WORLD PEACE AIM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19104, 27 August 1936, Page 5

WORLD PEACE AIM

DISCUSSION BY RULERS ROOSEVELT'S PROPOSAL COMMON PERSONAL BOND INFLUENCE AGAINST WAR (Elbc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.', NFjW YORK, Aug. 26. The New York Times, in an exclusive article published to-day, declares that President Roosevelt, if re-elected, will seriously consider proposing that an international conference be held at a place considered fitting, to devise practical means of ensuring world peace. It is suggested that those participating, in addition to the President, would include King Edward (Great Britain), M. Stalin (Russia), Signor Mussolini (Italy), Herr Hitler (Germany), M. Lebrun (France), and representatives of China and Japan and others.

President Roosevelt feels that, in view of the power and prestige of the prospective conferees, and because of the fact that detailed programmes and commitments would not be asked, the retinues of. economic experts and diplomats that usually accompany international conferences could be dispensed with. UNITED PROCLAMATION

As President Roosevelt outlined the plan to a few intimate associates, these eminent members of the conference would, he . said, generally disenss the prospects and hopes of disarmament and peace; consider the seeds, of war and unite in a proclamation, personal in pur, pose, to use all their influence to prevent war in any part,of the world.

To friends, President Roosevelt indicated that, if re-elected in the face of intense opposition from partisan opponents, he believes be would be in the best position any American President had ever been in to promote world peace because his prestige would be greatly increased and he would be starting on a definite four-year office, during which he could greatly assist any peace efforts on which the conference might agree. ADVANTAGES STRESSED The President feels that he would'have several advantages over the late President Wilson's attempt to be a world peace maker in 191&. The meeting" in 1937 would not follow a bitter war and there would be no treaties to frame and have ratified. In selecting King Edward and M. Lebrun rather than the political heads of their respective States, President Roosevelt feels that they would be more representative and effective conferees. Herr Hitler, Signor Mussolini and M. Stalin, of course, represent the exact policies of their Governments. The Times emphasised that President Roosevelt may not project the plan as a campaign issue, feeling that the opposition press would castigate him "for a romantic gesture, certain to yield barren results," but the article concludes : "The fact that a President whose chances of re-election appear to be excellent, has conceived 'such a plan and is discussing ways of putting it into effect, may develop 1937 into the most important world year since 1919."