AID TO RUSSIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 15 September 1941, Page 6

AID TO RUSSIA

SOCIETY’S ACTIVITIES MR ATMORE’S DUNEDIN ADDRESS | Publication of correspondents’ letters; •commenting on meetings held to advo- ! cate the giving of all possible help to .the Soviet in its fight against the common enemy has been followed bv several requests for reports of some of the speeches given at these meetings, especially by Mr H. Atmore. M.P. The suggestion has been made that some of these demonstrated “Anglophobia." hut this has been repudiated j by the chairman of the Auckland meeting and by others. ; Mr Atmore spoke at a meeting in I Dunedin. Proceedings opened with the ; singing of "God Save the King” and of' the National Anthem of Russia. After! remarks by the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr lA. H. Allen) and an address bv Mr J. ; Roberts, of Christchurch, Mr Atmore | gave his address. DEMOCRACY’S GREATEST CHALLENGE "Democracy to-day is facing its greatest challenge,” Mr Atmore confuted, “and at the same time it is provided with its greatest opportunity. Democracy is worth lighting for and worth fighting with. The Atlantic declaration.” he said, “was just what was required, because the subjugated people had the right to know what Great Britain would introduce if she won the war—as she certainly will win. The declaration of the two great Democrats—Roosevelt ancl Churchill—is as good is half-a-dozen army divisions in the struggle of the future.” Referring to the charges levelled against Russia in some quarters, Mr Atmore sail that the Soviet was stated to be Godless. He spoke of the lack of education in the time of the Czar and the type of Christianity that existed then. He reminded those present that in Russia to-day there was no interference with any man’s right to worship as he saw fit. Mr Atmore said that he expected Stalin to declare in the near future religious tolerance throughout Russia. "What is Russia doing to-day?” Mr j* A imore asked. "She is saving the lives «'f New Zealanders and other lads of! the Empire. It was announced that! ,1.800.000 Russians had become casual-! lies, but that they bed put out of action ; : 2.500.000 Germans. Think of the sacri- ! ! lice Russia is making,” he added. "When ' jour troops meet the Germans on the! Continent their task will be easier as a i ivsul of the sacrifice by those ‘ j DBOO.OOO Russians. If there is no other ; j claim for our friendship with Russia.”; h said, "surely we should find one in ! that sacrifice.” | "RUSSIA CANNOT LOSE” "Russia has more tanks and mot e i I planes than Germany," he said, “ancl 'she has 12,300.000 trained men comj pared with Germany’s 7,000,000. There! is very little chance of Germany beating Russia. The Russians’ strategy is to lengthen the lines of communication of | the enemy and to shorten their own 'until they bring the Germans to a halt and defeat them.” He mentioned the I way the minds of the people of the world had been poisoned against i Russia by propaganda and by the policy ol the newspapers, which, he said, had ; distorted the truth about the Soviet and j withheld information as to what was j going on. He defended Russia's action (in invading Finland, and in marching ! into Poland. ; "If New Zealand can do anything; (to lift the world prejudice against Rus- i i sia.” Mr Atmore added, “we shall be! 1 contributing to the new order which : must come. To-day. ranged against j Germany, are three economic giants—j the United States, Russia, and Great (Britain—and with them will be China | awaking from the sleep of centuries. Let us have a new order by forming a close offensive and defensive pact with Russia, and also with the United ; State and China. We must see that j a state of affairs that is able to produce; a Hitler or a Mussolini can never exist; again. If we bring about a new un-1 i dei standing among these four Powers,” | he said, "it will usher in an epoch in : 'which the principles of Christianity; will be transformed into actualities,! ■ and we shall then have a period of : prosperity and peace beyond the rosiest 1 . dreams of the most ardent social re- i j former.” RESOLUTIONS CARRIED Mr B. Harris, president of the Dun - ! I edin branch, moved the following re- | (solutions which were enthusiastically', | carried:— "That this meeting of approximately j 2000 citizens of Dunedin ask the New ! Zealand Government to cable to the . Government of the U.S.S.R. conveying j greetings from the people of Dunedin | to the peoples of the U.S.S.R.. and par- j ticularly to the heroic defenders of j | Leningrad and Odessa, in their mag- j | nificent struggle against the ruthless j aggression of our common enemy. i i “That this representative gathering j of Dunedin citizens urge upon the Gov- j eminent immediate action, with regard • to diplomatic and economic relations ! with Russia, in order that we may j afford the greatest possible assistance to j her in our common struggle against I Nazi domination.” SOCIETY'S OBJECTS In a brochure issued by the New j Zealand Society for Closer Relations | with Russia its objects are set out as j follows: To promote cultural, diplomatic ; and economic relations between the people of New Zealand and the pec pie of the U.S.S.R. To do everything possible to help secure victory against the Nazi and j Fascist aggressors. The Society is non-sectarian and j politically non-partisan. It. welcomes the membership of all persons willing to observe this j condition of membership, who i subscribe to the above objects.