NEW PEACE LEAGUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25052, 16 November 1944, Page 3

NEW PEACE LEAGUE

REGIONAL UNDERSTANDING

AVOIDING PAST MISTAKES It is believed the new peace league will he based primarily on regional understandings on the lines of the Pan American Union, the Nine-Power Treaty, and similar arrangements, writes the Washington correspondent of the New York World Telegram. We may see something like "little leagues" functioning within a "big league" or world association. Should trouble break out between two countries the regional group would try to stop it. If it failed the world organisation would intervene.

The United States, Canada and the 20 republics south of the Ilio Grande should be able to compose all quarrels arising within the western world. They would even prefer that the nations of Europe and Asia stay out. But if the trouble threatened to get out of hand then they eosld give the signal for the others to come in.

The United States, Canada, Great Britain, Russia and China are all.vitally interested in keeping the peace of the north Pacific. Similarly, America, Britain, China, France,* the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand are directly concerned in the south Pacific; Britain, Kussia, Franco and China in the Middle East; Ilussia, Britain, France and others in Europe; and so on.

Some such regional grouping, integrated within a world organisation, might avoid the one great weakness of the old league. In that the United States refused to commit itself, in advance, to go to war on the other side of the globe, while countries, such as Britain, did so commit themselves, but failed, when the showdown came, to live up to their pledges.

This time an effort will be made to demand no more than can be honestly promised and to promise no more than can actually be delivered. In each region, of course, are small nations which are sometimes more vitally concerned in regional problems than the major Powers. For the small nations it may even be a matter of life or death. They must have a voice iti any proceedings in which their interests are involved.

This was recognised unanimously at the Big Three session at Dumbarton Oaks. FOOD FOR FRANCE AID FROM THE ALLIES PARIS, Nov. 14 Allied issues of imported food in France between D Day, June 0, and November 1 totalled 44,000 tons. Partial resumption of coastal fishing is expected to result in catches totalling 2000 tons this month. It is revealed that '2OOO tons of food were brought by air to Paris when a food crisis was threatened after liberation, and 2000 Allied lorries lind trailers supplemented French transport in the food relief service.

Each day now 10,000 tons of coal comes into Paris. The electric power supply has been restored to 70 per cent of normal, and the gas supply to 60 per cent. After much dislocation, post office services are being re-established. Official reports say that even in French cities in which there has been fierce fighting no serious epidomics bavc occurred.

Fifty assembly centres had been established to accommodate 50,000 displaced persons, while since D Day the Civil Affairs Branch has cared lor 500,000 refugees. Activities > of Allied Civil Affairs authorities in France are now limited to emergencies, or are undertaken only at the specific request of the French.