SMUTS SPEAKS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 September 1946, Page 7

SMUTS SPEAKS

Comment on the Paris “Snarlings” ~ MAIN PROBLEMS TO COME (Recd. 1 p.m.) LONDON, September 16. Discussing the reasons for the widespread disappointment with the “quarrellings and snarlings in Paris,” General Smuts, in a speech at Aberdeen, issued a warning that the biggest problems of peace-making had not yet been faced. He suggested that too much had been expected of the Paris Conference, which had largely been hamstrung by the Big Four’s decisions to carry out their own decisions. The conference had become a debating society, he added. While open meetings meant that the world was informed, it was not necessarily informed about the things that mattered, but only the things that had news value. He did not blame the press for it, as it was its business. The conference however, was not all disappointment and friction. “We have been forewarned and awakened, and many illusions are being dispelled,” he said, but economic and social conditions Afere developing in Germany and Central Europe which could settle the future destiny of that Continent. The world wotild find the problems in these areas much more difficult than the “minor questions of the peace treaties now being dealt with in Paris.”

General Smuts warned that if Central Europe drifted socially and economically, this might spell ruin. The Germans must be reinstated into the Western system, otherwise there might develop in the heart of Europe a centre of infection which might spread to the rest. Germany must be prevented from again sinning against.

civilisation, but in inflicting the maximum punishment, we must guard against other extremes developing, endangering Europe’s future. There must be some hope of a better life in Germany. A Light Must Be Left “A light must be left in the window for the prodigal’s return,” he said. The British people’s mission was to extend liberty and self-government throughout the world and they were doing so in such abundance that some of their friends were becoming frightened. “Some person in America the other day accused us of British Imperialism, but he is barking up the wrong tree. British Imperialism died in the Boer War,” he declared. “The bogey of Communism will, 30 years hence, go the way of British Imperialism. I remain full of hope and faith. I don’t think this human race divine is going to founder.” '