NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23817, 19 November 1940, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS

KEEPING THE PEACE The enforcement of peace seeks not the death of an aggressor but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, writes Dr. Maxwell Garnett in his book, "A Lasting Peace." War. however, aims at victory over a defeated foe. Once more, the enforcement of peace is essentially preventive rather than punitive: it tends to prevent future wars from breaking out by convincing the aggressor that he cannot hope to succeed against the overwhelming force arrayed against him. War breeds further wars. Finally, the enforcement of peace requires no propaganda of hate. With international law (and, as a rule, justice also) on its side, it differs morally from war lawlessly undertaken in pursuance of national policy. Indeed, readiness if need be, to take part in collective defence against aggression marks a high order of political altruism, at least for those who have not yet attained a clear vision of their country as part of a larger whole. In any case, it is the price of peace.

A HIGHER JUDGMENT When the blinded and deceived soul of Germany is freed, writes .Sir .Tames Marchant in' the Bournemouth Echo, at infinite cost of the lives of other peoples and her own from Hitler's madness, and that of the desperate gang who have egged him on, a re-born Germany, purged by fire, will cast him down and trample. upon his memory. As sure as God reigns, however long it may take and at whatever the cost, that will bo his end. The illimitable and ever victorious moral forces of the world which make for righteousness arc ranged on the side of Britain and her allies in saving the nations broken by his pitiless might. High above the beating of the wings of destruction and death the outcome of this human conflict is being decided before the judgment bar of God. The verdict will be revealed to us and our children's children unless— The pillar'd firmament is rottenness, And earth's base built on stubble. When that hour comes, for which millions pray night and day, there wjll be peace, and the chance once more will be given to us to refashion the fabric of civilisation. ' GERMANY AFTER THE WAR In a symposium of-peace aims entitled "After the War," the Hon. David Astor discusses a "New ' Deal for Europe," with a possible Federation scheme as a basis. He writes: In considering tho future of Germany, let us assume that tho Nazi regime has suffered a total eclipse, for. unless this is so it is no use thinking of Europe as anything but a permanent armed camp. We must, then, neither impose a system of government which is so unsteady, because so hated, that a punitive expedition has to bo made every few years to prevent tho Germans from throwing it off, nor must we allow them such independence that they are free within two short, decades, to repeat their armed excursions into neighbouring territories. Broadly,-the.aim of the Allies must be to recapture tho Germans and their admirable country for Western civilisation, while at the same time taking every precaution against a revival of militarism among them. Ultimately, both of these purposes will bo best served by inviting them into some form of political partnership from which both peoples should gain many economic and cultural advantages, not tho least of which might be. tho imparting of our peculiar and slowly-acquired political sense and standards of behaviour. This task might prove of great spiritual i value to both giver and receiver.