The Press MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1965. Hope, Distant But Real

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30943, 27 December 1965, Page 8

The Press MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1965. Hope, Distant But Real

In her Christmas message a year ago the Queen called on the youth of the Commonwealth to work for a better world; to use “brains, courage, imagination, “ and humanity ”to that end. She did not ask young people merely to protest, to complain about ills already recognised. The bright note struck by the Queen in her message to the Commonwealth on Saturday was her acknowledgement of “ the growing “ practice of young people to give voluntary service “to others ”. Much is said and written about young people today, about their shortcomings in the view of their elders, about their so-called problems and their reluctance to shoulder the responsibilities bequeathed to them by older generations. It is therefore a refreshing, just, and timely corrective to have many young people described without reservation as “a new army on the march, which “ holds out the brightest hopes for all mankind ”. Such an army must be well trained and well equipped. It must have purpose and confidence. And for this it is entitled to look to older persons for at least some of its leadership. If that purpose is peace, achieved by removing “ the causes of conflicts “ between peoples and nations ”, every star of hope is worth following. The Christmas truce in Vietnam was such a star. It soon faded. At least it shone, however briefly. On the eve of last Christmas, a bomb killed two persons and injured 107 in Saigon. In the succeeding year the calls for peace have been stronger and more numerous. So far, they have not been effective.

As she has frequently done before, the Queen built her Christmas message around a theme that is close to the hearts of millions of her people and of millions in other nations—the imperative need to “ go “on trying ” for peace. If people stop caring about such an objective it will never be attained; nothing can be more certain than that. To proclaim the goal of peace in the world is therefore not just paying lip service to an ideal. It is something, however remote and difficult to achieve, in which the world believes. The new army of which Her Majesty spoke has a sound objective. It should not lack confidence in its ability to achieve it.