Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-15

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may be looked at q bit askance
term to describe collectively a vast
British Isles-the homeland, the
self-governing dominions, such as
Australia and Canada, and a con-
geries Of colonies and protectorates,
great and small. spread In every
part Of the globe. ....
At the close OF World War II, the
British Empire was still intact. Its
combined area was more than 49,
600, 900 square miles, approximately
one-fourth the total hAbitable land
surface Of the planet. with more
than 500,000,0 900 people, fully one
sixth of the entire human species.
Yet, already in the brief postwar
years, the empire has been badly
shaken. One member, Burma, has
formally left the empire and been
accorded complete independence.
Far more important is the re-
linquishment of all British control
over the subcontinent of India
which retains tenuous and prob
ably temporary connection with
the empire as the "Dominiors" OF
India and Pakistan. In Malaga
likewise, the British connection is
being fiercely challenged, while
chaotic China eyes hungrily the
British colony Of Hong Kong of
its southern coast. The cutting
loose Of India and Burma alone
would diminish the empire by more
than 100000 square miles, while
some $4,000, 900 people, fully two
thirds of the empires prewar popu-
lation, would cease to give allie
glance to the CROWN.
Doom Prophecies Before
These secessions, actual or pro-
spective, combined with grave
troubles and problems nearer home.
have given rise to pessimistie fore
casts that the British Empire is
on its death bed and about to
break up. This is not the first
time that prophecies Of doom have
been rife. Yet, on each occasion,
the empires demise, like that of
Mark Twain, has proved to be
greatly exaggerated. Somehow or
other, this seemingly ill-compacted
political organism has displayed a
vitality and elasticity that has
carried 1t through to renewed vigor
and stability. OF course, the present
crisis may prove to be insur-
mountable. But, in view Of the
record, it would seem unwise to
write off the British Empire be-
fore the event has actually hap
pened.
The first thing which gives
pause to pessimism is the fact that
the empires current losses are
localized to Southeast Asia. Else
where there appears little evidence
of . desire to renounce the bonds
of imperial union. And those bonds
are being automatically frightened
by the mass emigration Of Britons
from the impoverished homeland
to every part Of the empire in
order to make a new start in life.
Those opportunities are legion, for
in many regions vast undeveloped
natural resources await the skill
and enterprise Of these modern
pioneers.
Development Act
That is especially true Of Africa,
the scene Of truly grandiose plans
for imperial development. The pos
sibilities Of British Africa can be
glimpsed when we find that the ter
ritories under direct British or
dominion control have Z combined
area Of about 5000, 900 square miles
approximately the area Of the con-
tinental United States, while an
other 1,o00,o square miles can be
added II the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
be included. It Is to the prospects
Of British Africa that the major
part Of this article will be devoted.
But We should not forget the i'm
mense possibilities OF Australia and
New Zealand with their Pacific de-
tendencies, of our gigantic neighbor,
Canada, and even OF the British
West Indies. All these and still
other scattered members of the en-
pire and commonwealth seem ready
to play their parts in q co-ordinat-
ed endeavor for q better future.
A significant test Of this collec-
tive endeavor is slated to occur in
the autumn, at the Imperial Con-
ference, when the dominion heads
and representatives Of the colonies
will gather in London for q thor
ough consideration Of interrelated
problems. The dominions are, Of
course, virtually sovereign nations,
bound to the empire and common
wealth solely by voluntary associa-
ton and allegiance to q common
crown. But they share with the
British homeland in solicitude for
the development Of the colonies,
and here Britain itself has already
taken several noteworthy steps.
Hardly had the fighting ended in
Europe and the Far East when Par
lament passed the Colonial De-
velopment Act. This truly grandiose
project, embracing all parts Of the
empire, but centering on Africa, is a.
l0-year program OF empire building
involving q total expenditure OF
about E300, 0o0, 900 sterling or ST.
2oo, o00, 900.
Mutual Advantages
The mutual advantages Of this
are self-evident. Britains
present economic plight. due to the
strains and losses Of World War II,