Return to normal

The N.W. European ascendancy is passing away before our eyes. The world is returning to its normal state whose pattern is fairly simple. The natural centre of the world is the Euphrates Basin and Egypt—Europe, Africa and Eastern Asia are merely peninsulars from this. The Americas arc islands, separated by the Pacific and the Atlantic channels. The Pacific is larger, but it is more accessible as there are more stepping stones.

The reversion to the natural order is shown in the use which has been made since late in the nineteenth century of the Suez Canal as a highway. From Persia civilization began to spread, and there its centre seems to be returning, for the extremities of civilization—Asia in the East and America in the West demand a route between them which passes here. The greatest reserves of oil in the world are found in these Arab countries.

The revolt against European domination is the characteristic of our age. It began about sixty years ago. Today the most active of the anti-West insurgents are the Arabs. This is unfortunate, for the Arabs are looking to the Russians for help, and if the world-wide anti-Imperialist powers, in exasperation turn to the Russians this will in the balance of world power very definitely on the other aide.

What part must the Commonwealth play in this struggle? The main lines are indicated by the acts of 1947 which gave India, Pakistan, Ceylon and Burma full self-government with rights of self-determination. This is a decisive event which is irreversible.