International

Island World is Under the International

THE outlook, as 1950 comes to an end, is very bleak. The domestic held is so convulsed by politicoeconomic struggle that civil strife is clearly a possibility. The condition of international affairs is such that we are faced with the ever-growing danger of World War 111.

The chief cause of all this is— beyond any doubt or argument—the determination of the Muscovite Reds to impose their form of Communism upon the whole world. We of the Western nations are to blame, of course, for allowing the Reds to burrow deeply into our politicoeconomic structure, where they are now so busily and successfully at work. Immediately World War II was won, all the Western peoples, except North America, committed themselves to the fumbling hands of Socialist Governments and, in the resulting fog of frustration and confusion, the Fifth Columns of the Soviet Unions have invaded us, and dug in so securely that we cannot get rid of them without convulsions— Red activities of the-kind that, at this moment, are hamstringing the Austrahan Parliaments and crippling the Australian economy.

Because of its tragic lack of leadership and inspiration, the Western world presents a pitiful spectacle, Large sections of the people in every

country, driven half-crazy by condi tions which they simply cannot under stand, are expending, in screaming at each other, energies that could use fully be employed in social and political reforms. In all these coun tries—Britain, France, United States, British Commonwealth only one leader (Menzies, of Australia) stands out conspicuously. In other circum stances, Menzies would be acclaimed as a minor Churchill; but in Australia he is hidden behind a battalion of political nonentities, and ignored by a people who have surrendered them selves completely to their worship of the sheep, the horse, the dog—and the political goat! Britain is ruled by a harmless little professional poli tician, United States by an incon spicuous linen-draper, France by God-knows-who; and the clamour of the politico-economic confusion which is the natural result of such condi tions increases day by day.

TF the Western nations were left * alone, these things would right themselves—as, hitherto, they always have done. Having been completely sickened by their ill-judged dose of the Left, the democratic peoples naturally would swing off to the Right, and some sort of balance, with more peaceful conditions, would be restored.

But they are being given neither time nor opportunity to put their domestic set-up into order. While Moscow’s cunningly - placed Fifth Columns are stirring up internal strife in all Western countries, Moscow itself is distracting the Western Powers by creating ceaseless international trouble. It was clear, back in June, that the Korea incident was designed by Russia to embroil the Western nations in Asia, and especially in China. Anyone can see that a fight between the United Nations and China would be like ask ing a trained boxer to use his strength and skill against a feather bed. But, steadily, by steps which apparently we could not avoid, we are on the point of war with China.

Russia has 3,000,000 men in her armies, trained and well equipped.

She cannot do much against us with armies, unless she has dominance in sea and air; and it is now known that she has built up an enormous air force, and is building a very powerful navy, with emphasis on long-range submarines. It is calculated that, by 1952, she will be ready to strike at the Western nations, to implement her plan of placing the whole world under Red Totalitarianism, as de signed and shaped by a gang of semi criminal conspirators in Moscow. We are to be kept in a state of social disorder, entangled with Asiatics, Communists and any other satellites who can be induced to fight, until Moscow is ready to put the halter around our distracted necks.

The clash seems inevitable. The longer we, in our weakness and

stupidity, allow it to be postponed, the more likely are we to see, in our time, the complete destruction of Western civilisation, and the end of an era.

If we act now, unitedly and firmly, we can defeat the Moscow conspiracy, and retain our freedom, and the decencies of life.

It is most likely that immediate action will mean the use of the atomic bomb, and wartime horrors almost beyond imagination. But, better now, with a chance of survival and free dom, than later, with the certainty of another Dark Age.

The decision is very close upon us.

We may have to make it in 1951.

DOES this seem an unduly pessi mistic forecast? None prays more sincerely than the writer that his summary of international affairs is wrong. But we cannot escape facts.

Russia is ruled by an utterly un scrupulous gang of fanatics. Russia has created an enormous military power, and a subversive organisation that is operating in every country. If this is not all part of a plan for world domination, what is it? How can we escape enslavement by the Reds, if we allow Russia to choose her own battleground and her own time?

If we, in the madness which fol lowed our 1945 victory, had not allowed the creation of this Com munist Frankenstein which now threatens our existence—we would have had before us a world in which we might have planned for a great and very rapid improvement in the living standards of all peoples, and in human happiness generally. No where were there greater oppor tunities, of this sort, than in our little world of the Pacific Islands.

The possibilities of achievement and progress are still there—but completely overshadowed by inter national dangers. The threat of attacks by Asiatic Communists now actually touches the western fringe of the Pacific Islands. There is increas ing trouble in Indo-China, in India, in Indonesia—there may be fighting in West New Guinea within months.

We have urgent problems for solu tion in Papua-New Guinea; in the Solomons, where the present set-up should not be allowed to continue much longer; in Fiji, where failure to deal with the Indian situa tion makes a solution ever more difficult to find; and in the archi pelagoes generally, where it is urgent that we agree upon some principles for general application in relation to education and medical care of natives.

But how can any real progress be made, while the Red Muscovites keep the whole world in a state of jitters?