minister and there is plentiful indication of the strengthening of the Bri- tish position in the East- ern Mediterranean as the result of recent naval] operations and, indirect- ly, the air battles over Britain.
None of the-nations of the Near East is under any illusion as to the fate which would await it if British sea power were no longer effective. Mus- solini has not been shy in proclaiming Italian am- bitions; and the examples of Libya, Abyssinia, and Albania are potent and ever-present reminders.
The events of the past fortnight, which have de- monstrated the ubiquity and the adequacy of Bri- tish sea power in Medi- terranean waters, have]
·AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION
HOW DOTH THE BUSY LITTLE
A Rallying-Ground
convinced the Near East beauty and tragic human struggle In these days of high summer both-of-the-ability-and-of those in Great Britain naturally the will of Great Britain think and speak of their "island fortress" and of their duty of
hind the white cliffs which are its
to honour her engage-holding out" to the uttermost be ments, to support her walls. allies, and to maintain hei! strength unimpaired.
.
The idea of the stern defensive.
Its
end!
no conclusive and positive
accomplishment and
fruition.
Carrying On
cooperation with Great thing greater than holding Britain.
for Attack
generous
The more I give to thee, The more I have, for both
infinite.
All Liberties-
By- Professor Ernest Barker
F
That
tune and their freedom are also and equally engaged. Nor is it an exaggeration-it is only sober. truth-to say that the issue goes further still. It also involves the great Empire of India, in its gra- dual development, under the in- spiration and shelter of the Bri- tish flag of freedom, towards the
human
1
Partnership Of Freedom
the
is an old idea in Britain's national her in the enjoyment of her own,moment are wrecked and sunk, goal of self-government: it also. history and literature. To fight liberty. The cause of liberty is a In this cause altruism is, and has involves the African colonies, against any odds, however great, generous cause-as.
as always been, in her own best in-which have also begun to grow, In spite therefore of and to stand tenaciously even love, with a bounty as boundless terest.
by the method and practice of in- the darkest sky, is and deep-a cause of which it. And so, if Britons continue to direct rule, towards the handling more than one mischiev-favourite theme of Anglo-Saxon may truly be said, without any talk of an island fortress, they of their own affairs through their must remember that it is not alown native authorities. For the ous rumour circulated by literature-a literature, by the rhetoric or emotion,
fortress into which they retire, British Commonwealth has been, German agents and by or neglected, for it has in
way, which is too often forgotten
are but a fortress from which they and is, and one cannot but: belleve the Italian and German themes and spirit some of the in-
sally out to reduce the enemy and that it will continue to be, a school to spread the conquests of liberty and a home of liberty in all its radio, British friendship ent national temper. But this most essence of Britain's perman-
Fortresses, in old days (the days, parts and the whole of its extent- for example, of the Crusades)-not only in its Dominions, even with Turkey, with Egypt, "Anglo-Saxon tenacity" as even
were not only, or indeed primari-if they stand in the forefront of and with the Arab world Britain's enemies have called it.
is not the whole, or even - the1 British liberty would be a poor ly, built for defence: they were free self-government, but also has grown stronger and major part, of the quality needed and imperfect thing without sur-built as vantage-grounds for at- among that fifth of the
to-day. To hold out in an island rounding and encompassing liber- tack and advanced posts for the race which is called India, through more confident since
Britons tles the liberty of France and purpose of sallies. fortress is indeed a matter
are all its far-flung colonies. Italy's entry into the war. stubborn gallantry; but it is also. Belgium and Holland and Nor-living in the age of a new Cru- the liberty, even further sadea Crusade for the vindica- way: in its way, a matter of a negative afleld (for Europe-at large is Bri-tion of the liberty of the human The newly formed Egyp-|
Jattitude. It is the stopping ol tian Government knows something from being done rather tain's neighbour), of Poland and spirit-and they now plan to use Liberty can the fortress of Britain, as the old that our forces on Egyp-opens a vista, long and indefinite,
than the doing of something: it Czechoslovakia.
Crusaders used their fortresses, in tian soil are defending of not being beaten, but it shows
the way of a vantage-ground or A great partnership of freedom advanced post. But indeed it is stands around the island; and the Egypt's liberties as well as which can stir the mind with a
of this already being used in that way, soldiers
partnership- British interests, has a sense of
and used not only by the British soldiers who come from people (in the sense of the people American continent and from the well-founded mistrust of
who actually live in Britain), but far - Southern hemisphere-stand Italian intrigues, and is
also by other peoples. Britain has by Britannia's side in defence of a the-honour, in this hour, of not cause which is theirs as well as ready for wholehearted
Įstanding alone, but of having with hers. Britain is called to-day to some-
her a company of friends.
If, therefore, men speak of the out. She is called to the carrying on
company would not be there if "island fortress" and of "holding she was merely an island fortress out" in that fortress, they also of a good cause, which is the cause!
never be isolated or parcelled, or to be defended. They are therej think, and also speak, of the of liberty, and the expansion in treated as a national commodity because she is, and so long as she larger and broader and deeper The sympathies of the liberty, of man's unconquerable
mind: and not only so, but she is to be preserved by measures of remains the vantage-ground for a significance of the struggle. This Arab world are not, and also called to the carrying out of national protection. It is a com- great crusade to redeem the cause fortress is more than a fortress.
mon good to be shared in com- of liberty. never have been, in doubt. that cause, beyond her own
The more Britain' shares In Palestine the welcome shores, into Europe and even be- liberty with others, the better yond, as a moving and militant] suspension of internal cause which must grow, in order does she defend her liberty.
That is. an old lesson of British
Consider who are gathered in strife continues, and the to live and must-preserve itself history. Britain has defended
by expansion. She is not fighting liberty in centuries
before the that island, and how their gather embarrassments caused for an insular or limited liberty twentieth, and against enemies ing upon it lifts up by the anomalous situa-she is fighting for a general, other than Germans. She defend-away and beyond the simple cause the second place, a great and a continental, we may even say an edit against Spain in the era of of the defence of an island, for- general rallying-ground, for all tion in Syria after thejoecumenical, liberty, which is far the Reformation:, she defended it/tress. There are Frenchmen who who are on Britain's side, and who will not despair of the Republic: stand with her because they stand French defection are be-broader than her shores, and will
ensure her the comfort and com Napoleon.
against France in the days of there are Poles and Norwegians: for themselves in standing along
But has ing cleared up. Finally pany of other free states to aid depended liberist breeching away there are Dutch and Belgians. with her. It is n rallying-ground the to our treaty with Turkey
tend it, because she always knew The soll is the bond and the rally twice over-immediately for many European Peoples of Europe who wish stands. British opinion phasised the other day others were also free. She fought battle upon it, that battle will be liberty; but also, and beyond that,
that she was only truly free when ing ground of
countries; and if there should be redeem and enjoy their national fully appreciates the firm the desire of the British for Holland against Philip 11, as more than a battle of Britain-it for the peoples of the whole Bri- Turkish allies, and has no and strengthen relations when she fought against Napoleon, war for the freedom of Europe. partners in an old and generous reserves to make regard- between this country and ing the reasons which the Soviet Union The True To Tradition goes beyond Europe, and involves a rallying ground, and which als have induced Turkey to maintenance of the pre- Ir Britain is true to her old continents
tradition (but there is no"" sphere. For British soll is a bond Britain, as it stands, in this. mid- adopt a non-belligerent sent cordial relations be about the matter, for she will cer- and a rallying ground not only for summer. It is a high and solemn attitude. In disposing of tween the Soviet Union tainly be true), she will fight this European countries, but also for privilege that Britain: should thus the fantastic allegation of and Turkey is one of the year, and next, and as long as Canada and Australia and the be more than Britain, and that
there is need to fight, not only to other Dominions of the British her cause should matter,
matters to-day; not only to her- 1. an intended British attack factors most calculated to keep her own liberty afloat, but Commonwealth.
the also to raise and salvage
As they see the matter, not the self but also to Europe, and on Baku Mr. Butler em- aid in this improvement. liberties elsewhere which for the island alone is at stake: their..for-world, beyond Europe.
mon.
Polyglot Island
the
cause,
It is also two other things. It is, in the first place, a vantage ground and an advanced post from which Britons can go forth, and carry general out their cause, for the advantage and the general victory of freedom everywhere. It is, in
and loyal policy of our Government to improve well as for herself; she fought for
Spain as well as for England, will be a battle of Europe, and a tish Commonwealth
tradition.
•
who are
Indeed, it will be even more| than that: It will be a battle that is
the freedom of peoples in other the one because it is also, the and another hemi-fother-that is the true position of
-J
∙as it
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