The New Zealand Herald AUCKLAND, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1945 EVIL USE OF SCIENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25216, 31 May 1945, Page 4

The New Zealand Herald AUCKLAND, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1945 EVIL USE OF SCIENCE

The problem of the German scientist and technologist and their capacity to devise instruments for the destruction of mankind is plain. Their control, as of those of other nations with similar bent, is obvious

as a necessity but exceedingly difficult to effect. No sharply defined barrier exists between discoveries and inventions valuable for peacetime living and those tor war. Ihe aeroplane was to bridge the gaps between nations and a sense of

nearness was to create better understanding and so remove one of the causes of war. The aeroplane was essentially an instrument of peace, but by the simple expedient of arming it with guns and bombs it has been mad« j a curse on humanity. The scientist who produced* drugs to counter Japan's possession of the quinine resources of the world is a benefactor. The Germans have produced drugs with equal skill but used for diabolical purposes. The discovery of the V-2 bomb must have called for scientific ability of a high order. German scientists are thus responsible for many of the more horrible weapons of war. Yet it is not science or the spirit of research which is at fault. It is the use which evil men make of the scientist and his brain—sometimes the readiness of the German scientist to prostitute his brain. A fundamental difference between the British and the Germans is that the British . have no

enthusiasm for war. Consequently, practically the whole of British scientific and inventive ability is devoted to peaceful pursuits. In Germany, the dominant national thought has been of war with the result that their scientific research has had a war bias. German scientists can contribute much to the welfare of the world. The moral seems to be that their efforts should be deflected rather than banned. The parable of the empty house and the seven devils is applicable. Suggestions have been made that

there should be some sort of international inspectorate which will keep watch on scientists and inventors to curb warlike research. Such an inspectorate might function if all research were confined to publiclyowned or other clearly marked laboratories. It might be effective, also, were it not for the fact that the invention and perfection of weapons is held t-o be one of the sovereign rights of nations. To ask any nation to open its laboratories to international inspectors is to ask it to surrender a part of its sovereignty. The recent Air Conference at Chicago showed how chary even such a peace-loving nation as the United States is of any limitation of its sovereignty in this. To a peaceful matter like the regulation of the frequency of air services, the United States flatly refused to agree. The argument was the impossibility of finding men sufficiently judicial to act against the interests of their own country. If the contention has merit in such a case, would an international war-inventions inspector inform on his own country, especially if he felt that his nation was being unjustly treated? The world has to go a long way yet before it is ready to practise so high an ideal. Germany today is in abject surrender and total d*efeat. There is no need to 'consider short-term measures for keeping her disarmed. The time for concern is the period a few years hence when the Allied nations may tire of occupation and inspectorates and their costs as they did after the last war. Then, unless the German has been re-educated to higher ideals than he has held in the past, a new Reich under a new Kaiser or Hitler may come into being to inspire the German scientists to further fell deeds. Bismarck, Wilhelm II and Hitler had their origins in other aspects o f German life than the laboratories and munitions works. Thev were a cause and scien-

tific destruction was an effect. A peaceful Germany can be created only by reformation in which just punishment for the evil inflicted upon the world has a part. A mistake will be made if it is thought all is accomplished merely by banning or circumscribing German research and invention. Such arguments are as fallacious as those which contend that weapons will be invented against which there can be no defence. Given time, a counter will be evolved, as it has been throughout the ages. The danger is not in discovery and invention but in allowing an aggressor nation to develop sufficient weapons to give it an overwhelming start in a war. Prevention of this is a more simple matter than attempting to lock up brains.

FRENCH IN LEVANT The situation in the Levant has become so taut that it may snap at. any moment. Such a development would be serious, because the issues are not confined to France, the Mandatory Power, on the one hand, and Syria and Lebanon on the other. Britain is involved by her pledge of independence to the small States, while both the United States and Soviet Russia are materially interested in the disposition of the Middle East. A most complex business has therefore been opened up by the de Gaulle Government's clumsy handling of the Levant States. This lack of finesse and its possibly disagreeable consequences should not blind the world to the French angle. France claims she has a responsibility to discharge before she hands over to the Levantines and a special position she expects to retain in the region subsequently.

Britain should hear this plea with understanding and sympathy. She takes and maintains much the same position in Egypt, Irak and Palestine, all Middle Eastern States. While Egypt and Irak have been granted independence, Britain keeps a predominant position and is granted rights in the maintenance of garrisons and airports. On the political side Britain has experience of the difficulties of granting full independence to politically immature

peoples. That experience extends beyond the Middle East to India, Burma and Ceylon. Similarly, American experience in the Philippines should win understanding for the French contentions in the Levant. The Russian demands for a special position in frontier States, including North Persia, ma.y not be cases exactly in point, although there are similarities. These considerations should stay any condemnation of French aims, however much her methods may be deplored. Whether they will be sufficient to prevent fishing in the troubled waters of this confluence of international interests should soon be apparent. Here is another test case for international co-operation.

MR FRASER'S STAND In upholding the claims of the small natiofts to a larger voice in the business of the world security organisation, Mr Eraser has evidently made some impression. That is apparent when he is found drawing the fire of the Soviet delegate, M. Gromyko. The latter is put. on the defence of a scheme whereby the Big Five—Britain, America, Russia, France 'and China—become the beall and end-all of security. Certainly M. Gromyko can make out a good case for the executive efficiency of the smaller Security Council by contrast with the debates and hesitations that might be expected to impede the larger Assembly. If more 'authority were vested in the Assembly, or if its standing were made more influential, he is probably right in foreseeing that, the organisation would be hamstrung, as the League was before it. Mr Lloyd George once said : "You cannot conduct a war with a Sanhedrim." Nor can peace be ensured by the long deliberations of an Assembly. The executive body must be capable of quick and decisive action. But that fact should not shut the Assembly off from any effective voice. After all, it will represent world opinion in a measure that cannot be claimed for the Council. In guarding against the weaknesses of Assembly government, the new organisation has swung to the other extreme, founding the whole system on material power. For instance, it is surely going too far to provide that any one of the five Great Powers can veto a move by the organisation for peaceful intervention and conciliation in a dispute between two nations. Mr Fraser has done well to uphold the rights of small nations. He is as intent as anyone to serve the end of security and would disown any idea of stultifying the Council. But even the Council may fail to' ensure peace if due regard be not paid to the many small nations. The Big Five may be omnipotent, but it does not follow that they are omniscient.

LETTEES TO THE EDITOR A Pensioner's View Sir, —I feel constrained to send a list of local shortages: Electric power, gas, cos.l and breakfast foods. Well, why worry anyway? If you have no porridge you' do' not need any electricity, gas or coal with which to cook it. Rather hard on mothers who must make baby"food. Where has all thecoal got to, anyway? Is not our North Island coal good enough? Perhaps we had better roll up camp and steal away to the South Island, where there is plenty of porridge meal and electricity, they say. Sick of It At,t>. The Gas Supply Sir, —1 should just like to say something in defence of the Gas Company. I know nothing about the works — whether they are old-fashioned or not; 1 only know' this, that before the war, and before the Government commandeered their reserve of coal, the supply of gas never failed, nor was its pressure ever reduced. It was entirely reliable. I used to congratulate myself that I cooked with gas that never failed, and not with electricitv, that every now and then —did. Antiquated or not the supplY was maintained, and there' were no strikes. Housewife. Animals in Travail Sir, —In order to lessen the suffering of animals as much as possible, the following suggestions should be of use: — Where hobby calves are awaiting lorries to pick them up, some overhead shelter should be erected against frost and rain. Manv farmers are humane men and erect shelters. A few are careless.

The trapping ot opossums and rabbits could be done more mercifully. Some years ago an American magazine published a picture of a trap with a net attached to it that captured the animals without injuring them. Here is a chance for inventors. A Lovf.r of Animals.

Poultry Meal Rations Sir, —The announcement regarding the allocation of poultry feed is astounding reading for the small poultrvkeepers. Some time ngo, when eggs were in very short supply, everyone, even the "backyarder," was appealed to to send all eggs to the central egg floors, and the statement was made that 80 per cent iof the eggs in the country were produced by the small poultry farmers. When one considers that statement with the new ration scale, one wonders what is to happen to 80 per cent of the already short supply of eggs. The allowance of 2751b of meal per 100 birds in the over 300 class is a very liberal allowance. That of 1001b per 100 for flocks of 100 to .SOO birds isjiot sufficient. But when one thinks,of 501b per 100 for the "backyarder" with 99 or less, one is reminded of the German concentration camps where the unwanted were starved to death. Puni. C. Dewhttrst.

Medical Staff's Vote Sir, —Propaganda is a very dominating force but it needs to be used under scrupulous supervision because it can serve wrong purposes. We are too familiar with its mischievous methods. The medical men who have passed resolutions of no-confidence in the chairman of the Hospital Board are treading on thin ice. They may break down one of the highest traditions of their profession, and be led into dangerous channels, instead of getting on with their job. Nothing is perfect in this world and they may understand better what this means when they are reminded that no diagnosis is 100 per cent perfect. There is something topsy-turvy about their reasoning, for they transcend anything the chairman has done by making public a hostile attitude toward him when he was supported by the members of the board, in voting that their letter should he received. Why wrangle over details when, if they carry on and try to rectify irregularities, thev will not lose one inch in professional stature. Their work will he as highly appreciated as ever; there is hard work for both board members and the medical staff. The hoard does a job which the world over the people have found out cannot be done in the main by medical men. This work is often unseen, but it will bring nearer the day when suffering humanity will more and more benefit by combined effort. What has been done befor# can be don® again. w. K, Howtti.