Moral Rearmament Programme Impresses Germans

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22868, 11 February 1949, Page 6

Moral Rearmament Programme Impresses Germans

The Moral Rearmament World Assembly, which was held at Caux, Switzerland, was of particular interest because of the large German delegation, says a representative of the Christian Science Monitor. The Germans accepted moral rearmament as capable of filling the void of despair left in Germany today. Of the 1300 delegates housed at Mountain House, European headquarters of M.R.A,, some 400 were German guests. They came empty-handed, from homes kept going only by the devotion of German mothers and wives. As they confessed later, they came often with suspicion, doubt, and even hatred in their hearts.

After some days of living, working, and being together with people of some 46 nations, on a basis of friendship and frank acceptance, resentments melted away. It was only when they became part of this community of nations again, some speakers later said, that they realised their previous isolation. Fositive Ideology From many private talks and public declarations, it was emphasised that Germany presents a great opportunity to the democracies. In order to fight materialism and Communist disruption, it was stressed, there was need of a militant united democratic ideology. Other former enemy countries also were represented at Caux. For the first time since the war a Japanese delegation has attended an international conference. With this group, too, the need for a positive ideology acceptable to all races and creeds was said to be paramount, if communism was not to fill the vacuum left by the destruction of Japanese militarism. From Italy came seven senators and 32 deputies, from all the main nonCommunist parties. The Orient, China, Burma, Indonesia, Pakistan and India were represented by leading men in government and public life. A party of United States senators and representatives and Canadians came by special Pan-American Constellation plane more than 7000 miles. Good Investment The “rejuvenated and revitalised Europe” and Britain that the Americans and Canadians saw at Caux convinced many of them, who previously were in doubt, that help to Europe was a good investment. A major emphasis in the M.R.A. meetings at Caux was on the great need for unity in industry between employers and workers. Miners from South Wales, the Midlands and Scotland spoke of marked improvement production in their pits after the revue “Forgotten Factor” had been shown there. Ruhr miners’ leaders, some of whom had left their country for the first time in 16 years, expressed themselves as filled with new zeal and courage after meeting with friendly miners from Britain and elsewhere, and hearing of the effects of helpful co-operation instead of enmity in the coal mines.

DAIRY FACTORY BURNED.—The Taikorea Dairy Company’s factory in the Manawatu, was gutted by fire yesterday morning, becoming a total loss. The estimated loss is approximately £SOOO. This district milk is being diverted to Bunnythorpe.