Registered at G.P.O.. Perth, for transmission by post as a newspaper
SIXTY-FIFTH YEAR.
T
THE CABLED NEWS
HE Big Event of the week was the publishing of the Van Zeeland Report. The circumstances surrounding its conception and birth make interesting study.
By M K.)
debts were repudiated, with a consequent shrinkage of International Trade. The rulers of certain nations. as U.S.A., saw in the depression the collapse of the England and France stand out system forced on the world by among the nations as being ruled bankers, and made no effort to by the absolute power of money rebuild on the old lines. The official rulers are completely subject to the bankers; for the The rulers of Britain and most bankers, private persons with no countries in the Empire are trying to rebuild the system. the only one they know, which must of its nature eventually collapse in a depression even worse than the one which has not yet passed. Germany and Italy are poor in this world's goods. If they borrowed money freely from the Capitalists, they could feed their people more easily, at the cost of a certain degree of independence. Hence the cry for colonies, and hence the programmes of national self-sufficiency, which to the money masters of the world seem insolent madness. And hence the van Zeeland Report. For van Zeeland was a leartmg banker before he became Premier of Belgium. a few years ago. He retired in the face of charges Van Zeeland. of corruption only four months ago. And his report is just ictiat official standing, have complete one would expect from a nanker control over the purse of the na : He knows little else than tanktion, which in practice means c omplete control over the Gov- ing. and so his report recommends, as a remedy for the ernment of the nation. It is a certainty that no measure which world's ills, merely the extension had not the approval of the Bank of the power of banking. His of England would be brought plan would mean the economic f orward by the British Cabinet. enslavement of Germany and A similar state of affairs exists Italy to an enlarged Bank of Inin Australia. and, in fact, in ternational Settlements. There is nearly every country in the world little wonder that Hitler and Mussolini refuse to cheer! The English bankers have for a century been accustomed to lending money out for profit. mainly to other nations which arc in need of capital. . The payment of interest on the loans was made in the products of the country. New International trade was a natural sequence of International lending. So accustomed were the British Capitalists to having their capital accepted that in some cases Its refusal was regarded as an affront, and it was not unknown that the British Navy was called in to persuade recalcitrant small nations to accept I.ondon loans.
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HE refusal of wharf lumpers to load cargo for japan is a sign of serious significance. In every instance it arose as a rank and file movement without the approval of the Union officials. It is a serious affront to a nation with which we are officially on friendly terms. -Ind actions such as these have a ',abit of breeding permanent in'ernational enmity. There is no loubt of the origin of the movement. It is real evidence of the nower of the subversive element This system of International in our midst, which is working lending collapsed in the late de- nizht and day to overthrow our depression. Many International civilisation.
The Prime Minister, in his wisdom, did not think it necessary to mention Communism in his comments on the matter: but there are signs that some of the Unions themselves are stirring t hemselves to get rid of the Oln Man of the Sea which has been fastened around their necks. The lot of the conscientious Union official is an unhappy one at the present moment. for he sees his authority being undermined and can do nothing. The terrible fate of Mr. Alfred Smith. of Sydney, who was blown to pieces by a bomb, last week, is an inkling of what might happen more frequently as the Communists grow bolder.
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HE daily Press continues in its efforts to stir up hatred against Italy. But sometimes it contradict; itself in a fit of absent-mindedness. Thus:— "West." 28/1/38. Mr. Vernon Bartlett, writin in the "News Chronicle." say it is believed Mussolini is considering throwing 50.000 regulars (into Spain). with corresponding quantities of armaments. in February or early March. " West." 29/1/38. British official sources are ptimistic about the prospects of the withdrawal of the Paltan troops from Spain. Surely the "West" knows that Mr. Vernon Bartlett is the most fanatical hater of Mussolini in a school of journalists and politicians which is noted only for its fanatical hatred of Mussolini! And that he and his "News Chronicle" have been wrong many times in their reckless predictions of Fascist war -mongering in Europe! The continued outpouring of such ravings can produce nothing hut international hatred and a war mentality. and it makes one almost for certain aspects of the cc ships which irk the inhabita. • of Dictator -ruled countries. Freedom of the Press is a great boe•and one of the choicest products of Democratic evolution. But !he rantings of fanatics should be embed, and a ban should laid upon those who are gni' of ill manners towards other 11 tions nd their rulers.