WHITHER BOUND HUMANITY?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 13, 9 October 1945, Page 4

WHITHER BOUND HUMANITY?

A UNIVERSAL chorus of bitter condemnation greets the complete breakdown of the meeting of Foreign Ministers in London. The war-sick world looked for something better than the petty personalities which were apparently indulged in by men who to all intents and purposes were sent to confer and to effect by mutual consent a better and a stronger fabric for the international brotherhood of man. Delegates from Great Britain, China, United States, France and Russia were confided with the all-important work of giving the world a lead in understanding and in toleration. Instead of these lofty principles we have had the sorry picture ot complete deadlock and strained feelings between the v ®ry nations, which but a few short months ago were bound solidly together in the attainment of a common goal-—the overthrow of Germany and the creation of a new world order. Just where are we getting to ? It is all very well to lay the blame in one quarter. Admittedly, according to statements the Soviet Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, has chosen an aggressive role and appeared to be most uncomprismg. That however does not give our own representative the right to lose his self control, and to indulge in the petty exchanges which disgraced the council table, when there were so many vital problems to be solved. One arresting assertion by i. e Russian speaker, was to the effect that earlier inter-Allie conferences had been such profound successes because ot the presence of Mr Anthony Eden, and of Mr Cordell Hull. This is an extraordinary statement coming from the spokesman for the greatest socialistic state on earth, when addressed to the representative of the newly elected British Labour Government. It would seem almost that Russia had a deeper respect for the leaders of English Conservatism than ot the new Labour regime, which must, or should be much closer to the Soviet conception of ideal government The utter collapse and dispersal of the conference is probably without parallel, having regard to all circumstances and the outcome is far from good. The traditional antipathy ot the English peoples to the Soviet regime, which was largely overcome during the war when (he armies of the Soviet commanded the admiration of the world, has been re-awakened, and unless the rift which has been created is rapidly repaired, the present estrangement can only lead to increased misunderstanding and tension.