GEORGE VI.
GEORGE VI.'s was suddenly called to the throne, on the abdication of his brother Edward VIII in December, 1936, There had never been a king and queen who had so completely won the people's hearts. He delighted in public service, the unconquerable spirit with which the King endured and triumphed over an impediment in his speech won the respect and admiration of all. The subject that dominated Europe at this time was the growing menace of Nazi Germany. Hitler swallowed up Austria in 1938 and Czechoslovakia in that and the following year,the threat to Poland was the final outrage that led to the Second World War.
When the six-year conflict was over it re-mained for the victors to clear up the mess. Europe was bankrupt and
ravaged. Industry and commerce were in chaos. Millions of people were hungry and homeless. Political discontent
was rife. Had it not been for the generous economic aid of the United States it is hard to see how the stricken
countries could ever have struggled to their feet again.
Even before victory was in sight the Allies had begun to plan for the future, and in 1945 fifty countries signed
the Charter of the United Nations Organisation that was to supplant the old League of Nations. It was a further
brave endeavour to prevent future wars, besides undertaking various social and economic services on an international
scale.
The Allies remained in military occupation of Germany and Austria, Russia controlling the eastern parts, the United
States, Britain and France the western. The central and south-eastern States of Europe which had been over-run
by Germany were restored, with some boundary alterations. But, unhappily, none except Greece enjoyed real independence.
They lay under the huge shadow of Communist Russia. And that shadow threatened to spread over all Europe. To Russia,
Communism was almost a religion and, notwithstanding her obligations under the Charter, it was her avowed purpose
to force it on her neighbours by stirring up discontent and revolution and, if need be, by war. The German Eagle
had been well and truly strangled, but now the mammoth Russian Bear towered up in its place as a new menace to
Europe. The production of the atom bomb added to the tension. At first the United States held the lead, but their
monopoly was broken when Russia herself succeeded in manufacturing the bomb.
The western Allies, including the United States, were anxious to set up a repentant Germany, under due safeguards,
as a useful member of European society and a counterpoise to Russia. This, of course, did not suit Russian designs.
Accordingly, in 1949, Western Germany alone was formed into a Federal Republic and closely associated with the
western powers.
A year later the United Nations Organisation was winning its spurs in Korea. Communist forces in the north, backed
by China and Russia, were threatening to sweep over the checked by United States forces, in company with troops
from Britain, the Dominions and other nation-members of U.N.O.
Meantime Britain was struggling with the same post-war difficulties as the rest of Europe. In the general election
of July, 1945, the Socialists swept the country. The war had done much to level class distinctions and promote
ideas of equality. It was strongly felt by many that society must be created anew on truly democratic lines. The
State must ensure a higher standard of living for the masses, with full employment, shorter working hours and freedom
from economic anxieties. All the political parties were pledged to social reform, but there were fundamental differences
in their general principles of government. Labour stood for State ownership and control in industry and the public
services. The Conservatives believed in private ownership, free competition and individual enterprise. The Liberal
Party hardly counted. It had been declining since the end of the First World War and was now practically eclipsed.
The Socialist government made the most of its sensational triumph in the election. Now was its chance to build
the brave new world, the Welfare State," in five years of office it nationalised the Bank of England, the
coal mines, railway and road transport, cables and wireless, gas and electric light. ( It brought in the great
iron and steel industries too, but the Conservatives de-nationalised them, as well as road transport, after they
were returned to power under Winston Churchill in 1951.) But its finest social achievement was the passing, in
1946 and 1948, of the National Insurance, Assistance and Health Service Acts. Under these measures the State provides
a generous scale of sickness, unemployment, old age and other benefits (in return for weekly contributions from
certain groups) and a free health service for all. Since the weekly contributions do not cover the cost, however,
general taxation is heavily drawn upon to pay for these benefits .
The Socialists also further clipped the wings of their old enemy, the House of Lords: the period during which it
could hold up legislation was reduced from two years to one. One effect of the war was to strengthen the growth
of nationalism among the peoples of the near and farther East. The British Labour Government was all in favour
of such growing-up movements. Under legislation passed in 1947 Burma became a free and independent State, while
"India" and "Pakistan" (the States into which the Indian Empire split) and Ceylon were made
independent, self-governing Dominions of the British Commonwealth of Nations. In 1949 Eire became a republic and
seceded from the Commonwealth.
On 6th February, 1952, the whole empire was stunned by the news that George VI, the best of kings, had passed away.
