SOVIET POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26792, 8 June 1948, Page 4

SOVIET POLICY

NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING COUNTER TO MISREPRESENTATION p.a. Wellington, June 7. The need for willingness to try to understand the policy of the Soviet Union was to-day greater than ever, said Mr W. T. Airey, who presided over the annual conference of the New Zealand Society for Closer Relations with Russia held at Wellington during the week-end, according to a report supplied by the organisation. Mr Airey said that by the patient countering of misrepresentation of the Soviet Union by statements of authenticated fact, and by constant explanation of the background which gave meaning to the Soviet policy, the society could play its part in making a fruitful victory over Fascism. He said that membership of the society did not involve unreserved support for every act of Soviet policy, external or internal. The society was functioning at a time when the pre-war hostility to Russia had re-appeared with an element of passion and prejudice hardly credible so soon after the victory to which the Russians had contributed much. The United Nations Association was represented at the conference by Dr E. N. Merrington, who said his association stood for an extension,.of understanding and goodwill among all nations. Mr James Bertram, who presided at one session at which possibilities of trade between .New Zealand and Russia were considered, commented on Lord Beveridge’s statement when in New Zealand recently that trade between Britain and the Soviet Union was “good business.” The conference recommended that the society should undertake a campaign for a trade pact between the Dominion and the U.S.S.R.