MORAL REARMAMENT MISSION

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27666, 24 May 1955, Page 10

MORAL REARMAMENT MISSION

ASIAN TOUR AFTER CONFERENCE A world mission of statesmen from Europe, West Africa and the Middle East will meet at the Moral Rearmamen* conference at Mackinac Island, Michigan, United States, on May 26, after which a task force of about 150 delegates of Eastern and Western nations will make a tour through Asia. The leader of the mission, Mr Ole Bjorn Kraft, former Danish Foreign Minister and chairman of the Conservative Party, recently told a Moral Rearmament meeting in Copenhagen that the announcement of the tour had won strong response throughout the East. “Europe has many things to put right with these Asian nations,” he said. “We must admit that freedom for the world today and freedom for the individual depends on East and West finding together a common platform and programme which will create the new order for which we all long. We are going to Asia' to talk frankly with the leaders there and find with them a common unity and ideological foundation for the future, based on moral standards.” The Prime Minister of Japan (Mr Ichiro Hatoyama) and the Shah of Persia have Invited the mission to visit their countries. It is expected that the mission, including members of the cast of a new musical play, “The Vanishing Island,” will fly from Washington to Tokyo in the middle of June.

A party of JO delegates, including five Maoris, left Auckland for .the United States last Saturday to represent New Zealand at the Mackinac assembly. Mr and Mrs A. Hayes, of “Normanvale,” Hakataramfea, and Mr H. McLean, of Dunedin, are three delegates from the South Island.