The 1939 Royal Visit

In the course of the 1939 Royal Visit of King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth, the King at one point made this observation:

“Some day the nations of the world will live by cooperation, not conflict”

The comment was made on the eve of World War 2 and yet, considered after a space of more than 80 years, has a prophetic ring to it. Yes, there have been many wars in the intervening years since 1945, but no wars that involved the world as a whole. One cannot say that the whole world is cooperating but it has been a full 80 years since World War 2 ended. The space between the end of World War 1 and the beginning of World War 2 was 21 years, and thank Heaven we have now not experienced  a world conflict for about 80 years!

But enough of alarming history and fears of the repetition of war. Inside the comment made by King George VI lies an encouraging sentiment to which citizens and leaders of all countries should subscribe: the key word is “COOPERATION”. Personally, I do not believe that there are any fewer dictators or madmen in today's world then there were in the first half of the 20th Century. The difference between the years from 1900 to 1945 and the years since 1945 lies mainly in the manner in which those dictators have been handled.

Stalin threatened a weakened Europe, but those nations, with the help of the United Nations as well as the member countries around the world found ways to contain Russian advances, whether they were military skirmishes or high handed bluster on the floor of the United Nations meetings. Perhaps they all were familiar with the quote of King George the VI, and found that if they cooperated among themselves and presented a united front to those who wished to overrun some smaller or weaker neighbouring country, the problem would disappear.

Since this strategy has proven to be a winning approach, I wonder why more individuals have not applied it in their own lives. Conflicts with neighbours are more sensibly and quickly resolved by conversation and cooperation, right?

There's that word of the King's again – COOPERATION.

Since it's inception in 1945, the United Nations has operated, in my opinion, in a spirit of collective consultation, fairness and cooperation. It seems to me it has also grown in stature and considerable influence. The more I think about this the more convinced I am that the comments of King George VI were not just fleeting thoughts, but thoughts that brought with them prophecy, and a generous element of cooperation!

Ladies – let's salute King George VI!

Ruth Fenner, Provincial Historian, British Columbia Women's Institute