THE CASE OF ENGLAND 7 



III 



THE REASONING APPLIED TO ENGLAND 



A NEUTRAL observer who recently visited England 

 stated that he noticed in our great industrial towns 

 an alertness among the people, a great purpose, as it 

 were, shining in their faces, which had not been there 

 before. Even if his romantic imagination outran his 

 eyesight he was at all events only finding evidence 

 of what is known to be a fact. In spite of all the 

 shortage of labour, the diversion of energy, and the 

 difficulties of transport, those who have remained in 

 the non-combatant industries, whether consciously or 

 unconsciously, have increased their activity. The 

 acceleration of industry has been so remarkable that 

 the output has been equal to what marked a pros- 

 perous year's trading a few years ago. Here is a 

 sure sign of the capacity of our people to rise greatly 

 to a great occasion. The object of the Minority 

 Report on the employment of sailors and soldiers on 

 the land, which is reprinted in this book, is to insist 

 on the vast importance of a whole-hearted improve- 

 ment of British agriculture. Such an improvement, 

 as the war has proved, is essential for our national 

 security. It is a thing we must have whether it cost 

 much or nothing ; though there can be little doubt 

 that so far from costing much, an increase of the out- 

 put of the soil would be a source, directly or indirectly, 

 of considerable national wealth. And the temper of 

 the people proves that they are now in the mind 

 enthusiastically to act upon what formerly may have 

 seemed to be a counsel of perfection. 



