THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, August 31, 1940. WAR AIMS, AND VICTORY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24391, 31 August 1940, Page 10

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, August 31, 1940. WAR AIMS, AND VICTORY

The constant discussions, both public and private, about the war have one main theme —victory and the means to victory. When it is . sometimes asserted that the use of the victory is no less important, the common rejoinder is—Win the victory fhst, then decide how to use it. But this rejoinder is quite inadequate, and indeed misleading. For a little consideration will show that the use proposed to-be made of the victory .Will« be a powerful factor in infiuencing'the effort for victory.; For example, if Great Britain proposed to use the victory when it is gained for imperialistic, "'territorial or economic advantages, it is quite certain that there would be only a small backing for the enterprise. But if Great Britain-r-that is, the larger Britain as the soul; of the Empire and of the other free peoples ---if this larger Britain proposes to use the, victory when gained as a means to the amelioration of the lot of all peoples on the eajjjh, it is evident that this purpose will attach myriads to the. war' against Aggression far more firmly than any mere loose sentiment of loyalty to the old tradition. This old tradition is, of course,-• of immense value; but the new loyalty is wider and asks for a-future ideal to be added to it. This ideal is, or should be, porated in the war aim.,- At present the aim of all the efforts, of the larger Britain is to break down the brute forces of, despotic dictators; but it "has irnplicit in it the ideal of a New Europe, if not of a. New World. If the victory is won and ftie oppressed States of Europe. are merely, restored .W, their "original Status in a Europe ; which, is once again the old Europe, further.. conflicts will be inevitable. For, one thing, Germany if pressed back "into her 'former status among independent and r autonomous but disunited smaller nations .will;again bring to political and-military."birth a Hitler, a Kaiser or a Frederick the Great. If this contention is; sound, it is obvious thai the war .aim should -include first, of victory, and secondly ■ an establishment of,-: conditions in Europe which will prevent a .recurrence of the awful calamities tMt have befallen it twice already this ; ; century/: In the Europe -.of a year ago the smaller States were always in dread. Indeed, the dictators said cynically, " The smaller democracies are pacific simply .because they are afraid—and ; the larger democracies are now pacific only because they are the monopolistic, owners of all they 'want, and more.". It is obvious, then, that in all thinking about the waruand the after-time men. of all shades of opinion should give their thoughts to, a v new Europe. The, League; of Nations - was a disappointment. Yet it"' embodied a 'noble ideal—one wliicn, if it -could have been carried out, might have prevented.> the present catastrophe, - Another solution offered, is that of -a union; between :i United.-, States and England. This, however, would hot solve European difficulties; and it must be, remembered that it is in Europe that world conflicts germm-i ate. . •' '.' ■ '

There ' can be no relief from the war-pestilence in Europe till some form of union is achieved there. It is, of course, too.much to.expect in this generation a fully-developed United States of Europe; But it is not too much to expect that a scheme Will be deVised for spme form, of European federation. It should not be impossible to, formulate .victory aims with a view'to incorporating: all the Western European States in an agreement upon customs, commerce, interchange of raw material, and control of colonies, which would relieve all!tension while guaranteeing to each a peaceful means of development. Plainly enough, the chief stumbling/ block is German, or rather, Nazi, mentality. "We think with ourblood" and "We spit upon liberty'.' have been common slogans with young men in the Third Reich under, the fierce stimulus of Hitler's A' German flyer' now prisoner in England said, "I would do; whatever the Fuhrer ordered—whether machine-gunning cattle or bombing refugees." But there must be a large of older people in Germany wh© are sane, and who will accept a liberal peace-pro-gramme when . the time comes. Writing of this recently The Times.; said: '."■"■ The common values fofr which we stand are known ana prized. We must indeed beware of defining these values in purely nine-teenth-century terms." This means, of. course, that a new and better Order of society is envisaged hot only for suffering Europe, but within the larger Britain itself. It may at first seem that New Zealand has nothing to do with the future state of Europe, but that is a false view. Thinking, in this country must include both victory and the aims and use of victory.