GUIDANCE FOR STATESMEN [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,-The
latest international crisis (in Austria) resulting, as so often has been the case, in assassination and revolution bordering on anarchy, emphasizes once again the bankruptcy of states- manship in this post-War world, and prompts the reflection that he would indeed be a benefactor who could restore inter- national confidence, and bring to all nations a settled peace.
Recently you published a series of articles on " Our Greatest Benefactor," in the final one of which, contributed by Sir Arnold Wilson, M.P., the writer declared that for him there is but one answer . . . Jesus Christ . . . " and that . . . "the Spirit of God is -within us, and men and Women, young and old, are hungry for it today." I only wish there were more men, prominent in public affairs, who had the courage to state this openly today, and to challenge the Governments of the Christian World to act up to it. If ,only they would do so, I believe there would be a response that would surprise them. For people are beginning at last to realize the bankruptcy of human wisdom, and in despera- tion are turning to revolution and to dictatorships, in one form or another, to solve their national and international problems : the result being still greater confusion, distrust and fear all the world over. The only solution is, as Sir Arnold Wilson has indicated-viz., the application of the ' principles of the Gospel of Christ as the only practical politics at the present time.
That these principles have never been tried is simply proof that we are not big enough for the occasion. We dare not accept the challenge, because it inevitably demands sacrifice- individual, national and international ; and that is just what we will not face, or, at the best, consider it is for others to make the first move.
• Yet there is ample evidence-I have seen it myself in the Oxford Group Movement-that men and women, young and old, are hungry for the Spirit of God to be set free in this chaos of a world today, because they are coining to realize that His is the only Power that can save it from the disasters that threaten. Undoubtedly it is for the statesmen to seek and to apply this Power in the field of international affairs, yet not one of us can escape our individual responsibility in the (Vice-Admiral, retired).
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