KING OF MANY KINGDOMS.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20266, 7 August 1937, Page 15 (Supplement)

KING OF MANY KINGDOMS.

Commonwealth of Nations. :: A Peace Unit. (General Smuts' Coronation Speech).

UP TO THE GREAT WAR, the British Empire was a single national unit, a single sovereignty. There was a unity which was based on the supreme authority over all of a single, central, Parliament. In the vast changes of the post-war period, none has been more significant or farreaching than the recasting of this unitary Empire into a new and more complex mould; than the transformation of this centralised Empire into a society of free States in the British Commonwealth of Nations. The King is not the head of the central kingdom to which many other dominions and possessions belong, but of a group of equal States of whose free association together, he is the common symbol. His kingdom has thus a meaning which no previous kingdom has ever had. and his crowning for the first time as Sovereign of such a constellation of free States is a Unique Event in History. Here for the first time we have a King of Kingdoms spread over the whole globe. Thei*e were some who were filled with fear and foreboding at this great change which had come over the British Empire and found formal expression in the Statute of Westminster. The people of Great Britain were not perturbed, for they were accustomed to doing great things in a great spirit. But there were others far away from the centre and not understanding the deep national forces which were trying to find expression in one vast group in all parts of the world who were filled with deep anxiety, and asked themselves whether this immense departure would not lead to disruption and disaster. Then came the answer like a lightning stroke from the blue. It came not from the lawyers and the pedants, but from the far-flung nations of the whole group. The sudden and unexpected abdication of King Edward VIII formed the test. It created a situation of unparalleled menace to the unity of our group. Here was a Chance For Mischief-makers. The great test came within six months of the passing of the Statute of Westminster. How grandly that test was faced. In the moment of danger there was spontaneous unanimity throughout the whole worldwide Commonwealth. One King went with deepest regrets and sympathies and a tragic sense of loss from millions who knew him and admired him. Another King stepped into his place with the unanimous acclaim of the whole Commonwealth. We are consummating this triumph of the spirit of unity and loyalty by crowning him our common King. What, was feared might be the end, has, on the contrary, become the beginning of a new epoch in our great. Commonwealth of Nations. A new chapter has thus been written in the Constitutional development of mankind. Under George VI, our first King crowned under the new commonwealth system, we march forward with confident step towards

whatever fate may be in store for us. The il greatest Constitutional advance in history e has been accomplished without hitch. Let e the voice of the croaker, of the prophet of t_ evil and of disruption and ruin, not be heard % again in our midst. There are people who ask what is the advantage of such a world-wide commony wealth and whether it is not safe for them • to stand alone, and so avoid getting mixed j up with the troubles and difficulties of g others. They fear being driwn into the peril of what they mistakenly call Imperial--1 ism, and prefer a position of isolation in the ,j world. I would reply by pointing out that ] our Commonwealth of Nations is the * Largest Peaceful Unit 1 which has ever existed in the world. Here 3 wo have one-fourth of the world, and probf ably one-fifth of mankind, living in relations of undisturbed peace with each other. What the larger League of Nations has been vainly trying to bring about among mankind is the settled and accepted order in this £ vast group. Surely it is a matter of immense value to us that we are members of i this great peaceful circle. b I say without hesitation that our British s Commonwealth of Nations is not only very 3 good company for us to keep, but it is a good thing for the world that there is such a large peaceful group among mankind, t What is possible for one-quarter of mankind is surelv not quite impossible for tha l other three-fourths also. 3 The success of the British Commonwealth 1 of Nations, as a vast portion of mankind 3 maintaining and guaranteeing mutual peace > among its members, can surely be taken as J an indication that the quest by the League of Nations is not vain and illusory. The United States and the Brit- ? ish Commonwealth are to-day the I 3 Greatest Agencies for World Peace, s and if a measure of ; tween them is brought about m this respect, » they may yet lead the world to a great peace V of the future. If we are arming to-day as never before it is from no warlike spirit of aggressive intentions, but simply in order that, we may be able to pull our weight ;>n behalf of s peace—our own peace and the peace of the world. A helpless Commonwealth in the ™ hour of danger would not only he a menace to itself, but a disaster to th-* whole world. There is abroad to-day throughout the h world a spirit of revolt from the past. Parc liamentary Government is being abandoned, a personal liberty derided, and the basic principle of government by consent of the govf erned is being replaced by the principle of dictatorship or Caesarisni. well known to us e from history. We stand on guard for the t Ideals of Democracy, e if ever th< end f - us leave behind for manh 'ml a te lament s of liberty This is what < r g mp stands crown our common Kinjr. nr at the same time 1 pledgt ' intact and ine violate thi> inner spiritual free soul. God s save the Kina 1