INTERNATIONAL FRICTION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19598, 19 September 1933, Page 9

INTERNATIONAL FRICTION

REMOVING THE CAUSES ADDRESS TO ROTARIANS Mr C. E. Jones, of Christchurch, gave an address on “International Relationships” at yesterday's luncheon of the Timaru Rotary Club, over which Rotarian F. I. Washbourn presided. At the outset Mr Jones said that we in the British Dominions must co-op-erate in helping to remove the causes of international friction. Not since 1914 had the world been more disturbed politically. In the first place there was a conflict of international ideas. On one side there was a new conception of international responsibility and on the other there were unmistakable signs of the revival of nationalism, which was helped by growing suspicion among certain nations. Nationalism was not built altogether on commerce and economics but on romance, sentiment and a common history, and true internationalism could be built up on that basis. A nation was judged on its people, their Ideals, their aspirations and the utterances of its public men. A leader of a great nation could do untold harm and cause disaster by an injudicious utterance. The old diplomacy of the past was going by the board and international relationship could not endure unless based on truthfulness, understanding and fair play. The League of Nations continued to wage its fine offensive in the cause of international peace, Mr Jones went on, but outside such agencies as the League, parliaments and International organisations, there were other agencies which might exert a more potent influence. There were agencies at work for relief of suffering, for the relief of unemployment and conferences, such as the Institute of Pacific Relationship. Air transport and radio were going to play an important part In establishing a personal touch which would do much towards international understahding. Overseas visits by Individuals also were a means of bringing about friendship among nations, for when an Individual made a friend for himself he made ohe for his country. Understanding and goodwill, While they were always bracketed, did not always go together. It was possible to have ohe without achieving the other, but to understand all, in the words of the French proverb, was to forgive all. “We must recognise that In the World there will always be a call for ah agency that is disinterested enough to stand for the great principles for Which the War was fought,” said Mr Jones, “the principles of freedom, justice and liberty. If we have an agency standing for those things then We can look forward with considerably more optimism to the future of the world than we have been during recent days. We must have some agency based on a common ideal, a common inspiration for service, so as to try and benefit the whole of humanity and to do something to Uplift the Whole Of mankind.” In conclusion, Mr Jones appealed to Rotarians to do their part as individuals, as communities and as nations, and to get together for mutual understanding and in order to let the other fellow have his opinion considered, so that difficulties and misunderstandings might be met before they became such. The speaker was accorded a vote of thanks on the motion of Rotarian W. Thomas. , I . . ; ! ' j ‘ * > -1 * ■ : 1 ■ -1 ’ . * 1