The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY. JANUARY 6, 01923 THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1923, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY. JANUARY 6, 01923 THE WEEK.

I o-n.cv closes, virtually, the first week of tnc new year—an immediate examI pic of how time Hies. Doubtless many of our readers have been making many resolutions to help carry them more buoyantly over the lilty-two wicks of the year. It is a good way to begin however unsatisfactory the carrying out of the resolutions may prove, for making l '■v good resolutions, at least i.“ts forth a goal, and it is well always to aim high We may fall slant of our expectations, but at least we can hope to arrive on a higher plane than that on which we sot out. Tho now year is worthy of good resolutions, for it should prove a period in which there is room for many bright dreams to come true. It is not an occasion for pessimism at all. for the year promises to bring greater prosperity than ever to the good people who have waited so long and so patiently for tho coming of the iron horse to end once and for all that period of isolation, which has so often baulked many a great enterprise on the Coast. Resolutions and hopes are closely allied, and it is only by resolution that progress is achieved. Governed by high hopes and expectations wo may in a measure set our own stand- ! ard of success, hv the line of resolution adopted, and fills year which the present week marks the opening of, need be governed only by our own spirit of enterprise in the desire and determination to help ourselves, and make 19123 an epoch making ycai in the history of the district. The prospects are good. It is for all to work unitedly towards the common god marked success. j Tin- cables unfold a remarkable effort on the part of Great Britain to solve : the reparations and inter-Allied debts, 1 the great drawback to the peace and goodwill of Europe. Britain leads the way again and leads it fearlessly, with 1 a fine show of magnanimity. France is not pleased with the proposals, hut ! rather selfishly accuses Britain without 1 counting the cost of the enormous mo- i notary sacrifice Britain offers to make. The offer is but a variation of tho ! generous Balfour note, with America ! eliminated. Britain will make great strides in winning the affections of ' some nations, even if France will not , realise the basic qualities of the finnn- i cinl offer Britain is making to Europe. ! The financial tangle is, of course, such that whatever adjustment is made must ' he of the nature of a generous eompro- ! mise, and that no settlement can be ' such as will satisfy all parties. There ' will be the disgruntled, and France can play the part of the disgruntled J one very completely. But to the Englishmen there is proud satisfaction in the knowledge that their country ! has risen superior to all petty feelings, : and offers a generous line of settle- : ■ ment which emphasises once again the inagnimity of the nation alike to friend ■ and foe, a trait of character Britain has never failed to show when the great moment called for the sacrifice. Bri- ' tain entered the war not counting Uie cost. Sim j§ prepared to bring afcout 1 n lasting peace now by not counting i ho opri of herself, but again making 1

f ;i ready sacrifice that the philanthropic .end in view might be the quicker | achieved. Its Britain’s way of do>ng these big things and what man who loves his country would have it otherwise in the long run? Mit Li.ovn Geohge in one oi his latest articles had something to say in lather a caustic vein as to the causes which were keeping America out of the plan for the settlement ol European affairs. But there are signs that the United States has been thinking hard on not where she is standing, lint where she is drifting, and there are indications pointing plainly to a marked change in public opinion. The evolution of the public view is much akin to the process of development which went on the America entered the war. Now Washington is again sitting up and j taking notice of the course of events in Europe, this is evidenced by what ' the “New York Times” Washington I correspondent said this week: "I he I Administration's new venture in world • nlfairs. through its efforts on behalf of Europe to adjust the troublesome rc- - pa rations question, bus 1m ought to light important changes in the sentiment of Congress and certain parts of the country regarding American iutcr- , ' national relations. Domestic politics had been affected to a considerable decree. for if Senator Borah's resolution did nothing else, it served to reveal that there was a strong sentiment in the United States in favour of a more active part by America in helping to straighten the tangles due to the war. This reaction is most | iwalent in - parts of the count *y where, judged by f Ibe attitude when the League of Nations was flu foremost issue, it was to lie the least expected. The great agricultural sections ol the Middle West. West and South-West- rallied in support of the Borah idea. These sections have learned hard the lesson that the nations ol the world are inter-dependent. Tin* woes of one portion aie certain to influence oilier portions. It took the farmers a long lime to understand that the nnresi in Europe was through the failure to adjust the reparations question ” Tun Lausanne Conference affecting the .settlement of the Grooco-Turkish omhroglio. is in danger of breaking down, and Britain, at least. is preparing for (lie worst anothei ‘•lium’ war. It would appear tha| matteis are drifting back to where Lloyd (ieorge \i as forced to leave them, except that, the Turks are in a stronger posit ion than they wore at the crucial innnii til when (leneral llanngtou was ready to hold the Turks up. Britain is again assembling her navy in Turkish waters and it said in reinforcing Gallipoli, while Greek troops are reported to be again on the move. The Turk.-, probably more bellicose than before, because there has been time to reorganise the army, are well prepared. The break down of the conference is due to the still' action of the Turkish representatives, who are evidently in Mated by the possible ad- , vantages they hold, and the knowledge that the Allies will be ready to sacrifice a great deal before being prepared to call the I iirkisli bluff—for sueb it must be to a great extent. Lord C'urv.cii. mi behalf of Britain, is the principal exponent of the Allied cause at the conference, and he has indicated very pointedly that tio fuff Iter coneescan be made to Turkey. The Turks continuing obdurate hits resulted in the military move of Great Britain to again take up the white man’s burden unselfishly, and light the battle of civilisation in the Neai Last. 1 lie eourso ol events just now indicate how right the Lloyd George Government was in its action and preparations but a few short weeks ago. I III: Irish Prelates who have inst returned Imm Ireland * and America, bring back a dual -lory which on the "'hole must lie rather satisfying. The dignitaries in the opinions they express on Irish affairs illuminate the position very clearly, and it is certainly satisfying to leant from such a source that a united Ireland is not an impossibility and that in any ease Ireland is on Hie high road to a satisfactory adjustment of that internal dissension which is so lamentable in its consequences at present. Archbishop O'Shea was very plain and outspoken of bis review of the position in Ireland. “I round Ireland in a disturbed condition.” be said ‘hut it is true that the overwhelming majority of the people are in favour of the Free Staff*. Competent judges say that Bo per cent, of the population . support the new Government. The Government has had tremendous difficulties to face. It had to reorganise till the State Departments, create an entirely now police force, and organise an army to cope with the irregulars. A complete change of rule, such as lias taken place in Ireland, necessarily brings with it unusual and extraordinary difficulties. Just imagine how New Zealand would fare if, for inI stance, the whole of the police force j was removed in a week and a start had to he made with tile formation of an j entirely new force to replace the old one. AA ould there not be disorder and | crime?’’ This version was confirmed t by Archbishop Duhig of Queensland, i who passed through New Zealand this week. In addition he let in an interI esting side-light on affairs, when lie ( praised whole-heartedly the successors l of Griffith and Collins. The places had , been filled verv successfully, he said. , a statement borne out by the firmness in which the Free State Government I ' V!K carrying out its present unpleasant task.