The Forsyte Saga Volume 2(142)

‘Leaving out Ireland –’ (A voice: ‘Why?’) ‘I prefer not to touch on anything that does not like to be touched –’ (laughter) ‘the present ratio of white population between Britain and the rest of the Empire is roughly in the nature of five to two. Child Emigration on a great scale will go far to equalize this ratio within twenty years; the British character of the British Empire will be established for ever, and supply and demand between the Mother Country and the Dominions will be levelled up.’ (A voice ‘The Dominions will then supply themselves.’) ‘The honourable Member will forgive me if I doubt that, for some time to come. We have the start in the machinery of manufacture. It may, of course, be five, seven, ten years before unemployment here comes down even to the pre-war rate, but can you point to any other plan which will really decrease it? I am all for good wages and moderate working hours. I believe the standard in Britain and the new countries, though so much higher than the European, is only a decent minimum, and in some cases does not reach it; I want better wages, even more moderate working hours; and the want is common among working men wherever the British flag flies.’ (‘Hear, hear!’) ‘They are not going back on that want; and it is no good supposing that they are!’ (‘Hear, hear!’ ‘Oh! oh!’) ‘The equalization of demand and supply with in the Empire is the only way of preserving and improving the standards of life, which are now recognized as necessary on British soil. The world has so changed that the old maxim “buy in the cheapest, sell in the dearest market” is standing on its head so far as England is concerned. Free trade was never a principle –’ (’Oh! oh!’ ‘Hear, hear!’ and laughter.) ‘Oh! well, it was born twins with expediency, and the twins have got mixed, and are both looking uncommonly peeky.’ (Laughter.) ‘But I won’t go into that.… ’ (A voice: ‘Better not!’) Michael could see the mouth it came from below a clipped moustache in a red black-haired face turned round at him from a Liberal bench. He could not put a name to it, but he did not like the unpolitical expression it wore. Where was he? Oh! yes… . ‘There is another point in the Foggart programme: England as she now is, insufficiently protected in the air, and lamentably devoid of food-producing power, is an abiding temptation to the aggressive feeling of other nations. And here I must beg the House’s pardon for a brief reference to Cinderella – in other words, the Land. The speech from the throne gave no lead in reference to that vexed question, beyond implying that a conference of all interested will be called. Well, without a definite intention in the minds of all the political Parties to join in some fixed and long-lasting policy for rehabilitation, such a conference is bound to fail. Here again Foggartism –’ (‘Ho! ho!’) ‘Here again Foggartism steps in. Foggartism says: Lay down your Land policy and don’t change it. Let it be as sacred as the Prohibition Law in America.’ (A voice: ‘And as damned!’ Laughter) ‘The sacred and damned – it sounds like a novel by Dostoievski.’ (Laughter.) ‘Well, we shall get nowhere without this damned sanctity. On our Land policy depends, not only the prosperity of farmers, landlords, and labourers, desirable and important though that is, but the very existence of England, if unhappily there should come another war under the new conditions. Yes, and in a fixed land policy lies the only hope of preventing the permanent deterioration of the British type. Foggartism requires that we lay down our land policy, so that within ten years we may be growing up to seventy per cent of our food. Estimates made during the war showed that as much as eighty-two per cent could be grown at a pinch; and the measures then adopted went a long way to prove that this estimate was no more than truth. Why were those measures allowed to drop? Why was all that great improvement allowed to run to seed and grass? What is wanted is complete confidence in every branch of home agriculture; and nothing but a policy guaranteed over a long period can ever produce that confidence.’ Michael paused. Close by, a member yawned; he heard a shuffle of feet; another old Prime Minister came in; several members were going out. There was nothing new about ‘the Land’. Dared he tackle the air – that third plank in the Foggart programme? There was nothing new about the air either! Besides, he would have to preface it by a plea for the abolition of air fighting, or at least for the reduction of armaments. It would take too long! Better leave well alone! He hurried on:

‘Emigration! The Land! Foggartism demands for both the same sweeping attention as was given to vital measures during the war. I feel honoured in having been permitted to draw the attention of all Parties to this – I will brave an honourable Member’s disposition to say “Ho, ho!” – great treatise of Sir James Foggart. And I beg the House’s pardon for having been so long in fulfilling my task.’