VITAL MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25829, 27 April 1945, Page 6

VITAL MEETING

SAN FRANCISCO TALKS OBLIGATIONS OF NATIONS • WASHINGTON, (Rec. 7 p.m.) Apl. 25. President Truman, speaking by radio to the delegates to the United Nations’ Conference at San Francisco, said: “The world has experienced a revival of the old faith in the everlasting moral force of justice. At no time in history has there been a more important conference nor a more necessary meeting than this one you are opening to-day. On behalf of the American people I extend to you a most hearty welcome. Mr Roosevelt appointed an able delegation to represent the United States. I have complete confidence in its chairman, Mr E. R. Stettinius, and his distinguished colleagues. They have my confidence and they have my support. “In the name of the great humanitarian One who is surely with us to-day in spirit, I earnestly appeal to each and every one of you to rise above personal interests and adhere to those lofty principles which benefit all mankind. Mr Roosevelt gave his life while trying to perpetuate those high ideals. “This conference owes its existence in large part to the vision, foresight, and determination of Franklin Roosevelt. Each of you can remember other courageous champions who also made the supreme sacrifice while serving under your flag. They gave their lives so that others might live in security. They died to ensure justice. We must work and live to guarantee justice for all. Architects of Better World “You members of the conference are to be the architects of a better world. In your hands rest our future. By your labours at this conference we shall know if suffering humanity is to achieve a just and lasting peace. Let us labour to achieve a peace which is really worthy of their great' sacrifice. We must make certain by your work here that another war will be impossible. “We who have lived through the torture and tragedy of two world conflicts must realise the magnitude of the problem before us. We do not need, far-sighted vision to understand the trend of recent history. Its significance is all too clear. With its everincreasing brutality and destruction modem warfare, if unchecked, would ultimately crush civilisation. We still have the choice between alternatives—the continuation of international chaos or the re-establishment of a world organisation for the enforcement of-peace. “This .conference will devote its energies and its labour exclusively to the single problem Of setting up the essentisd ' organisation to keep . peace. You are to write the fundamental charter. Our sole objective is to create the structure. We must provide machinery which will make future peace not only possible, but certain. We an overwhelming majority of all mankind. We speak for people: who have endured the most s§vage and most devastating war ever inflicted upon innocent men, women and children. We hold a powerful mandate from our people. They believe we will fulfill this obligation. We must prevent, if the human mind, heart and hope can prevent it. a re-, petition of a disaster from which the entire world will suffer for years to come. A Mighty Combination "We must not continue to sacrifice the flower of our youth merely to check madmen, those who in every age plan wprld domination. The sacrifices of our youth to-day must lead through your efforts to the building of a mighty combination of nations founded upon Justice and peace. Nothing is more essential to the future peace of the world'than vthe continued co-operation of the, nations which had to muster the force necessary to defeat the conspiracy of the Axis Powers to dominate the world. While those great States have a special responsibility to enforce, their responsibility is based on obligations resting upon all States, large and small, not to use force in international relations except in the defence of law. The responsibility of the great States is to serve, not to dominate, the people of the world. "We fully realise to-day that victory in the war required the might of united effort; certainly victory in peace calls for, and must receive, equal effort. For lasting security men of good will must unite and organise. Moreover, if our friendly policies should ever % be considered by belligerent leaders as merely evidence of weakness, the organisation we establish must be adequately prepared to meet any challenge. “ The differences between men and between nations will always remain; in fact, if held within reasonable limits such disagreements are actually wholesome. All progress begins with differences of opinion, and moves onward are made as differences are adjusted through reason and mutual understanding. In recent years our enemies have clearly demonstrated the disaster which follows when freedom of thought is no longer tolerated. Settlement of Disputes “The essence of our problem here is to provide sensible, machinery for the settlement of disputes between nations. Without this peace cannot exist. We can no longer permit any nation or group of nations to attempt to settle their arguments with bombs and bayonets. If we continue to abide by such decisions we will be forced to accept the fundamental philosophy of our enemies—namely, that ‘might makes right.’ To deny this premise—and we most certainly do—we are obliged to provide the necessary means to refute it. We must once and for all reverse that order and prove by our acts conclusively that right has might. "If we do not want to die together in war we must learn to live together in peace. With firm faith in our hearts to sustain us along the hard road to victory we will find our way to a secure peace. For the ultimate benefit of all humanity we must build a new world—a far better world—one in which the eternal dignity of man Is respected.”