WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1931, Page 3

WELLINGTON NEWS

THIS AGE OF DELUSIONS.

(Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, August 1

A provocative article on the dangers this generation is facing is penned by Lady Drummond Hay, and there is no doubt she shatters many current illusions. The World War killed its millions, but, she declares, it released tens of millions from the bondage of prejudice and stifling tradition. Wars have brought more human freedom, mental and spiritual than ever has peace.,,ghe contends that woman, regarded togeth_ er with children, as the •"innocent victims” have been the most immediate and greatest beneficiaries of the last war, which was instrumental in. giving to hundreds of thousands a measure of freedom that fifty years of peace might not have bought. In England and Germany war levelled strongholds of conservatism and prejudice. In Turkey and the Near East it razed harem walls. Revo ution and civil wars have brought progress and emancipation to legions of Chinese women, unbound their feet, ended their slavery. Through near revolt and bloodshed in India, have the suffocating veils of Purdah been torn away for Women’s good. It was an American delusion that America went- into the war to "make the world safer for democracy.” It was a- world delusion that prosperity and brotherhood; would follow peace. | The, League of Nations is a delusion. The lady contends that it is a dangerous delusion to make light of Russia. 'mystery of her fierce vital intensity passes all understanding. We know that Russia owns the most up-to-date air force in the world to-day, possesses incomparable aircraft, inestimable ambition and nlipot unlimited man power. 1

We know that France is fortifying, arming and hoarding gold. That the Polish Corridor represent a dangerous factor to all Europe. That Central Europe itself is seething with potential revolution. We know that overpopulated Italy demands and intends to find, an outlet for her millions, and aims at domination of the Medit( rrnnean. W.e know that the Balkan powers tire provocative pieces. We must forse'e the inevitable in India, must reckon .with the waking of China’s 500,000,000 to national consciousness with the bursting of Japan’s territorial limits and emigration restrictions. We must reckon with the menace Ci her emptiness to Australia as a white continent, the revelation of America’s economic vulnerability. There is no reason for delusion there.

Continuing, Lady Drummond Hav observes that it is a delusion of republicans .that only in republics can people be free. Of monarchist that exiled monarchists will one day be romantically recalled' and dispossessed primes come into their own', a&aih. The vast majority of the citizens of the United. States Republic are firmly convinced that theirs is the finest country upon earth’, whereas it is a land of unmellowed codes with laws urtempered by tradition and usage. That idea, and prohibition are two of the biggest delusions of the century. H is a common delusion of all those in power to believe that by edict they ca set back or halt the hands of time and progress.

Nothing short of devastating cat-c lysm can stem the tide' of human advance and experiments. Tn the case of lay rulers throughout the ages, and to-day, one can but marvel at the ' n ~ congruous futility of truly great men concerning hemselves with little aftaiis 'if no national importance. M-nv su'-cr from the delusion that “The Government’ is some kind of inevitable, impersonal institution, ; nnd lose f ight nl the fact that it is of men-of-the-street as liable to prejudice or inertia as you" own progressive next door neighbour. 'lt is a delusion that exaggerated conservation spells stability .More often it is fear df. moving to'disci-se a rotten core. Wlm has'it profited the Allies to gain'the War, subsequently to risk losing thei rsouls in apathy. We av apparently .floundering in delusirn, but is the position so eally .desperate Views on the matter must be at variance b '- cause. we .cannot all. so and think alike