THE BASIS OF PEACE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20097, 2 May 1935, Page 6

THE BASIS OF PEACE

To the Editor of “The Timaru Herald” Sir,—The Kev. J. Fordyce at the Fairlie Anzac Day service said: ‘‘Has it ever occurred to you that you were responsible for the Great War? When our nation goes to war it does so, only by our consent and at our request. We, the citizens of the Empire, have the power to begin or stop war.” The Rev. J. Evans, speaking at St. Mary’s Anzac service, said: “The League of Nations would never prevent war, because it had not the backing of the people. The fact that there were fewer than 100 members in Timaru out of a population of 14,000 was clear evidence of our apathy and indifference. For centuries people had been driven into wars like sheep because there was no public opinion.” It seems therefore that the peoples of this planet do not desire peace. If there were a sincere desire for peace, it would be reflected in the membership of societies which are working for the prevention of war. If the will to peace were a vital factor, individuals would band themselves together for the purpose of mobilising public opinion, and bringing pressure to bear upon their governments. Instead of organising for peace, we wait for the inievitable crisis—and when it comes, our peace societies are powerless. Of the million and a half people in our country, how many are willing to contribute a small sum of money or even give up a little time, as an insurance against war? If one tenth of the world’s annual amusements bill was expended in promoting peace, war would be banished. We are told that peace is an ideal, something vague and indefinite which will never be realised.

It is the purpose of “The New Commonwealth” to show that this attitude is wrong. Peace is a struggle, a fight, a campaign—a ceaseless conflict between the idea of law and the state of anarchy between the concept of justice and the crude mastery of force. It is a campaign to safeguard the existence of our countries and to secure the safety of our children. Mr Forbes, speaking at Ottawa, said that if another war broke out he expected New Zealand would act as promptly as in 1914, and there would be no necessity to call Parliament to decide what should be done. Our future, then, is bound up with England’s. If she becomes involved in a war we shall be automatically dragged in. The “New Commonwealth” offers a constructive plan for the pacification of Europe. Its fundamental principle is that a durable peace can be founded only on justice. From this starting point, two propositions are deduced. (a) That the functions of law-giver must reside in an international authority; and (b) that this authority must be endowed with the power of upholding the law.

To give concrete expression to these principles the New Commonwealth Society proposes the establishment of two international institutions as part of the machinery of the League of Nations: (1) A Tribunal in Equity, empowered to deal with all disputes threatening the peace of the world; and (2) an International Police Force, to prevent aggression from within or without the circle of the League, and to uphold the decisions of the international authority. The society aims at mobilising public opinion in every country in support of these two practical objectives. It is clear, however, that it cannot undertake the enormous task unless it is generously supported, morally and financially by all those people of good will who earnestly desire to save our civilisation from annihilation.—l am, etc., NEW COMMONWEALTH, Timaru, May 1.