PREVENTING WARS IN THE FUTURE

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6106, 26 September 1947, Page 4

PREVENTING WARS IN THE FUTURE

THE EDITOR’S COMMENT. '

In the course of a very informative address to those eighty people present at the Oddfellows’' Hall on Monday evening, Mr W. Norman Perry, made a number of sound observations and one that particularly impressed was the effect that if the world's supply of food could be more evenly distributed there would be less chance of war. “It is hunger that is causing unrest in the world today,” said Mr Perry. Incidentally it was to be regretted that there was not a better representation of the business people at the meeting, for of the eighty people, more than half were district residents and other representatives of companies, specially invited. Mr Perry’s message, as the result of recent direct association overseas, .is equally important and of value to the business person as it is to the producer.

Mr Perry was surely right when he made' the statement that hunger causes national unrest.- Actually there are two primary reasons for war and they are selfishness and hunger. Today mankind is engaged in an attempt to do what it has never before succeeded in doing; that is to establish and maintain a peaceful world. The Charter and the 'associated institutions of the United Nations are the

instrument by which is sought ; a

peaceful' world society. It is • known there have been unsuccessful at-

tempts in the past; but sui-ely the world is learing from experience—certainly learning the hard way. The existing United Nations 1 set-up''will only succeed if it has . the support of all the people bf the world., In the first place the attempt to deal with selfishness is through the Signed pact that wars of aggression are now a crime under international law. The axis powers were the first offenders and they are paying the penalty today. More than this, tinder the. Charter of the Nuremburg Tribunal and the Charter of the Tribunal of the Far East, the Axis leaders, who planned and led the war of aggression—and broke, the new international law—have been tried and punished. A large number have paid the full penalty. Thus selfishness to the extent of causing war—no longer pays. • . .Under the Nuremburg Charter, .we now have for the first time the beginnings of a comprehensive legal code which makes aggressive war >a crime. The gr,eat task ahead. is to develop the. United Nations in such a way that tfie nations and the peoples will succeed in maintaining and enforcing the law against war. ■

As Mr Perry so ably explained on Monday evening, one of the best ways of reducing the chances of'the law being broken is to work together with other nations through the institutions of the United, Nations; 5 to reduce and remove the basic political, economic, and social causes of war and to realise the benefits of organised international co-operation in relieving political and social tensions and in raising the standard of living —or, as Mr Ferry stated—seeing to it that the world’s food supply is more j evenly distributed. , , As already stated the task is to see that the splendid provisions of 1 the United Nations Charter are enforced. Within the Charter are all the necessary measures for enforcement, even to that of the majority of members taking collective action against anyone member violating its obligations and causing nullification. One of the big tasks ahead of the Security Council. is the control of atomic energy; but all members of the United Nations set-up are pledged and it is the responsibility s .of the Security Council, to get the member to work out a system of control. If agreement can be reached in the control of atoipic power then it can with all other weapons of war. The United Nations’ Charter can only be a success if it is backed by the peoples of the world—and there is a responsibility for every individual. Some may say: But what can I do to help? - Much can be achieved by every person endeavouring to understand his or her neighbour better; by more fully the reprer sentatives we sen<d Jtp pvftWa cpiifereuces. ‘^Vtftbe, present'time every individual cbn play a very real and direct part by doing everything possible to support the “Aid to Britain” campaign. ■ ' j' . ~V;* The ideals of the United Nations’ Charter will succeed if every individual will realise that he or. she has an equal responsibility,