The Temper for Peace

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1946, Page 6

The Temper for Peace

THB further signs of'a more accommo-. A dating spirit on the part of the Soviet in various international negotiations

now in progress will be welcomed in the Western nations, to Avhich the seat of most of the past difficulties appears to be the inexhaustible capacity of the Russians and

their satellites for manufacturing suspicion of British and American motives. On the part of the Western nations there

uis been a natural tendency to watch how

far the recent conciliatory intent of words spoken in Moscow is confirmed, by deeds. It was somewhat puzzling to find, for

instance, that on the very clay Mr. Stalin was being very reassuring in a Moscow press interview Russia was despatching a Note to Turkey, demanding in sharper

terifts than before a share in the defence of the Straits. This raised once more the old spectre of the “Eastern Question,’’ which so often threatened the peace of Europe in the last century. Why, it may be asked, if Marshal Stalin sees no probability of

ivar, does he press a demand which has no logical or practical basis unless he thinks war is probable? It is a demand, moreover, which, because it touches inter-

national relations at one of the most sensitive points in the world’s geography, must increase the very prospect of wai which Mr. Stalin otherwise regards as

remote. Such’inconsistency between word an action is bound, unless it is removed, to provoke second thoughts as to the mean ing of conciliatory statements and to set men wondering -afresh whether the pro fessions of Moscow may not be a mere cloak for the furtherance of some ulterior aim. For these reasons any signs of us sian good faith will be doubly welcome in a world torn with anxiety. For t e moment the first essential is to cieate t a “temper for peace” of which. General Smuts recently spoke. The initiative le mains with Russia.