THE FAILURE OF INTERNATIONALISM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 267, 9 October 1933, Page 2

THE FAILURE OF INTERNATIONALISM.

(Contributed by New Zealand Welfare League.)

For some years past the Leaders of the various Governments in England, especially the Socialists, have substituted a vague internationalism for our old traditional sane nationalism. They seem to be working to a universal brotherhood and trusting to co-opera-tion of all nations for a solution of the world’s difficulties. This was most noticeable in Britain’s continued belief in World Conferences, in the League of Nations, and the International Labour Bureau and finally by the making of noble “gestures”— which are never initiated or, responded to by other Nations.

The refusal of most other countries to respond to British efforts to bring about international co-opera-tion _ lias had the effect of swinging British opinion back towards its traditional sane nationalism. The Empire is at last realising that wo must guard our resources, act together as a closer unit on national linos. This does not imply the sacrifice of international cooperation at such time as other nations aro prepared to follow suit. To formulate our Empire policy on the basis that the universal brotherhood of man is within practical politics is only asking for trouble, as can be seen py the problem of disarmament; Britain has gone beyond the safety limit while other nations have increased their own.

This complex of internationalism is the result of Socialist propaganda and it is high time for us to drop it completely and work for Empire trading and other interests first, based on friendly co-operation with other countries. It is also due to us to deal wit l anti-Patriotic bodies and disloyalty to the Flag with a firm hand, as this is the _ form which this spurious internationalism is assuming in this Dominion.