The "abnormal" ascendancy of the Atlantic seaboard of Europe during the last five hundred years, Dr. Toynbee said, is a result of the enterprise of the sailing ships of Portugal. Ships like these can be at sea for an indefinite time. They do not need refueling bases, and so they can go even where the way has not been prepared ahead.

N.W. Europe's supremacy was a marvellous feat, and has knit the human race together, though superficially. The world is very nearly one economically, but not so spiritually. But in time mankind must draw closer together. The alternative consequence is too terrible.

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.

The lesson

The lessons we have learnt show that Britain must not remain for too long in a country to be forced to make an ignominious exit (as with Egypt), but a moderate delay in granting self government is good if the country takes the opportunity in serving an apprenticeship in the art of self-government, as India did.

It is immoral to hold unwilling subjects by force. "I hope this lesson will be taken to heart in Cyprus and Algeria," Dr. Toynbee added.

Concerning military bases we can learn much from the United States which gets on perfectly well with secure bases in countries that are not its own.

The Commonwealth role is to establish and maintain friendships with other countries, equal in status, and more important, in spirit. Thereby it may contribute towards a single human family.

In the atomic age men must learn to live together. The existence of a Commonwealth where East and West arc together on an equal footing may mean the assertion of the balance of the world not at the cost of a further scries of catastrophes.