Functional socialism

CHAPTER XIV WE AND THEY

FREQUENT reference has been made to the duty of Great Britain to lead Europe out of the present phase of social and economic frustration into a new era of positive achievement.

It is of the first importance that this—to usrather obvious fact should be presented to our European friends modestly and with no semblance of arrogance. Not to put too fine a point upon it, we are not precisely popular in Europe. Weare admired and even envied, our word is respected, but we are not liked. The truth is that, whilst we are zz Europe we are not of Europe. That distinction is not of to-day or yesterday; it has persisted through five or six centuries. Nor has time tended to efface our psychological, moral and economic differences; they have, in fact, both widened and deepened.

I have just written that we are not liked. Perhaps it would be nearer the mark to say that we are not understood. We realize this when some event of international importance occurs. Instantly the continental Press glows with mordant criticisms of British policy. We read with mild surprise. “When will they come to understand us?” we ask, and turn to the city