FAITH THAT WAR IS NOT INEVITABLE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 151, 28 June 1945, Page 5

FAITH THAT WAR IS NOT INEVITABLE

AMERICAN WEALS

President Truman Cheered To The Echo Rec. 10. SAN FRANCISCO, June 27. President Truman's closing address to the United Nations Conference had a tumultuous reception from the crowded galleries, almost every sentence being cheered to the echo. "You assembled in San Francisco nine weeks ago with the high hope and confidence of peace-loving people throughout the world," President Truman said. "Their confidence in you has been justified. Their hope for your success has been fulfilled. History will honour you for it. You have won victory against war itself. "It was the hope of such a Charter that helped to sustain the courage of stricken people through the darkest days of the war, for it is a declaration of great faith by the nations of the earth —faith that war is not inevitable; faith that peace can be maintained. "This Charter was not the work of any single nation or group of nations, large or small. It was the result of a spirit of give and take, of tolerance for the views and interests of others. That is the essence of democracy. Job Will Tax Moral Fibre "We have tested the principle of co-operation in this war and have found that it works. Through joint and combined military commands, through pooling resources, through staff meetings, we have shown what united strength can do in" war. That united strength forced Germany to surrender. United strength will force Japan to surrender also. 'The successful use of this instrument will require the united will and firm determination of the people. The job will tax the moral strength and fibre of us aIL Out of this conflict have come powerful military nations, now fully trained and equipped for war, but they have no right to dominate the . world. It is rather the duty of tnese powerful nations to assume the responsibility for leadership in ' world peace. ■ j^?u re is - a time making plans i and there is a time for action. The i time for action is here now. Let ] us, therefore, each in his own nation 7 and according to its own way, seek f immediate approval of this Charter and make it a living thing. I shall < send this Charter to the United l States Senate at once. lam sure i that the overwhelming sentiment of 1 the people of my country and of 1 their representatives in the Senate 1 is in favour of its immediate i ratification. • Economic and Social Co-operation ] "A just and lasting peace cannot - be obtained by diplomatic agreement j alone or by military co-operation alone. Experience has shown how j deeply -the seeds of war are planted , by economic rivalry and by social j injustice. The Charter recognises , this fact, for it lias provided for economic and social co-operation as well. i

"Artificial ana uneconomic trade barriers should be removed to the end that the standard of living of as many people as possible throughout the world may be raised. freedom from want is one of the basic four freedoms toward which we all strive. The large and powerful nations of the world must assume leadership in this economic field as well as in all others. "Under this document, we have good reason to expect an international Bill of Rights acceptable to all the nations involved. That Bill of Rights will be as much a bill of International life as our own Bill of Rights is part of our Constitution. The Charter is dedicated to the achievement and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Unless we can obtain these objectives for all men and women everywhere, without regard to race, language or religion, we cannot have permanent peace and security in the world.

To Live As Free People "With this Charter, the world can begin to look forward to the time when all world human beings may be permitted to live decently as free people. The world has learned again that nations, like individuals, must know the truth if they would be free: must read and hear the truth; learn and teach the truth. We must set up an effective agency for constant and thorough interchange of thought and idea, for there lies the road to a better and more tolerant understanding among nations and among people. "All Fascism did not die with Mussolini. Hitler is finished, but the seeds spread by his disordered mind have firm root in too many fanatical brains. It is easier to remove tyrants and destroy concentration camps than it is to kill the ideas which gave them breath and strength. Victory on the battlefield was essentia], but it was not enough for a good peace—a lasting peace. Decent peoples of the earth must remain determined to strike down the evil spirit which has hung over the world for the past decade. "The forces of reaction are operating all over the world, still trying to keep the United Nations from remaining united. Even while the military machine of the Axis was being destroyed in Europe they tried to divide us. They failed, but they will try again. They are trying even now. To divide and conquer was and still is their plan. They still try to make one ally suspect the other, hate the other, desert the other. • „ , Continuity of History "But I know I speak for every one of you when I say that the United Nations will remain united. They will not be divided by propaganda, either before the Japanese surrender ° r "ThiJ' occasion shows again the continuity of history. Pharter vou have given reality to the ideal of that great statesman of a generation ago, WdodroW Wilson. By this Charter you have moved toward the goal for which that gallant leader in this secbM world struggle worked and fought and gave his life —Franklin Delano Roosevelt. By this Charter you have realised the objectives of many men of vision in your own country who have devoted their lives to the cause of world organisation for P6 "Upon all of us in all our countries is how laid the duty of transforming into action these words which you have written. Upon our decisive action rests the hope of those who have fallen; those now living and those yet unborn—the hones for a world of free countries with decent standards of living, which will work and co-operate in a friendly, civilised community of na "This new structure of peace is rising upon strong foundations. Let us not fail to grasp this supreme chance to establish a world-wide rule of reason, to create an enduring peace under the guidance of God.