RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA: N.Z. SOCIETY’S MEETING

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 June 1948, Page 3

RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA: N.Z. SOCIETY’S MEETING

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 7. The need for willingness to try to understand the policy of the Soviet Union was today greater than ever, said Mr W. T. Airey, who presided over the annual conference of the New Zealand Society for Closer Relations with Russia, held in Wellington during the week-end, according to a report supplied by the organisation. Mr Airey said that, by the patient countering of misrepresentation of the Soviet Union by statements of authenticated fact and by constant explanation of the background which gave a meaning to Soviet policy, the society could play its part in making fruitful the victory ovei’ Fascism. He said membership of the society did’ not involve unreserved support for every act of Soviet policy, external or internal. The society was functioning at a time when the prewar hostility to Russia had reappeared with an element of passion and prejudice hardly credible so soon after a victory in which the Russians had contributed much. The United Nations Association was represented at the conference by Dr E. N. Merrington, who said the association stood for the extension of understanding and goodwill among all nations. Mr James Bertram, who presided at one session at which the possibilities of trade between New Zealand and Russia were considered, commented on Lord Beveridge’s statement when in New Zealand recently that trade between Britain and the Soviet Union was good business. The conference recommended that the society should undertake a campaign for a trade pact between New Zealand and Russia.