TIME TO SEEK PEACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25345, 29 October 1945, Page 5

TIME TO SEEK PEACE

MR EDEN'S WARNING AWFUL POSSIBILITY AHEAD f! LONDON, Oct. 27 A third world war would mean the annihilation of the human race, said Mr Anthony Eden former Foreign Secretary, in a speech after receiving the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws at Leeds University. The flaming message stretched across the path of all nations in the closing stages of the second world war, he said, was "seek peace or face destruction." The terrible nature of that warning, he added, had failed so far to produce any healthy consequences. "The nations are not joined closer together," Mr Eden continued. "The tendency today is unhappily rather the reverse." The world is unquestionably in great danger. If ever the nations begin to throw atomic bombs about no individual nation's security is going to avail. We have to control these new forces now; international co-operation is the only way." " 'lsn't it time an Imperial Conference was summoned?' aska the Evening News in a leading article. "Long enough has passed since the end of both wars to get into rough perspective some of the tasks that await us as an association of nations. The attitude of America to Russia is crystallising, if it isnot being clarified. It is becoming manifest that, however much and healthily we differ among ourselves as a family, an agreed common British Empire policy on major economic and political issues will have a profoundly stabilising effect. If the Washington talks should fail the whole Empire's economic orientation would have to be replanned. Tht o is a fairly representative sprinkling of Dominion statesmen in London, but little has been heard of turning the informal aggregation into a formal Imperial Conference. "The machinery for summoning a conference could be quickly put into motion. The Prime of the Dominions could arrive bv air in a few days. The conference could be far more than a demonstration of solidarity. It could achieve a great, deal of practical good for the future." TAX REDUCTIONS UNITED STATES BILL (R«cd. 8.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Oct. 2S A joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives has approved a bill reducing taxes by 5,920,000,000 dollars in 1946 and removing 12,000,000 low incomes from the rolls. Corporation taxes are reduced 3,136,000,000 dollars, comprising excess profits tax, 2,555,000.000 dollars, corporate surtax, 347,000,000 dollars, and capital, stock tax, 234,000,000. Individual taxes are reduced 2.784,000,000 dollars, comprising income tax, 2,644,000,000 dollars, and motor>car tax, 140,000,000. Congress next week is expected to Cass the measure, which is a compromise y the two Houses. President Truman will probably sign the bill, although the Administration requested a reduction of only 6,000,000,000.