Introduction x\i. 



peace as they are now doing to help win the War. But 

 because I object to the tactics that have been called into 

 use to force us to swallow the propositions, none of which 

 have been thoroughly thought out, as they are dished up 

 before us by the E.R.D.C., I have decided to publish the 

 following pages in order to bring to the notice of the 

 British public where and why I disagree with the proposi- 

 tions that I have heard propounded and where I believe 

 they can be improved upon. 



I will conclude by repeating here what I have said on 

 p. 39, and which I have copied from my paper, Tropical 

 Life : " I admire every square inch of Mr. Wilson-Fox and 

 he has plenty of square inches to admire. I would be 

 only too glad to see the objects he is fighting for become 

 positive facts if their doing so harms no one. It is a 

 pleasure to hear him speak and whether he is out for profit 

 for himself or for the Empire, the more that follow his 

 example the better for the Empire. If you doubt my 

 sincerity when I say this read the article on p. 25 on 

 * The Outlook for 1.918,' and then those who have had 

 the pleasurable tonic of hearing Mr. Wilson-Fox speak 

 will realize what a relief it is to listen to men of his 

 calibre after a dose of those who continue to live only to 

 grumble at the W^ar and its inconveniences and to tell you 

 with woeful countenances that they have had no meat for 

 dinner, no butter or bacon, and, worst of all, that whilst 

 they cannot ride in their motors they have to pay double 

 railway fares when they go away for their holiday jaunts." 



As I believe I have stated more than once in the pages 

 that follow this Introduction, the remarks in this book 

 with regard to the raising of crops, S:c., refer entirely to 

 areas within the tropical and sub-tropical zones unless 

 stated to the contrary. 



I should imagine that all who have read the proposals 

 of Mr. Wilson-Fox will agree that improved and more 



