INTERNATIONAL PEACE

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17884, 3 December 1929, Page 9

INTERNATIONAL PEACE

MR ZIMAICS VIEWS.

LECTURE AT IMORRSWSVILLE,

In response to the invitation of the Morrinsville branch of the Farmers’ Union and the Morrinsville Chamber of Commerce a representative gathering was held in the Masonio Hail, Morrinsville, to hear Mr S- N. Ziman’s lecture on “International Peace."

The Mayor, Mr W. McPherson, occupied the chair. Mr Ziman said he could think of nothing more important than International Peace. Ancient warfare was only a gaime as it were, carried out according to rules, but now there were no restrictions. Aeroplanes were at first complained of as being against the rules; now there were no limits to the means of destruction- Every man now had to bear arms. At present there *\vere some exempted, but in the next war there would be few exceptions—all would be conscripted. There was a chance to prevent it, and it lay in their own hands to do so- It was a matter for the people to settle. They could make war and could also make peace- Tradition takes a long time to die. War used to be considered a glorious thing, but ideas were now changing. Many had had experience of its miseries 'and uselessness, and ■they must try and tcac-h the younger generation to have the same horror of war as they had. Three rules were necessary to attain this object—public opinion, co-operation of otiier nations, and the League of NationsThe League of Natrons ten years ago took shape amongst the hate and distrust of war. It was a winder it had survived, but it had- The basis of the League of Nations was the power of mutual agreement. The will to peace was the result of a change ■in the idea of the people, which could not only prevent war but secure a permanent peace. Goodwill was what was wanted on both sides. Without goodwill nothing would ensure national peace- In ten years the League -of Nations had strengthened the will for peace and made it a real thing. As an illustration of what the League could do, in eight cases they had stopped war between nations, and it was impossible •to say how often they had prevented it. No two nations that belonged to the League had ever gone to war. One of its best works was its conversion of .sceptics. Many had gone to the League thinking it was no good, and had come hack convinced of its usefulness. The great difficulty was the absence of America and Russia, but he thought that they would be bound ultimately to come in. The attitude of mind of a nation was a great power, and the change that had already taken place was a great item- There was a slight danger to the League of Nations. People might say- it was going on all right and they need not trouble, but this was not right. They must all contrive to take a keen interest in it, for it was their only hope of salvation. If they let war continue they would ruin civilisation.

Mr Z-iman answered a number of questions, and a vote of thanks for his very interesting address was carried by acclamation.