Evening star., 1945-03-25
Continued From Page C-1.)

belong to the state. The former
provides for high standard of liv-
ing, which means high wages and
high prices; it also provides for cer-
tain profits. In the latter economy
everything is regulated by the state
and the standard of living is regu-
lated by the dictates of the gov
eminent.
From all indications, Britain in
tends to follow her ago-old policy
of maintaining the empire intact.
At this moment, when the Germans
are expected to collapse within two
months and the japanese within a
year, she is more interested in her
future air bases than anything else.
In the past, Britain has kept her
empire together by possessing stra-
tegic points through which her i'm
perial trade routes passed-Gibral-
tar, Suez, the Cape of Good Hope,
Ceylon, Singapore and Hong Kong
A new development-the airplane
came into the picture before the
war and now has become essential
for the safety of Britain's imperial
trade routes. Mr.. Churchill, voicing
the overwhelming sentiment of the
people he represents, once asserted,
I'VE mean to hold our own. I have
not become the Kings first minister
in order to preside over the liquida-
ton of the British Empire"
In order to keep it together it is
essential that the portions which it
lost iii 1912 should be restored and
that new bases for Britain's aviation
should be acquired and established
after the war is ended. This is the
price Britain is asking for her con-
tribution to the common victory.
Russia On Ground Already.
There will be islands in the Medi-
terranean, strips of land in Italy's
former African Empire, bases in Mo-
rocco and possibly Tunisia and in
the Middle East which in one way
or another must become the sup
porting points of British air power.
The claims of the British are for the
time being less clear than those OF
the Russians.
Because of the developments OF
the war, Russia has been in a posi-
ton to take over most of the area
which she feels must fly the hammer
and the sickle alongside the national
flag. Britain has not yet had that
opportunity. But those conversant
with Mr.. Churchill's ains-and for
that matter with the aims of any
other Britisher who may be placed
at the head of his majesty's govern
ment-are fully aware of what
Britain will claim after the end of
the war.
So far as this country is concerned,
we could yield even this advantage
TO our kinsmen across the Atlantic
for the sake of "a centurysof peace"
But the question is whether In Rus
sia's drive for "security"-which
means the direct or indirect an
nexation of more territories-and
Britain's drive for bigger and better
air bases certain point may not be
reached by both powers which would
set them growing at each other.
The prospective world security or
ganization provides for the use OF
force against the aggressor nation
that is, according to Mr.. Churchill,s
own words, small nation. Peace
can be enforced among the Big
Three powers only by common con-
sentand does not appear to be SUBJ
jected to the elaborate regulations
which will be discussed and ap-
proved at San Francisco. And q
careful study of history shows that
even when great wars were initiated
by the small nations 1t was always
the jealousies Of the big powers
which pushed them into the abyss.