1941-09-17 — Page 39

THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 17, 1941.

CHINA MAIL Planning For

WINDSOR HOUSE

CAN JAPAN STOP?

Eternity

A Nation Must Discover Its Faith

Japanese spokesmen persist in their hope that the freezing of Japanese assets and of Allied assets

When people begin to talk abontinearer events! There are ways of individual being nothing and the in Japan is not going to planning, I think of the last time increasing control over events and State everything is just silly non- increasing consequently the range sense-for it means that plans and mean cessation of all saw Robert Bridges. We had of planning. Dictators can make organisation are everything - and

both been listening to a broadcast far-reaching plans more easily there is nothing to plan for. trade. They know as well

by an eminent scientist, He had than others because they have, or think they have, gained undisput- as we do, particularly tried to make our flesh creep with ed control over millions of men. from the very frank warn- the prospect that in a compara- That planning is done at a price- tively short time-say, in about a price of a huge concentration of ings that come from

ten thousand -years--man might power into the hands of one man or of a few, and the submission pf various quarters, that if ceuse to dominate the earth and all the others to being planned. Japan's armed forces be replaced by another race of When men plan in that way, the cross the Siamese border animals, say ants. He had ended lust for power which it involves sooner or later destroys them and

No, if a nation is to plan and to or if there is any hostile by an exhortation to us all to rule often their victories too. You re-take thought for the future, as it in the light of this member the parable in the Gospels must, it must begin. by men and gesture against the Dutch East Indies there alarming possibility and so to aut about planning? "The ground of women taking counsel together as a certain rich nun brought forth to what they really want, what the now that ten thousand years hence plentifully: and he thought with ends are in their common life for will be war in the Far

man would still be dominant. We in himself, saying What shall I

which they care most and which East and all Allied rela- both agreed that the eminent do: I will pull down my barns they think most precious. But tions with Japan will end. scientist had been talking non-1 bestow all

and build greater and there will that means asking themselves my fruits and my what their own fundamental faith If their hopes are sin-sense because we agreed there is goods. And I will say to my soul, s. The anti-planning parable

Soul, thou hast much goods lald ends, you cerely expressed, as we some sense in planning for

remember, by saying. up for many years; take thine "So is he that layeth up treasure believe

week, a month, or sometimes even they are, they

easc: eat, drink and be merry.for himself and is not rich toward a few years ahead; much sense But God said unto him. Thou fool: God." must also be hoping,

A nation cannot, any more always in planning for eternity; this night thy soul shall be re than an individual, ask itself what therefore, that some force and no sense whatever in plan- quired of thee: then whose shall it really wants without discover- in Japan will check the ning ahead for ten thousand years. provided? So is he that layeth up asking itself if it has any faith, if those things be which thou hasting its faith: without at least army and navy in mid- career and give pledges of respect for the status quo.

We have no doubt that such forces are at work and may even be getting a thoughtful hearing, be- cause there have been 10 trumped-up demonstra- tions of resentment and defiance in Japan since the press made its first| angry comment on the freezing orders. We hope they are carrying weight; but the fear remains that the Japanese armed forces cannot now be

our actions

In this age when men talk so

much of planning, I think that is worth bearing in mind. Nations have had four-year plans, five- ten-year plans. year plans even They will soon be trying to break records in the length of their plan- ning periods. Ten thousand years, | of course, is planning ahead with a vengeance, and is agreed to be

silly.

-By- Dr. A. D. Lindsay

there are some things in its life for which it is prepared to die. But that is not planning. It is the. indispensable preliminary to it at least to what I called at the beginning of this talk "planning with a view to eternity"-cons{~ dering the eternal values which are worth more, than this temporal fortune or that. A healthy or a secure, society does not need to But

trouble when does planning

to give reasons for the become silly because it looks too

faith that is in it. It takes the treasure for himself and is not faith for granted as it does the air far ahead?

not long views rich toward God." Are

That might it breathes. But when its faith is supposed to be especially wise? When do they become so long that be called an anti-planning parable, attacked, it is bound to ask itselt and the next verse in St. Luke searching questions-to be sure they become foolish"

to condemn that its way of life is something "Take no thought for real and precious. When a man is planning. Why it is silly to plan for ten thousand years ahead is that we your life, what ye shall eat." But pulled up like that, when he is two chapters further on there are roused out of his complacency and have no power of controlling what is ten thousand years ahead, and two pro-planning parables, the his taking of things for granted,

Arst of which says, "For whitch of he says to himself, "What do Í reasonable planning clearly must bear some relation to power of you, intending to build a tower, stand for, or what do I really be

sitteth not down first, and counteth lleve? When he answers that control. But how little power of control we often have over much the cost, whether he have sufficient question honestly, the next ques- to finish it? Lest haply, after he lion he asks himself is, "Why don't hath laid the foundation, and is I live more as if I did believe not able to finish it, all that be- that?" Then the best kind of

planning can begin.

seems even

more

halted by anything in make Japan self-suf- hold it begin to mook him." Japan short of revolution, ficient. of which there is no pre-| sent indication.

Finance Minister] Ogura's statement to the effect that Japan's ans-

The alternative to this is rapid loss of striking| power to the point of im- mobility not more than a year hence and then

er.

Worship Of Organisation