Initiation and initiative : an exploration of the life and ideas of Dimitrije Mitrinović

INTRODUCTION

On May 24, 1933 a new weekly paper appeared on bookstalls throughout Britain. It was called New Britain, the organ of a political movement of the same name launched the previous December. By August 1933 sales of the weekly had reached 32,000 and over 60 local New Britain groups had been formed throughout the country. The time was obviously favourable for a new political initiative. The country had just passed through the financial crisis of 1931, unemployment and poverty were devastating problems. In Germany Hitler had risen to power and the threat of a new European war began to appear on the horizon. Whilst the threat of civil strife between the forces of fascism and communism grew, the main political parties seemed bankrupt of ideas.

The New Britain movement appeared to many to offer a radical and

imaginative approach to such problems. Its programme consisted of four main proposals:

1. The complete overhaul of the monetary system by restoring the right to issue credit to the nation rather than the banks;

2. The reorganisation of industry as National Guilds based on workers’ control;

3. The devolution of parliament into three Chambers—a House of Industry based on the National Guilds taking control over economic affairs, a House of Culture composed of representatives of the arts, sciences, religion and education which would exercise a guiding influence over cultural affairs, and a Political Chamber which would be concerned with questions of law and order and international relations;

4. The utmost devolution of decision-making power on as wide a range of issues as possible within Britain itself as a step on the way towards European and ultimately world federation.