WORLD PEACE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 147, 19 December 1945, Page 8

WORLD PEACE

PRIME ESSENTIAL

UNDERSTANDING AMONG NATIONS

The importance of mutual understanding between all nations was the theme of the three short addresses at an enthusiastic civic reception accorded their Excellencies Mr. Ivan K. Ziabkin, Minister Plenipotentiary for the Soviet Union, and Madame Zialn:m in the Concert Chamber at nocn today. There was . a representative gathering of officials and citizens.

"At intervals in history mankind has sought for the creation of international machinery to solve disputes, between nations by agreement," said the Mayor (Mr. Appleton), with reference to the vital conference between the three Foreign Ministers at Moscow. "Hitherto these endeavours have failed. This time we must succeed. (Applause.)

"While the discoveries of science have enriched the world they have also endangered it. Distance is now no barrier. Either we must find some means of ordering our Relations with justice and fair dealing between nations, large and small, or we shall head for another conflict, bringing about the utter destruction of civilisation." The presence of the representatives of*the great nation of the Russians was an important step towards mutual understanding between a small but loyal self-governing unit of the British Empire and the peoples of the Soviet, said Mr. Appleton. The Minister, on his part, would be able to tell much more of his country than could be learned in the ordinary course, and in turn would be able to study the development of a country little more than 100 years old. The Minister would find New Zealanders keen students of anything pertaining to Russia; there were live and hard-working political and non-political organisations in New Zealand which concerned themselves particularly with the Soviet; their very existence gave practical expression to the desire for a full understanding of the developments of the Soviet Union. ,„ „. . T "In welcoming you to Wellington I can give you a wholehearted assurance of the cordiality of our ciitizens and their readiness to make you feel that this welcome is not \ merely one of courtesy, but of sincere good will towards someone whose desire it is to promote better understanding between our two peoples and of the world generally," said Mr. Appleton. (Applause.) GOAL OF UNDERSTANDING.

In adding the warm welcome of the Government, the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr. Nash) said that though he had been in Russia for only ten days, and then mainly in Moscow, he had gained some impression of the immensity and the amazing phenomena of the Soviet Union, with a population of nearly two hundred millipns and an area so vast as to cover'one-sixth of the world. Let all remember that the war could not have been won without Russia, nor could have Russia won without others of the United Nations; three great nations were linked together for victory, and further linked were the smaller nations of Europe, whose part in achieving victory was not yet fully told or understood. "If we could not have won the war except by being linked together, neither can we win the peace unless we are linked together," said Mr. Nash. "The imperative need of the political international world today is to overcome the difficulty of understanding. We can get nowhere without understanding, and I think it is true that we do not yet understand Russia; neither does Russia understand us. There has never been inside the English-speaking world a more earnest and ardent desire for peace and understanding than today. If we can only get your people to understand us and if we can only understand your people ~as we desire then we are on the real road to peace and development." Upon the outcome of the discussions in Moscow between Messrs. Bevin, Molotov, and Byrnes, would depend whether the world, should enter into an era of the greatest progress mankind had ever known. Mr. Nash spoke also of the magnificent achievements of the Soviet Union since 1917 in freeing the common man, and referring finally to the appalling sacrifices which the Russian people had made for victory, with the loss 'of 19 million souls by wounds, war-borne disease, and starvation, called upon New Zealanders to pledge themselves to be worthy in all things of the sacrifices made by all those of the United Nations who had made final victory possible. A HIGH MISSION. Mr. Ziabkin spoke briefly of the days of danger to his country in 1941 and 1942, when the Nazi approached to within 15 miles of Moscow and penetrated Stalingrad, and of the change which was achieved by the Red Army when the first great blows were struck, to begin the rolling back of the Nazi war machine. "The Red Army," said Mr. Ziabkm, "tried to do its best to defeat the German invader. Defending Moscow and Stalingrad, the Red Army was defending civilisation throughout the world. Now that the war is over and the Allied Nations are victorious, the essential thing is to win the peace. Russia would like to live in peace with all nations, small and large." He deeply appreciated the honour of having been appointed the first Soviet Minister to New- Zealand, and if it should be that he was able to cement the friendship between his country and New Zealand then he would be well content that his mission had succeeded. It had been proposed that a record of the Soviet National Anthem should be played after the singing of the National Anthem, but the equipment arrived too late. Only one member of the audience professed ability to sing the Russian National Anthem, but another had a happy thought: "We can sing 'For They Are Jolly Good Fellows!" It was sung with full enthusiasm, with cheers for both Mr. and Madame Ziabkin following.