BUILDING NEW BRIDGES
By MICHAEL HUXLEY
THERE are far more like-minded people than like-minded governments, and they are like-minded about a far greater variety of subjects. In his recent book, The Lost Peace, Mr. Harold Butler remarks that " the constitution, or lather absence of con- stitution, of the British Commonwealth of Nations deserves much more attention as a possible method of international organisation." The number and importance, as a source of unity, of the organisa- tions within the British Commonwealth linking like-minded people for social purposes, seems largely to have escaped the notice of political thinkers ; yet their sustained activity has done as much as any other single influence—as much as the Crown, or the English language, or governmental or economic ties—to bring about that spontaneous cohesion in time of crisis which has so often astonished the world.
Having observed at first hand for five years the life of the United States, I may be excused for venturing an opinion with regard to the sources of American unity. A common language ; a federal govern- ment; free trade ; the development of easy communications ; all these have contributed to the growth of that unity. But I believe that they have made their contribution less as unifying elements in themselves than as factors promoting the ability of like-minded people to organise for social purposes. The same pattern of unity in daily life is repeated endlessly in cities and townships across the breadth of the North American continent ; it is mainly the work of innumerable societies and conventions of like-minded people. An attempt may be made to define the essential nature of these organisations: "The participants (a) are animated by a common interest ; (b) possess a common expertise in some clearly defined field of social activity ; (c) aim at a common, though not always clearly defined, social purpose. That purpose may be mutual aid ; it may be educational, religious, scientific, economic, sporting ; it is seldom political in the sense of uniting the participants in support of a common body of political doctrine, save in so far as such a doctrine is inherent in the freedom to organise."
The web of social ties formed by such organisations is immensely diffuse in the liberal world to which we have been accustomed. But in the totalitarian world the threads are carefully woven into the predominant pattern of political thought. In Nazi-occupied Europe, wherever similar free organisations existed—international labour, sporting, Catholic, youth organisations—they have been destroyed and every effort has been made to substitute for them organisations on the totalitarian model: "Kraft durch Freude " for Sokols or Workers' Travel Associations ; " Hitlerjugend " for Boy Scduts. Even though the enemy's efforts to pervert the peoples of Europe, in the interests of a New Order under Nazi domination, have been largely unsuccessful, he uses powerful drugs and their action is in- sidious. It requires great moral courage, especially on the part of the young and of those whose position or possessions mean much to them, to withstand a well - judged mixture of intimidation and bribery ; and it would surely be a powerful weapon in our armoury if we could be asserting, with a wealth of actual examples, that for every institution and instrument of social service that Hitler perverts or destroys, the Allies have two new ones not merely planned, but equipped, with the materials and the men and women ready to set them going in co-operation with the peoples now oppressed.
The Nazis have sought to build organisations, subservient to their purpose, in those domains of social life which provide ground for the development of their social philosophy. Can we not learn a lesson from the enemy and should we not be preparing, in the field of social reconstruction, to rebuild on ground of our own choosing?
Perhaps it may be thought that the initiative in this matter should be left to the Allied Governments, in fulfilment of the general prin- ciples of post-war action laid down in the Atlantic Charter. Certain steps have, it is true, been taken in the political and economic fields. But in both cases action has barely been initiated or is still in contemplation, and it requires for its fulfilment the development of like-mindedness among governments ranging from the U.S.A. to the U.S.S.R., a process which is bound to be slow.
In these fields, then, the governments have many a long lo\ hoe ; and it seems improbable that they will have much time thought to spare for social problems until others, of more immed governmental concern, have been settled. Nor is it specially des able that they should ; since, if the examples of the British Comm wealth and the United States afford any guidance, we ought to I quite as much to like-minded people as to like-minded governme for the building of organisations designed to promote internatio social progress. Moreover, the discovery of an area and method co-operation among like-minded people presents no comparable d culties. On the contrary, men and women interested in % subjects as public hygiene, nutrition, scientific agriculture, hoth and education (in its technical as distinct from its political ideological aspects) are notably like-minded, whether they be dra from the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Sol Union or any of the European Allied countries. They would c tainly find enough common ground, within the particular field which they possess a common interest and expertise, to arrive rapid agreement regarding practical problems of post. reconstruction.
Suppose that Social Reconstruction Foundations could be est lished, with branches wherever a sufficient number of people exi having a particular interest in one of the countries that will n help for social reconstruction. Besides this localised interest, t would have a general interest in the various aspects of social construction such have mentjoned above ; and could be un by sub-division into specialist sections for each of those aspects recombination for research and action in respect to them. A ordinating and advisory Central Council, on which like-min groups and organisations other than those directly associated % the Foundations could be represented, would enable them to d upon a wide reservoir of knowledge and resources in formulat general policies and would provide a further basis of unity in act The Allied governments could then ask for the joint assistance of the Foundations, and welcome initiatives in regard to such matters as the following: The formation of public health units occupied territory immediately on its evacuation by the enemy, order to help the local population in reconstituting public h services. The problems to be considered would vary according social and geographical conditions (national peculiarities, state local development, urban, rural, mountain); but the optimum in each case, its equipment and the training of its personnel, wo be capable of standardisation by experts in public hygiene for benefit of all.
The evolution of a common basis of action for composing getting printed the millions of school and college text-books (bes other educational equipment) that will be required to replace that have been suppressed or destroyed by the enemy. Ther a wide range of educational requirement into which political ideological considerations do not enter ; and agreement am educational specialists within even a small part of this range w mark a great advance in international co-operation.
The provision of seed and breeding-stock for the rehabilitatio agriculture ; a matter mentioned by Sir John Russell March 20th at the British Association's conference on Post- Agricultural Reconstruction. He referred to the need for find and beginning as soon as possible to grow, seed of varieties able for transportation to particular areas of Europe ; and of viding stock of breeds that local farmers (particularly pea farmers) understand and like. In this connexion he proposed ing for the help of Canadian and American farmers who have grated from the occupied European countries—help which Ix seem hardly susceptible of organisation otherwise than within such larger framework as is here suggested.
Many other urgent post-war problems will arise that are suited for treatment by the organisation of like-minded group people than by governmental action. Indeed, if we wish to e in support of such efforts, the maximum number of like-51 people of all parties, the less our organisation is associated the policies of any particular government the better.
and se% from th for transportation
Previous page
