Independence seen as aid to peace

Press, 20 September 1982, Page 10

Independence seen as aid to peace

“Positive independence" was the role developed nations should adopt in a bid to avert confrontation between the super-Powers, says a visiting English lecturer on international relations. Mr John Groom told a small meeting at the Society of Friends’ rooms that the United States and the Soviet Union needed intermediaries. The two nations were often '

caught up in localised conflicts which could be defused by the intervention of a third party. European nations, which Mr Groom said had most to suffer from a limited nuclear war. were in a posi-

tion to take a non-aligned role. However, he said, the term "non-alignment" was a negative one and would be better replaced by “concerned independence.” The United States and the Soviet Union were both caught up with “images” and independent nations taking an active interest in worldevents could do much to steer the two on to a course of negotiation. Mr Groom, from the University of Kent, is in Christchurch for six weeks to lecture on political science at the University of Canterbury.