“ROTTEN MODESTY”

Evening Star, Issue 19666, 20 September 1927, Page 1

“ROTTEN MODESTY”

FUTILE BELITTLING OF BRITAIN Vice-admiral Philip Dumas, C. 8., writing in the ‘Sunday Chronicle,’ looks upon tho constant belittling ot ourselves as dangerously futile, as it is regarded as sheer hypocrisy by other nations. We in Great Britain (ho says) are cursed with a rotten modesty which prevents ns from , clearly visualising that we arc the centre and mainspring ot the greatest and most splendid Empire that the world has ever seen. 1 happen to belong to that comparatively small body of men—seamen —•who almost alone are blessed with the opportunity of seeing something of our splendid Empire, of realising the immense respect with which the people and the rulers of Great Britain and. that Empire arc held outside our own country. To what is that intense respect due? In the first place to our traders and commercial men who have in an entirely honorable way developed trade in foreign lands, and built them up in an atmosphere ot honesty,toleration, and kindliness. A TiRPJTZ TRIBUTE. I recall that when once dining alone with Admiral Von Tirpitz and the Minister of the Interior in Berlin tho former casually remarked: “In a really civilised country such as yours” ... I said “Thank you, very much, Your Excellency. Do you really mean that? ” He replied; “Of course, I dol With ns civilisation is only skin deep, but with you it goes to the bone.’’ And the Minister, a very enlightened man, concurred. Undoubtedly a great part of this respect for ns is due to our consuls abroad—a splendid self-sacrificing and conscientious body of men—our colonial governors and administrators, our generals, officers, and soldiers—but, above all, perhaps our mercantile marine and naval officers and men. The latter constantly represents the British Empire in every known corner of tho world. Rarely have they been . known to lot down our good name lor truth and justice. Am I not indeed right in calling on our people to "recognise more clearly the greatness and splendor of our , Empire? Arc we not the only people who have officially organised colonisation, not only for our own. benefit, but for that of tho indigenous population. Could any hut tho very_ greatest nation, for instance, have given Beltgovernment to South Africa as jvc did at the end of the Boer War?, Realise, that our British army of occupation on tho Rhine neither i made nor left behind them bitter, ' feelings. It proved a far better { medium of future peace betwce.ll tha | two countries than ever the Treaty ■ of Versailles is likely to be. If all tho foregoing statements are , facts, surely wc have a right and duty, 'j to be proud of our Empire, and every j effort should be made in schools and all educational institutions to convince the younger generation of our splendid heritage, of our equally noble aims and works. ■ , Unhappily this is necessary because in the mouths of many of our truly revolting orators pride of Empire has come to be something to bo ashamed of, to be confused with an evil desire for imperialism, a desire to conquer for tho sake of gain and Just of war.’ With a life-long experience of naval, and military men, 1 can truthfully .state that 1 have never known a single one who felt anything but a loathing and detestation of war. Great Britain has produced as great or better men in all walks of life as any in history. Tho blood of millions of her sons and daughters calls for tho proud and loving recognition of their soil-sacrificing services. Are we sufficiently proud of them? Surely flic question has only to ho asked to he satisfactorily answered. FALSE PRIDE. Just as British commerce stands for probity, so does the mind of the British people stand for justice and. honor. Wc should be duly proud of the work of tho men who have built up the Empire, and not be ashamed to confess it. The constant belittling of ourselves is looked upon as false and hypocritical on the Continent, so nothing is really gained thereby except contempt. Wc need not fear an accusation of immodesty! At the bottom of every fori ign heart is a very real respect, and admiration for Britons and the British Empire, Undue modesty as regards our Empire ami what, it stands for is in irnt.h hir., false pride, and may belter he described as roUen modesty. Bet ns ho honest with ourselves, do justice to our fellows of that Empire, and sweep modesty away.