PRESS AND PEACE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14057, 15 November 1909, Page 7

PRESS AND PEACE.

TO KNOW IS FRIENDSHIP.' Five hundred delegates, representing over twenty dhterent countries and speaking many different tongues, attended the London Conference of the International Associations of the Press, which was opened on September 20th at Lincoln's Inn Hall, London, by Lord Burnbam, hon. president, oi the Reception Committee. Speaking in French, Lord Burnham said that, as the doyen of British Imperial journalism it was his duty, and it was also a source of infinite pleasure to him, to bid the delegates a hearty and sincere welcome to London. They were the world's jourahsts, representatives of every country in Europe and of many other lands. Their presence pointed to the growing spirit of brotherhood and fellowship which overstepped the boundary of nationality. "You recall to us," proceeded Lord Burnham, "that the function of the Press is largely cosmopolitan. Contrast the journalism of to-day "with that of a century agol How much more widely how much more intelligently, and with what broader liberality are the affaire of the outer world discussed now than they were then.

"I hail with profound satisfaction the international character of this gathering. To know is to be friendly; the enemy is the man or the people we do not know. Those international associations make for good—for larger knowledge, broader sympathies, for the feeling of kinship and camaraderie.

"What is your mission ? In one word it is humanity—the welfare, the culture and the progress of humanity. These are the real things. The sun rises on a better world every day„ "They are helping," the speaker went on, "in the process of the uplifting of human society, sometimes leading in the way of reform, sometimes, as he hoped and believed, restraining revolutionarc movements too hurried, too violent. On the world of the Press the sun never set. Internationally they had a great work to do. It was not given to man to determine or even to foresee the line of human development: 'A divinity doth shape our ends.'

"But it may," proceeded Lord Burnham, "be given to us to save our generation from shock on the one hand and from stagnation on the other; to smooth the path of advance: to teach the nations that honour is nobler than dominion; justice grander than sovereignty : the role of the peacemaker hieher than that of the conqueror: and that knowledge is the loftiest form of power. "In that famous hall." concluded the speaker, "he welcomed the International Union of Journalists as a division of the army of peace and goodwill.''—(Cheers.)