WORLD WITHOUT BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21188, 10 August 1940, Page 11 (Supplement)

WORLD WITHOUT BRITAIN

What It Would Mean :: A Gloomy Picture

(Albert Viton. Excerpts from “Great Britain, an Empire in Transition.”)

'J'HE BRITISH EMPIRE has affected since the beginning of the eighteenth century the lives of more human beings than any other political structure ever erected; its influence has spread over territories more vast than that of any previous human organisation; for good or for evil, its tremendous power enabled it, during the past two or three centuries, to direct the course of world history with rhore authority than that exerted by any other State. . . . Until the last few years, certainly, Great Britain had the resources and influence to crush potential disturbers of world peace by diplomatic and economic weapons long before resort had to be had to arms. . . . If the Pax Britannica has been no more real than the Pax Romana in ancient times, the explanation does not lie in lack of potential power. Yet even if unable or unwilling to assure permanent world peace, the British Empire has been powerful enough to Prevent Dozens of Wars during the past century and a-half. There is hardly a European or Asiatic State which has not been prevented by British disapproval or threats from grasping the sword. . . .

To realise Britain’s position in the contemporary world one need only consider what would happen if as a result of military defeat the British Empire ceased to exist tomorrow. A few minutes’ reflection will show that the very foundations of Western civilisation would be shaken by such a cataclysm more profoundly than by any other event since the collapse of Rome. Not because the British Empire has been so invaluable a civilising force, rather, civilisation would tremble because all the aggressive Powers —as well as many States at present without aggressive foreign policies—would immediately rush to occupy the vacuum created by the disappearance of Britain. Armies, navies, and air forces would be set in motion from one end of the world to the other. . . . The solemn fact is that collapse of the British Empire would serve as a signal for all the hungry Powers of the world to launch new and greater wars of aggression. It is a grave mistake to think that nothing more tragic would happen than the replacement of Britain by, say, Germany as the Dominant Power in the World; that instead of a British Empire there would be a German Empire. The situation is not nearly so simple. Aside from the all-important fact that a German Empire would mean a fundamental cultural change, the repercussions of which would affect every section of the world, the tragic reality is that a victorious Germany would be unable to establish even a temporary settlement. A German victory would be followed not by peace, but by wars which would extend over a century or more. Such a victory would release a new imperialist cycle over the world, and all the suffering which that would entail. Britain, however, is a satiated empire, having long since reached the limits ol her possible expansion; and a British victory would be followed not by new imperialist expansion

but by the beginning of the disintegration of the Empire.

Britain’s defeat would be the signal for a general scramble between Germany, Russia, Japan and Italy for parts of the Empire. For not only does each have designs on certain territories; the hungry States are not in agreement among themselves as to the division of the spoils. Their conflicting claims are too fundamental to be resolved in any other way than by force of arms. Further, aggrandisement by these States would compel Turkey Holland, Belgium—if only to maintain their relative position in the Delicate European Balance of Power —to enter the race. . . . Nor could the three score and six States forming the British Empire defend their independence. During the century of its world preponderance Britain became the policeman for more than a quarter of the globe, and the members of the Empire came to depend on her for protection against foreign aggression. Some handed over their safety into British hands voluntarily as a measure of economy; others were compelled by the British to do so for their selfish imperialistic reasons. The protection the Mother Country has been able to give them until now has been, no doubt, effective; but, as a result, those States have come very close to complete disarmament. It is inconceivable that such worldshaking convulsions would not leave their imprint on every person in the Americas. International trade would disappear; new cultural problems would confront us; even more pressing would be the new political currents. Certainly we would not have to fight for Canada; it would come on its knees begging for protection or incorporation in the Union. The British possessions in the southern part of the continent would also fall under our wings, while self-protection would doubtlessly force the United States to establish effective domination over the whole Western Hemisphere and adjacent islands. But can anyone imagine that we would tolerate the extension of Japan's domination over Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand, which would give it Complete Control Over the Pacific? Even if sacrifice of our vital interests on other continents kept us out during the first stages of the gigantic scramble, the day when one or the other of the mighty world empires would cross hot steel with us could not be far postponed. For the new Napoleons would dream, as did all those of the past, of world domination. Today, when the lives of millions of men are in the balance and a false step may spell the doom of nations, informed clear thinking on international affairs is no longer a virtue and luxury for the few; it has become of vital interest to the multitude. For the first time in history, public opinion now determines internal and foreign policies of governments; the mistakes of officialdom and the consequent disasters can no longer be blamed on a closed caste separated from the "masses. And, as I have attempted to indicate events in no political structure bold g rater interest to humanity than those in tic British Empire.