WORLD DISPUTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22355, 28 February 1936, Page 15

WORLD DISPUTES

PREVENTIVE METHODS AUTHENTIC INFORMATION REMOVING MISUNDERSTANDINGS Means of settling international dis- ; putes which tho movement might undertake were suggested by . Mr. J. S. Barton, when speaking on the subject of international affairs at ! the New Zealand Rotary District Conference, which was continued at the Auckland University College yesterday. He mentioned the establishment . of a newa committee to foster the transmission of authentic information : on matters of international interest and tho communication of questions , affecting the common interests of countries through specially-trained representatives. "The Rotary movement in its international aspect can be made a potent instrument for the settlement of international disputes," said Mr. Barton. "An organisation designed to . help in 1 the dissipation of misunderstanding 1 must help to prevent the commence--1 ment of quarrels." International misunderstanding grew out of ignorance on tho part of one people of the ' habits and life and thought, the aspirations and ideals of another people. Such misconceptions were deliberately fostered. Special Representatives 1 Mr. Barton said ho had thought of the advantage to bo gained by an arrangement between nations whereby a small band of well-educated men and women specially trained for the post would be charged with the duty i of making friendly contacts socially and culturally with representative circles in other countries. All questions likely to affect the common interests of the countries could be com- , municated through these special rep- , resentatives, and stated in terms embodying an intelligent presentation to one nation of the ideals and aspirations of the other. "This method should eliminate all elements of misunderstanding due to differences of language and ethical ideals, and habits of life and thought," Mr. Barton continued. "It should lead to a correction of the evil influences of propaganda deliberately designed to arouse tho war spirit. Is it too visionary to try to picture international committees of Rotarians undertaking some such function?" Referring to the war between Italy and Abyssinia, Mr. Barton remarked that he had never been able to gain access to a reasoned and impartial statement of what Italy claimed as her view of the matter. Also, he had the belief that much of the news transmitted was propaganda designed to mould popular opinion. Counteracting Propaganda "Imagine a similar position arising between two nations in 1946," said Mr. Barton. "The Rotary movement in each country is invited by its international headquarters to prepare and forward a reasoned statement of the point of. view of its members for transmission to Rotary in tho other country involved.' Each branch involved is put on its honour to present its case fairly and completely, and to communicate to its fellow-citizens the news received from the other country. "This procedure should involve no political or diplomatic complications and should prove useful by supplying information, without which an intelligent opinion could not be moulded. It would tend to kill any mischievous propaganda designed to create a warlike frame t)f mind." Mr. Barton asked if there was an opening for a news committee to foster the transmission of authentic information on matters of international interest. It seemed to him that Rotary already possessed news value. If in peace time statements could be transmitted as having been prepared and passed by Rotary for international information, the movement would tend to gain a reputation based on experience of the accuracy and soundness of its statements. "If that reputation is as good as it might be, the organisation would have a status that would give added weight to its news when some questions of international differences arose," Mr. Barton concluded. "I can see no reason why this scheme should not succeed in big issues as well as small."