HOPE AND GLORY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 810, 4 February 1955, Page 5

HOPE AND GLORY

Sir-It is difficult to believe that J. Malton Murray reperused his short essay into Britain’s hope and glory. Had he done so he could not have missed some very. obvious inaccuracies. To quote: "Britannia no longer ‘rules the waves,.’" I believe Britain is rated third after the U.S, and the U.S.S.R. by Jane’s. But to quibble, I understand the song says "Britannia rule the waves," which is more of a hope than a statement of fact. I find it cifficult to agree that Britons are slaves. They fear, they are subjected to economic pressures and international tension, naturally. But their history over the last 14 or 15 years-to quote no others-is sufficient rebuttal of Mr. Murray’s statement. Out of the rubble of World War II-literally, econ-

omically, and internationally-Britain has rebuilt a secure, and to me, a more glorious place. She has not let her difficulties defeat her, She has the courage of her convictions in international relationships. Even within the pressures of Communist and Western blocs Britain can still evolve independent policies and act on them. Mr. Dulles no doubt would welcome a more servile attitude. To say "The glory has departed’ is sheer nonsense, In a world noted for its instability, its political and economic duplicity, the Commonwealth stands as a monument to international co-opera-tion. No matter how Britain’s cclonies were acquired or me‘ntained, the Commonwealth into which they have grown serves as an example in goodwill and understanding, political and econoimic co-operation second to none in the world today. I find sufficient glory in that achievement alone to continue singing "Land of Hope and Glory" and "Rule Britannia’ with sreat gusto at each and every opportunity. We would indeed be slaves without it,

MARIE

RAE

Christchurch).