POST-WAR WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25175, 16 March 1943, Page 3

POST-WAR WORLD

POSITION OF AXIS NATIONS GENERAL SMUTS'S VIEWS JOHANNESBURG, (Rec. 9 p.m.) Mar. 14. General Smuts, replying to questions on' the post-war world put by the British United Press, said: (1) He believed that collaboration betweep the British Commonwealth. America, and the Allies would be the best guarantee for world peace. The Atlantic Charter and other instruments now taking shape all pointed towards collaboration as opposed to the oldtime competition in economic and foreign policies. (2) Provided the Axis nations were disarmed and precautions against future rearmament were taken, he believed that they should share fairly with the Allies in the supply of their economic and financial requirements. Their exclusion from world markets would retard world recovery and lead to fresh troubles. The Atlantic Charter spoke clearly of this. (3) World peace could be permanently secured only on the basis of a world organisation more effective than the League of Nations, probably providing for continental and other zonal arrangements. (4) The application of the Atlantic Charter to India, Africa, and elsewhere must be carefully worked out on the basis of the racial, economic, and cultural situation in complex and varied societies.

General Smuts added that South African armoured divisions will be employed anywhere on the second front or wherever their services will be most advantageous, regard being paid to the importance of Africa in Allied strategy and the possibility of new fronts in its neighbourhood.