Danger of Europe Being Divided Into Communist And Non-Communist Camps

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 October 1947, Page 5

Danger of Europe Being Divided Into Communist And Non-Communist Camps

(N.Z.P. A.—Reuter—Copyright.) Received 10.45 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 1 “There is imminent danger of Europe,being divided permanently into Communist and non-Communist camps, making war inevitable/’ said the Archbishop of York, Dr. Garbett, in an ad* dress to the diocese.

The difficulties of an understanding with Russia were great, but it would be fatal to regard them as insoluble. The Vatican policy of treating Russia as the chief enemy of civilisation encouraged this division.

“Catholic parties on the Continent are progressive in programmes, hut they also are a rallying ground for reactionaries, and there is a danger that on the Continent Catholicism will be identified with reaction," he said. “If so, the left in the hour of victory in every country will treat the Church, and possibly Christianity, as a political foe. Materialistic Marxian Communism, logically interpreted,, is opposed to Christianity, but it is untrue that within the Communiat State there is no room fog Christianity."

The Archbishop said the Church should firmly refuse to accept a position that Europe must be divided into opposing idealogical camps, and must hope and pray for closer friendship with the Russian Church which might also lead to a better understanding with the Soviet State and people. Dr. Garbett rejected unilateral disarmament because it invited aggression by a “bully State.” Unless Germany was soon given God’s help she would sink into poverty beyond all recovery A definite term should be set to denazification. “In making world peace our aim we must frankly admit there is no immediate prospect of it, and that statesmen must not neglect practical measures which may reduce the possibilities of war in their time,” he said.