WAR AIMS AND PEACE AIMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23565, 27 January 1940, Page 14

WAR AIMS AND PEACE AIMS

Sir, —1 have road your article ii\ Wednesday's issue with considerable interest. The establishment of a permanent peace in war-troubled Europe, as expressed by His Grace the Archbishop of York, is the sincere desire of millions of people throughout the world. Much constructive thought must bo given this problem. The enlightened torch-bearers of democracy in all countries of the world must succeed in effecting such a peace as is most desired. To me it appears the peace of Europe cannot be effectively inaugurated without the willing help of all those people outside Europe. Tho war in Europe has affected to a greater or lesser degree every nation in the world. The disastrous effects of war are not localised to Europe. With regard to "war aims," our objective should be to stop them by stopping the war. Our "peace aims" should not be confined to Europe, but should embrace the world. The. people of tho ten "democratic" countries —-the British Commonwealth, tho United States of America, the French Republic, Belgium, the Netherlauds, tho Swiss Confederation, Denmark, Norway. Sweden and Finland, are seriously affected. There is no quarrel among any of them, but each isnt war or afraid of war. What is urgently wanted is "a world community saturated with the idea of a common social goal." Wo urgently need a true democracy, which exists only in an embryonic state, in some of tho more enlightened countries. We, tho demo-cratic-minded people of the world, have to establish " a unified police control throughout tho world to repress financial gangsterism," a "democracy where one knows precisely where ho is, what liq may do, what ho may not do." Wo need a "democracy \vhero there must bo no privileged class able by right of birth or high position to subjugate tho community in order that ho may exploit and hinder their social liberties." To stop tho war and establish a world peace, can only be demo by the goodwill and co-operation of the democracies of tho world. A peace in Europe only will ho of a transitory nature. 'Hie recurrence of war in a decade or two will surely follow. If democracy fails to get control, vested interests will carry on as vested interests always have. To save tlio world and civilisation, wo democrats must never cease to work for tho establishment of a true democracy arid all that democracy stands for. Without this effort, wo cannot havo "Poaco on earth and goodwill among men." Roiikut E. Odd.