THE BASIS OF PEACE

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 57

THE BASIS OF PEACE

Disoussina- the guarantees for the future peace of the world, Mr Aequith recently wrote in tho London Observer as follows: " Tho first thing needed is, without doubt, not a re-establishment of the balance of power, but a removal of one of the chief of the ohronio causes of unsettleiment by the emancipation and regrouping of subject peoples in accordance ■with their aspirations and interests. This would go a long way to heal the festering sores which Lurope has inherited from dynastic ambitions, from diplomatic chicane, from military rapacity. But it is clear that if the peace which has become the first interest of a bleeding and devastated world is to be something more than a breathing space or a passing interlude, wp cannot bo content with a mere repainting of the map. We must aim at setting up a world-wido ineaeo partnership, of which all the civilised communities will be members on a level footing, with equal rights and l-eciprocal duties. These changes, which involve tho ' definite repudiation of militarism as the governing factor in the relation of States,' will not be brought about by a stroke _ of the pen or by an avalancho of rhetoric They must aim from the beginning at something more than tho negativo functions of policing the world and preventing breaches of the peace; at nothing less than a ' partnership of tho nations in the joint pursuit of a freer and fuller life for the countless millions who, by their own efforts and their sacrifices, generation after generation, maintain tho px'ogrcss and enrich tho inheritance of humanity I' "