Out of the Dark

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 41, 22 April 1932, Page 23

Out of the Dark

a (Continued from last week.) N the sphere of international relations, the old paraphernalia of foreign diplomacy becomes obstructive. Social, political, and economic institutions that served their purpose’in days gone by have to be remodelled rapidly. Whatever may have been the causes of international conflicts in days gone by, there is little doubt that modern wars have their roots in conflicting economic interests. Neither can there be much doubt that the elimination of international warfare is depeldent on a solution of the economic problems arising from rapid industrial, commercial, and financial changes. On the one hand we see the building-up of a network of financial, industrial, and commercial relationships based on a world-wide interchange of goods and services. The growth of international trade makes possible a more effective utilisation of the world’s resources and a raising of standards of comfort and culture. Never before. was the world so rich in knowledge of natural resources, in capital equipment, in skilled labour power and organising ability. On the other hand there is the tendency of nations to cling to old formulas that bo longer accord with world economic relations. National boundaries no longer coincide with economic interests. Short-sighted policies of tariffs. embargoes, and trade and transport restrictions aiming at national: or imperial self-sufficiency run counter to world progress. The resolution of these disharmonies in the sphere of international economic relations is ove ot the great tasks of this generation, The serious effects of failure to achieve international co-operation are now forcing themselres on the attention of even the most apathetic citizens, Representative Conferences. N ever-increasing number of international conferences bring into personal contact representatives of many nations and help to break down barriers of racial prejudice and to establish international solidarity and ‘readiness to co-operate, «More widely representative of divergent interests are such international bodies as the League of Nations and the International Labour Office «uz Geneva. There is no time in this Willy-nilly, we. as individuals, are dragged irresistibly into the current of world affairs. We are part of a

World economy. So much of our welfare now depends on the effective coordination of world relationships that Wwe cannot leave the control of these to haphazard chance or to groups concerned mainly with more or less selfish interests, The problem of democratic control has now extended itself to world affairs, Ts mankind eapable of the task of bringing order into ftlié ‘tur-

moil of conflicting sectional interests : and of building up a system. of worldwide co-operation? The penalty of not doing so is the wreck of civilisation. The prize that goes with success is a new era of progress with higher standards of comfort and culture based on the infinite possibilities, of lluman co-operation, Is ‘thére any

limit to man’s genius for -organisation? The Future. At this moment of the world’s history, when our newspapers are continually presenting to us distressing

‘phases of world trade depression, we proudly proclaim our supreme faith in the unconquerable power of human intelleet. In the light of the achiev ements of fhe past we face the: future with coufidence. and reiterate our unshakeable belief that out of the present clash and turmoil of conflicting interests there will emerge a civilisation. richer than any the world has ever yet seen, a civilisation based on the intelligent ‘co-operation of free peoples who have risen. superior to the prejudices of colour, race, and creed. .

Gordon Bryan, ° _ The celebrated English pianist, Will give a recital from 2ZYA on Monday, April 25.