BRITAIN'S FUTURE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3118, 23 June 1917, Page 10

BRITAIN'S FUTURE

LESSONS OP THE WAR

GREAT NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

A STIRRING SPEECH

"Tho Germans will go down to history as great soldiers aud great blackguards," said the Hon. A. L. Herdman, AttornevGoueral, at tho Victoria College capping "?«f mon y in tho Town -Wall last night Ihu warriors and the sailors of England will bo remembered as having fought their tight with honour, witJi a spirit worthy of the nation that claims tnem and with a cheerful and reckless valour (hut will inspire future generations of their oountrynien to imitate their great deeds."

Mr. Herdman mado some interesting references to the effect of the war upon tho British Empire. "Tho Brita-iu of yesterday is dead and a new Britain is arising," no said. "Britain will never flgiun be exactly the same old Britain of the days before the war. She was weighty, solid, etolid, and insular, regarding the rest of the world with aloofness. She was loved with devotion by those who wero of her, and hated with bitterness by those who viewed with envy her power, hor prestige, and her rich possessions. So indifferent was eho to passing events that she was blind to the dangers which threatened her, and she so misjudged her Imperial resources that she regarded tho oversea, possessions with a benovelent and patronising condescension. Content with her immortal history, her traditions, her unassailable place in tho world, and the infinite beauty and charm of her land, she viewed with a casual eye happenings in tho outside world and the plans and ambitions of other natione. "All this has changed. The Britain of to-day is alive! She is awake, alert, active. She is vigorous and in deadly earnest. Her great strength is being put forth to the utmost. Her intellect is working at white heat. Old and young, rich and poor, peer and peasant are one united host working for the safety of Britain and the freedom of the world. To-day Britain's outlook is broader and more human. She understands that she cannot live alone in the world, and that Allies and oversea possessions are not embarrassing encumbrances but valuable securities. The experience of these years will influence

her actions through tho centuries. It will leave a permanent mark on her character. It has' stirred the depths of her soul. She hits learned that her children can acquit themselves like men, and they in turn have been profoundly impressed by her resourcefulness and by her impregnable spirit. ■ "The new Britain will step out of tho furnaco of w<u n sadder, a. wiser, and a more vigorous nation. She will be a more potent influence for the peace of the world and tho good of humanity than she nas even been, and a moro powerful chainpiou of right and liberty than she could ever have been bun this war not Happened. "One point that I want to make is this. Tho war. is organising Britain. Tho nation's ranks are closing up. It has revealed as nothing else could have done the illimitable resources of tho British communities scattered over the globe, and it has shown how useful and how indispensable each part is to every other part. The knowledge gained will bo turnwl to practical account. For the safety and advantage of tho whole I hope that each part will be helped to develop its greatest efficiency. Tho intimacy between the different parts of Britain, which this war has established, will grow closer with increased knowledge. Wβ will move towards tho samo ideals by the same routes. We will share j the sanio hopes and the same destinies, and there will be moro uniformity of practico in matters of Imperial concern. "If you arc- in search of evidenco of the organisation of Britain I invite you to remember that hardly a- ship moves upon tho face of the waters of tho globo but the Imperial Navy either directly or indirectly through our Allies knows all about it; that tho mercantile marino of llio world moves under Britain's guidance and guardianship; that it mainly rests with her to say whether markets of the world shall remain open or be closed. Tho business operations of the "United Kingdom aro largely directed and controlled by her. Indeed, so oxtensivo are her powers that she can purchase for bet.exclusive use the grain of Canada, the beof of Australia, the wool and cheese of Now Zealand, and the woolpacks of India. She- commands and controls railway systems; sho lords it over steamship lines; she regulates finance. "Tho war has shown how wonderful

is the intellect of num. and to what a high pitch tho art of organisation can attain. It has also proved this: that whilst our enemies have spent years in perfecting themselves in tho art of organisation, and have shown a superb faculty for the business of war, tho p'eoplo of Britain, -working under great disadvantages in tho short space of three years, are gradually beating them at their own game. Are tho lessons -n organisation which we have been taught under the harsh- conditions of war to bo forgotten? I think not. If wo do forgot them wo deserve to perish. Tho penalty that we havo paid for unreadiness and for foolish blindness consists in desolate homes, broken hearts, and cruel suffering. This can never be forgotten, and public men daro not let Britain elip back into a state of insensibility. "Although I am no believer in military caste, and whilst I possess a wholesome dread of rigid military rule, I. j-et hope that for reasons of safety, in addition to the standing Army which Britain will always be bound to maintain, there will 1)0 a svstein of universal military service established in all the self-governing Dominions of 'Britain. I hope for this because I think that the youth of the nation must lie. trained and disciplined and moulded into an efficient, a healthy and a well regulated part of the Imperial scheme. . "There is one part of our organisation of which we have a right to be proud. 1 It is the Navy. It has been submitted to the supreme test on every sea, and in every clime, and it has not been found wanting., It has stood between the nation ami destruction. So superb have been its achievements that one might say without exaggeration that it is an instrument that lias been fashioned in the workshops of the Wtls. That man would indeed be a bold one who -would seek to alter any of the principles upon which its wonderful efficiency is founded. I hope that we will have one Imperial Xavy controlled in neace and in war from one centre of the Emnire. and that the men will all serve under like conditions, and will be trained where tho traditions nnd spirit of the Navy live, and where they will be far beyond the reach of the meddlesome politicians, who sometimes are experts in all matters in which they hovp had no experience.

"Tho war will bring about great changes. It seems to me 1o bo certain that public men from over the seas will be called upon to give their sharo of personal help in the management of Imperial matters.

"Morn intimate relations will be established between tho different parts of the. Empire by means of some permanent organisation much as an Tmprial Council or an Imperial Committee. Concessions and sacrifices will have to bo made by parts of the Empire for the srood of the whole of the Emnire. Tho State will be railed upon to do more for flip people than it has ever done. I think that trade between British countries will be legislated for, that trade with out- Allies will be encourncpd. and that trade with our enemies will be firnilv restricted.

"But just as it is true that man winnot live by bread alone, so a nation cannot hope to survive unon trado alone. It is Mii? heart and the mind of peonlo that will count nlwavs. Thie war has shown to the world that the mettle of our people is as vigorous as over it was. The deeds performed by our soldiTs nml sailors have filled us with m-ide,. anil the steadfastness of the peonlo has inspired us with confidence. The nractical way in which difficult tasks have been undertaken: the philosophy of tho soldiers in the midst of frauic conditions: the superb courage of the Australian foldieve; the bravery of oik iwii men—these things compel our admiralion, and ?ive us reason to look to the futuro with confidence and nride."