"THE ROUND TABLE"

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1933, Page 17

"THE ROUND TABLE"

The first article in the December issue of the "Bound Table" is "The Foundation for Disarmament." It is not. concerned with technicalities such as the precise qualities that niake a weapon aggressive or a trained man a soldier, but with the political realities —economic considerations arc also involved —which are at the root of the problem. For until the underlying questions are solved, the establishment of any system of permanent peace is impossible. The task, moreover, of finding a solution cannot be postponed, for the era of French predominance upon which thb stability of Europe has hitherto, rested iB, the article reminds us, nearing its end, and there is nothing as yet to take its place. . Pros^ pects are admittedly dark! at the moment, but tho writer sees no reason to despond. The second article is "The Task of the World Economic Conference." The writer feels it is "a suitable moment to take a bird's-eyo view over the stricken field—to see if one can descry any fresh movement of life." "Ottawa and the Trade Agreements" comes next. The various vicissitudes of the Conference are recounted in the first section, . a second describes tho-agreements. .Next conies "The Lyiton Report," the thorniest question that tho I/eague has yet liad to. face. The writer, who obviously speaks from personal knowledgo, gives his own. account of the origin and course of the events dealt with in the report, and in a final section suggests a plan of action for the great League Powers' and 'America.' "The President Elect" is the fifth article, but it will probably be Tead first, because the whole world naturally wants to hear what sort of a man Mr. Eoosevelt is, and to form their own conclusions as to the part he is likelyi to play in the settlement of world pro-* blems, for more depends upon hinv than upon any other single man. The sixth article is from Moscow. It discusses the "Five Tears Plan" and tho significance of its result, which clearly does not simply depend upon whether it has carried but or fallen short of its original programme. There is a vivid1 introductory picture of daily life in' Moscow. I ''Ireland: The Tariff War" describes conditions in the Free State and the Teaetions to the Anglo-Irish con-, flict, while an article from India tells us how the Communal -AwaTd has been received by the people of that country, and describes Mr. Gandhi's fast, and its consequences, and the terrorism in Bengal.. There is much interesting comment, too, on affairs in other parts of the Empire, including New Zealand. ;