A UNITED STATES OF EUROPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 68, 21 March 1940, Page 5

A UNITED STATES OF EUROPE

LORD CECIL SPEAKS ON PEACE AIMS LEAGUE OF NATIONS NEARLY SUCCEEDED L British Officia’ Wlreiew. I RUGBY, March 19. In a broadcast, Lord Cecil, president of the League of Nations Union, recalled that for the last 25 years his sole interest in public affairs had been work for peace. After reviewing the Nazi history of aggression in Europe, which had brought about the present conflict, Lord Cech said that for many years past the Prussian rulers had been guided by the doctrine that whatever Germany did was right, and they had maintained that obedience to the German State took the place of all morality. “In the end,” he continued, “worship of the State means the worship of force. The question thus raised is vital for the future of us all. Is force and nothing else to govern relations between States? If it is so that means international anarchy. “Surely,” he added, “we must carry on and finish the attempt begun at

the end of last war to create a mor reasonable system of Internationa life. There is no overwhelming diffi culty in providing machinery whicl will secure the supremacy of lax among nations as among men, if w( really mean to do it. It is not a simple matter, but certainly with faith anc a single-minded effort it can be done Indeed, it has already been done ir several parts of the world. Barger Unities He instanced how a few centurie.* ago Britain, France, Germany, Itah and Spain were split up into a num ber of warring State’s, but now wen united into larger unities. “Step by step we must do the same for Europe,” he said. “The Eeagut of Nations was the first attempt, anc it very nearly succeeded. The cause: for its non-success must be sough out and remedied, and a start shouk be made to build again a Europeai United States. “That is our goal, which we car reach if we are really in earnest foi peace. The first step is to stop ag gressive war. That is why we arc now at war, and never Tad a nation e nobler cause for which to fight. “When it is over, we must recon struct an international organisatioi for peace on the basis of the prin ciple that aggressive war is an inter national crime which it is alike th< interest and duty of decent nation, to extirpate with all their strength.”