REBUILDING A SHATTERED WORLD

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 126, 21 February 1941, Page 6

REBUILDING A SHATTERED WORLD

As Minister in charge of the planning by the British Government <ji post-war reconstruction, Mr. Arthur Greenwood has given an outline of the immense task awaiting civilization when the pi esent conflict is ended. In recent speeches and writings there has been piesented die vision of a new civilization based upon the higher social ethics. It must be obvious, on reflection, that the programme of progress out lined by Mr. Greenwood in this connexion will be the task of a generation, at least if the results to be harvested are to have any quality of permanence. One fundamental requirement is a long period of peace, a peace untroubled by political unrests and rumours of recurring warfare. It will be little use proceeding with the implementing of t.ie plans for a new order unless this requirement can be met. A simil.it effort after the last war, attempted on the assumption that enduring peace could be ensured by the League of Nations, failed because of the lack of effective guarantees. I here must be no mistake next time; no false sentiment which, as previously, will lie simply an encouragement to trouble-makers to go ahead with their schemes. Civilization has paid heavily for this, and must not be called upon to do so again. 'flic first problem, therefore, is to win the war. Ihe second is to devise a system that will make the peace secure. Not till then \\ 'I the way be clear for the builders of the new world to proceed with their task with security and confidence.