THE PEACE EFFORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23859, 13 July 1939, Page 15

THE PEACE EFFORT

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—l wish to thank those correspondents who answered my letter which you titled “ The Peace Effort. My only regret is that there were not more of them. It is a genuine appeal, but it seems that very few have taken it seriously I acknowledge Mr Townend’s advice on capitalistic war and the system of government. While 1 believe much of what he says, I feel that all party feelings, politics, individual commercial effort, should go by the board at the present time. Charity does not begin at home today. The international situation warns us that we live in a fools’ paradise The time is ripe for a gesture such as 1 suggested in my letter. The years ahead are years of sacrifice and faith if the unequal balance of world conditions is to oe adjusted So vast ia the task that one’s voice seems crying in the wilderness One could write a long letter full of exhortation but the panorama ahead makes words seem useless Bu; I believe that we and our civilisation shall perish if we do not uphold the principles it is based on. Greater minds than mine are convinced of it. Haldane, with resignation, ventures to hope that if cur civilisation perishes the rat, which is a creature of some intelligence, will remain.

If we think we are worth the saying, we should be prepared to sacrifice. Our future certainly is at stake. I do not say that this gesture will save the world, but something like it may set the ball rolling. If my plan is not practicable enough, as I said before, would anyone suggest something better? My Clarendon correspondent says 100,000 immigrants in two years. 1 thank him. If he can interest anyone in the scheme, I hope he will do so.—l am, etc., Onward. Dunedin, July 12.