1940-02-17 — Page 6

PAGE 6,-HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

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Saturday. FEBRUARY 17, 1940.

by FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.

THIE social and economic

forces mismanaged abroad until they have resulted in revolution, dictatorship and war are the same as those which we here are struggling to adjust peace fully at home.

Dictatorships and the philo- sophy of force which justifies dictatorships originated in al- most every case in the neces- sity of drastic action to im- prove internal conditions where democratic action for one rea- son or another had failed to respond to modern needs and modern demands.

then

But there is n vast difference bo-

business. We have not to go to war war lo tending this

none of our with other nations, but at least we can strive with other nations to cr courage the kind of peace that will and by so doing help our own na- lighten the troubles of the world

tion as well.

It becomes clearer and elearer that the future world will be a shabby and dangerous place to livo in oven for Americans to live in it is ruled by forer in the hands of a

a few.

Already swiftly moving events all over Europe have made us pause to think in a longer view. Fortunately by partisanship. The time is long that thinking cannot be controlled

past when any political party or 1 can understand the feelings of any particular group can carry or those who warn the nation that they itself 'the Peace Party' or 'the Peace explure public favour by labelling will never ogain consent to the sending of American youth on the Bloe. That tabel belongs to the sult of Europe. But as I remember whole of the US, and to every nobody lum asked them to consent, right-thinking man, woman for nobody expects such an under- child within it. taking.

•

and

The overwhelming majority of WE must look ahead to see the effect on our own future If all my fellow citizena do not ebonden small nations throughout the world in the slightest their hope and ex- have their independence snatched pectation that the United States from them or become the merg will not become involved in mili- appendages to relatively 'vust and tury participation in the war. powerful military systems.

I can also understand the wishful- ness of those who over-simplify the situation by repeating that all we have to do is to nind

our own

business and keep the nation from

Win.

We must look ahead to see the kind of lives our children would have to lead if a large part of the rest of the world were compelled to worship the God Imposed by military ruler or were forbidden to

War Profiteering

WAR PROFITEERING is not legitimate business but a crime against the community, The or linary honest trader has no desire to turn a public emergency Into a source of private gain, and though there are many complaints of in- creases in Hongkong which seem unjustifiable" to the buyer-and will not in Fact bear close scrutiny--the blame is not always

laid at the right door.

The

Thongkong Telegraphi.

Saturday, February 17, 1940. Wyndham St, Hongkong Telephone: 26615

There are few who do not subscribe to the view that there must be no profiteering in this war; not merely because the vice is ugly, but because, more than any other possible development it aids in impoverishing the class of clilzen who cannot and must not be further impoverished.

It is obvious that we must face certain rises in costs, and continue to face them until some time after peace returns, particularly those class of goods which are imported from non-sterling youn- tries.

The Government has adequate powers for deal- ing with profiteering in Hongkong. In certain casus, notably a number of foodstuffs, it has fixed prices and alterations are announced week by week in the "Government Gazette." But the

same control was exercised in the inst week and, as a glance at our 1914-15 files discloses, many pri- vate individuals in Hongkong lined their pocketa with complete dis- regard for the publie welfare,

The Hongkong publie has gone through critical times during the past two years ant cannot be asked to tolerate any repetition of the 1914 profiteering. I reasonable prices were confined to one or two articles with which the people eun, in a pinch, dispense, profiteering would be an irritating rather than a nationally vital matter.

un-

But it appears gradually to be spreading to all commodities not yet the subject of Government control. We mention as an instance the soaring price of fire-wood, an article with which the Chi- nese population cannot diapense. We ank the proper authorities to compare the prices now ruling with those existing before the war. We ask, too, that some enquiries be made regarding the in- crease the price of coal.

Here are at least two items, of which there is no shortage, which commend themselves to the attention of the Price Fixing Board.

SCANDINAVIAN NEWS REEL

PEACEFUL Scandinavia is to-day threatened

sides.

Russia's attack on Finland undermines the independence of Sweden and hence of Norway. too, and Denmark has nothing to gain from the conversion-of-the-Baltic-into-a-Russian-lake.

From Germany comes another threat. As yet it is only in the verbal stage, but it is no less. real for that. The Nazi Press attacks

With control of Petsamo

Russia could threaten

| Narvik, Norwegian port

and main outlet for Swedish iron exports. Oslo, not so immediately threatened as Stockholm waits for Swedish lead.

EAS

L

Sundsvall.

Hudiksvall

Hammer

1109

Bothnia

Norway and Sweden-for- their friendly attitude to the Allies, while Denmark balances on a tight-rope between Nazi threats and the vital need to maintain exports.

For each one of these countries there is a growing-danger of being drawn-into-the-new game of power polities that is going on round the shores of the Baltic and in the northern waters of the Atlantic.

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Denmark attempts to preserve vast agricultural exports to Britain, friend ship with Germany and solidarity with other Scandinavian states.

Konigsberg

Kaunas

With complete control of Petsamo,northern Finnish port, Russia could dominate nickel exports from Salmijaern mines (marked O), could · threaten northern frontiers of Norway and Sweden. would come within striking distance of Swedish iron ore fields (marked) in Lappland

Snow, marshes, lakes and mountains hamper Russian advance across Finland's | long,eastern, Karelian fronter

Swedish iron ore exports from Lulea and Gävle pass through Gulf of Bothnia. Hence Swedish interest in strategic Aaland Islands.

With recently acquired naval air bases in Baltic states. Soviet controls economic life of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, dominates all south Finnish ports and industrial centres.

Stockholm orders partial U.S. S.A. mobilisation, mines territorial waters between mainland and Aaland Islands. As a safely move reforms government without Foreign Minister Sandler, attacked by Nati press as "British tool.

Copenhagen offers Finland sympathy but, fearful of German press campaign and warnings, declares that Denmark |will stay neutral in Russo-Finnish war

THIS

WAR

IS

OUR

WAR

д

worship God at all; if the rest of the world were forbidden to read and hear facts and were deprived of the truth which makes men free.

We must look ahead and see the effect on our future generations If world trade is controlled by any nation or group of nations which sets up that control through mill- tary force. Summing up this need less. of looking ahead, I hope we will have few American ostriches in our midst.

It is true, of course, that the re- cord of past centuries includes the destruction of many small nations; and includes the enslavement of people and the building of

empires on the foundation of force. But quite apart from the greater inter- national morality which we seek to-day we recognise the practicnl fuct that with modern weapons and modern conditions, modern mún con no longer lend a civilised life if we are to go back to the practice of wars of conquest of the seventeenth and eighteenth cen- turies.

Sumining-up this need for Jools- ing ahead and in words of common sense and good American citizen- ship, I hope that we will have fewer American ostriches in otir midst.

It is not good for the ultimate health of ostriches to bury their heads in the sand. Only an ostriel would look upon these wars through. the eyes of cynicism or ridicule.

Of course, the peoples of other mations bave the right to choose their own form of government, but we in this nation still believe that such a choice should be predicated on certain freedoms which we think essential everywhere. We know we ourselves will never be wholly safe at home unless other Governments recognise such freedoms.

The old conditions or World trade mode for nu enduring pencu. When the time comes, the United Stales must use Its Influence to open un the trade channels of the world, in order that no nation shall feel compelled in later days to seek by. force of arms what it can well gain' by peaceful conference.

I emphasise the leadership which this nation can take when the time camtes for a renewal of world pence. Such inthence will be greatly weakened it this Government be- comes

In the manger of trade selfishness.

The Arst President of the United States warned us against entangling alliances; the present President of the United States subscribes to und follows that precept.

But trude co-operation with the rest of the world does not violate that precept in any way.

The permanent security of America in the present crisia, does not He in armed force alone. What. face is a set of world-wide forces of disintegration, vicious, destructive of all the moral, all the religious and all the political standards which mankind, centuries of struggles, has come to cherish most.

we

afler

*

N these moral values, in tene

forces which have nude aur nation great, we must actively and practically reassert our faith. These werdis 'national unity' must not be allowed to become merely a high- sounding phrase, a vague generality, a plous' hope to which everyone can give ip servies They must ix made to have real meaning in terms of the daily thoughts and acts of every man, woman and child in our. ined during the coming year and during the years that ile ahend.

For national unity is in a very yeal und

deep sense the funda mental safeguard of all democracy. Doctrines that set group against group faith

against faith, against race, class against class, fanning the Bres of hatred in men. too despondent, the desperate to think for themselves-those doc- Irines were used as rabble-rousing slogans on which dictators could rise to power, and once in power they could anddle their tyrannies on whole nations, saddle them on their weaker neighbours.

race

All this and

the

have

con-

We must us a united people keep ablaze on this continent the flames of human liberty, of reason, of de- inperary and of fair play as living things to be preserved for the bet- ter warld that is to

come. bitterness, vituperation beating of drums-they tributed mightily, to wars between nations. If these un- necessary and, unpleasant actions are harmful in the international field they are also harmful in the domestic scene. In the long run history amply demonstrates that angry controversy surely wins less than enim discussion,

to ill-feelings and

In the spirit therefore of greater unselfishness, recognising that the world, including the U.S., Is pussing through perilous times, I am very hopeful that the closing session of the 70th Congress will consider the needs of the nation and of humani- ty with calmness, with courage and with co-operative wisdom.

May the year 1940 be pointed to by our children as unottier period when democracy justifled its exist ence n the best instrument of gov- ernment yet devised by mankind.

THE 'DIGGER

THE "Digger" is in the picture again. He Is once more rallying to the call of baitis,

The Australian soldier in the last war, who preferred the above ille to any other, had a personality all his own. He hated to be "millaris. ed." Discipline, as applied in the home Army, was anathema to filim, and his disregard of the stringent milltary laws when "out of the line" was refreshing nit amusing to wil ness.

Il contempt for discipline did not, however, in any way affect his qualities as a fighter (as the Ger- mans have reason to remember), nor his loyalty to his leaders, There was a fine understanding be- tween offleers and men and when off parade rank counted for little.

As an Illustration of this, here is a story that went the rounds.

A ccrinin well-known General was due to inspect a battalion of "Aussies" Their C.O.. had some mis- givings as to how the men would be- have before him, so he thought a little precautionary advice would not go amiss. Just before the “big moment" he appealed to them "nat, to spit in the ranks and not to call him Bli while the General was re- vlowing them?"

The transgression of Army rules WILL "meat" to the "Digger's" nature. Our company was Uned un on parade in a village street in France, our Captain astride his horse, The Australians were bil- Jeled 'in the same village, and two of their number came sauntering up theaireet. Knatead of passing the company at the rear they proceeded to walk along the front rank,

Our Captain nearly fell of his horse with rage, bellowing out. "Where the devi! do you think you are going?”

To? Xin?" Innocently queried one of them. "Oh, just up road!"

the

The Old Alan, red In the face, blurted out, "Sergeant-major, put that man under arrest!" No sooner said than done.

lile pal, who was still a tree agent. Kald. "It's all right. Jack, I'll fetel, the mob!"

Knowing the Australians, this threat was too much for our Cap- tain, who, an noon as Jack's pal was out of sight, gave an order to re- lease the detained man,

Tuo

"Digger"

WAR

A

grand

forager, and never wanted for any- thing if it was to be had, as our company had reason to know,

One very dark night a couple of them (they always seemed to go about in twos), leading a pale of horses, came into our camp and asked for the sergeant-major. On that worthy showing himself, they presented him with a note; paying. "We have come for your 65. (gen- eral service) warron; here le our authorly" (handing him a földerl picco of paper). The 8.M. went off to and a lamp to read the note. Meanwhile the two "Diggers" were volking their horses to our waggon, and by the time the 8.M. found lamp, and that he had been tricked by a blank sheet of paper, the wag- gon was out of sight. An Intensive search of the surrounding country: the following day failed to reveal its whereabouts,

A. D