TROUBLOUS TIMES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20489, 7 March 1932, Page 8

TROUBLOUS TIMES.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF NEW ZEALAND. REVIEW BY BISHOP WESTWATSON. "We in New Zealand must not let our domestic worries prevent us from realising that we have a definite and growing responsibility in International affairs, and must not" shirk it," says Bishop West-Watson, in the "Churchy Nows." Reviewing tho troubles which beset the world in tho first quarter of tho new year, Bishop West-Watson says. "Hero wo are at grips with 1932, which promises to bo a tough morsel to digest. The situation reminds me somewhat of tho war days. We all hoped that the war would be over, in a few months or a year, but it lengthened out and the struggle grew grimmer and grimmer. We began almost to forget tho days when there hadn't been a war, and to expect to do without things. Wo joked about the German word 'ersatz,' and got a good deal of amusement, as well as discomfort, out of 'substitutes.' And as the wives of employer and employed rubbed shoulders in a margarine queue, whilft their husbands rubbed shoulders' in a Service Battalion, there grew up a fine fellowship, because we were all thinking along ( the same lines with similar troubles and a common dread of the telegraph messenger. "To-day in New Zealand, we are facing a longer trial than we expected, but the surprise of it is passing off, and we are accommodating ourselves to the situation. The fact that we are all facing a common problem must surely draw us together. We shall have to tap reserves of courage and faith. "I think we shall be able to ask ourselves what really is God's plan for New Zealand in the family of nations, and what i? the service we should aim at rendering to otherß. We must not let our domestic worries prevent us from realising that we have a definite and growing responsibility in international affairs, and must not shirk it. As a new country we have a.splendid chance of showing how, free from old prejudices and enmities, a new era in international thinking may be faced. Few countries are so free as we arc to understand and sympathise and to be a healthful influence. The Trouble In the East. "It is just the pathos of this troublt between China and Japan that its roots seem to go back and back into past history. On the face of it Japan's | action and attitude seem unjustifiable, j But I suppose that ,the Chinese resentment of former defeat and boycott of Japanese goods have had their fleet. And when one realises that in Japan ■ there are 400 people to the square mile, and the population increases by 700,000 a year, the desperation of her leaders is understandable. She is hemmed in by countries, which, whatever they may profess are really unfriendly, and do not want her people as immigrants. "There are only 300,000 Japanese living in the countries round the Pacific. The figures quoted are froip. Jerusalem Missionary Conference report, vol. Y., published 4928. What is a country to do when its population overflows? Is "ft not just here that a League of Nations might give help and try to find an outlet for the extra millions in : some sparsely populated country! This would raise new problems, I know, but, if we shirk them, the alternative seems to be war. The' difference of culture and outlook and standards of life seems to threaten the peace and stability of countries of the Western tradition, should a large immigration take place. A Christian may be forgiven for suggesting that where the one Gospel of Christ is preached and the dignity and importance of the individual is realised, standards tend to approximate. The- message of the Christian missionary should be the greatest unifying and simplifying influence in our tangled and divided woild. ,A Prayer for Peace. "We pray for peace.' We hope the League of Nations will be able to reconcile the combatants. But Japan is rather like an overheated boiler without a safety-valve. Commonsense should tell the nations that they ought»to find a' safety-valve if Japan is not to resort ,to 'direct action.' At the same time, one can feel for, China, which is experiencing the rising tide of nationality and striving to put 'her house in order. The nations cannot stand by and see her unfairly treated. We ourselves are ashamed of our 'opium' wars, and owe reparation to China. We must pray, not only for an accommodation of the present strife, but also for s£me "arrangement which may be to the benefit of both nations and do • away with the soreness of old grievances if possible. It is a tragic problem, and touches all Pacific nations very < pearly. "There are some "who think that the present strife makes the Disarmament Conference seem rather a farce. On the other hand it might be argued that the imminent danger of war with its ruin of lives and ruin of. property may act as a spur to the delegates to act promptly and act decisively. The conference seems to have opened satisfactorily. We organised a . combined meeting for prayer in the Cathedral for some of the opening days. We must watch the progress of events, and remember daily to pray for the delegates and their work. In this way we may become honorary but very active members of the conference."