“BETTER UNDERSTANDING”

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1933, Page 9

“BETTER UNDERSTANDING”

WORLD PRESIDENT’S PLEA GRAVE POSITION IN EUROPE. DISTRUST AND BITTERNESS. “SERVING THE WHOLE WORLD.” -“When we look around the world today, and when we think of the international situation, which is certainly very dark,- we feel that the work of an organisation such as ours binds together the members hr different countries because they are all working with a common ideal,” “said Miss'" C.“M. VSn'Asch van Wijck, world president, in explaining the international significance. of the Y.W.C.A. during her reply to speeches of welcome, at New Plymouth lari; night*

It was felt that such work was needed more than ever at the present time, continued Miss van Asch van Wijck.'The Y.W.C.A. came into touch with national and international troubles at first hand. . In some countries formed after the war different nationalities were enclosed by : the same boundaries and there wera ' many racial differences that had resulted in the people being split into groups. As .an example Miss.van. Asch van Wijck quoted Esth'onia, where there were Esthonians, Russians and Germans. In-one city the Y.W.C.A. was the only centre Where the women of the three nationalities , could meet on a - friendly basis. There were different factions in CzeCh'd-i . Slovakia which the organisation had not 'yet been able to bring together, but efforts were still being made to do so. The Y.W.C.A. saw it as a duty to perform. NATIONS IN TROUBLE. Again, nations closely related .by history and economics such as China and Japan had gone to war, continued Miss van Asch van Wijck. That particular instance had been considered by the World Council with care, because it had bean, proposed to hold a general meeting of members in China in October. In spite of the bitterness that might .have been „ expected in the hearts df ‘ Chinese “women after seeing the ruins of -Chapei. the Y.W.C.A. members of China had; expressed the desire that . the meeting - be:, held and that the Japanese delegates at- ' • tend as usual. That had impressed .her as it seemed to show that ithe link bind--, ing members of the organisation was strong enough to. hold, in the face of great difficulties. Actually, the meeting had been postponed on account of European delegates finding difficulties .in ■ securing finanbe. . , < ' : , “Then we have the messengers of good-, will who play their part in maintain- . ing the link,” continued thevisitor. She ‘ 'explained ’ that it was’ a ’ spfetiaT Jtart of Y.W.C.A. work to send', secretaries to other countries . wb°S e national .associations they served although paid liy the association’, that- sent them: Friendshipand understanding .were thus', prompted, .- the• people and TnemhbrS in: both cbfiii- . tries being then more closely linked. The link that transcended every barrier was a common faith in Jesus Christ, said Miss van Asch van Wijck, It was the work of. the Y.W.C.A. to see that it was applied more Often to national and international difficulties. 1 POSITION IN EUROPE. “The failure of the Disarmament Conference, in which such hopes were en- ■ tei’tained, and the failure of the Economic Conference, from which so much was expected, has resulted in a feeling of discouragement’ that is experienced more by European countries than by Australia or New Zealand,” said the visitor. She knew that both Australia and New Zealand had been hit by the depression, but a very different situation existed in European countries. Hundreds of thousands of men and women had actually given up hope of ever getting work. Others, younger people, were training themselves for. trades and professions but all the time they were haunted by the spectre that, no matter how capable or efficient, there would be no employment for them when they finished. That was particularly noticeable in Germany. “The effect of all this is demoralising,” remarked Miss van Asch van Wijck. “The possibilities of family life are few when the wages ,of men. are so- small as in Germany at the present time. .Hope and courage have been killed ;by such a dull outlook, and it is no’ wonder that youth is ready for desperate means changes. ‘ The present youth :of some European, countries cannot remember a time when the future could be regarded with hope and eagerness.”

“NARROW NATIONALISM.” . , The constant failure of international understanding had created distrust and- / bitterness between countries, sha, con- - ' tinued. A wave of narrow nationalism • was spreading through Europe, and that made for the creation of a dangerous " state -of affairs. Every assistance was needed in the furtherance 'of better understanding, and the Y.W.C.Aa* asked that "people should remember “he profits most who serves best.” • ' “We serve our country best when we make it serve the whole world,” coneluded Miss >van Asch van Wijck. .“Bet- ;■ ter understanding is _ required in the,: life of families and nations, and more than- ever in international affairs. We should try to realise that gifts in national life are . gifts from .God and that they should be shared with less for-, tunate nations, for each is "but a part of the whole world. Only .then will it be possible to ' build up the principles and understanding necessary to promote better international life. It is one of the principles of the Y.W.C.A. to work in that direction.” . . '