UNITED NATION'S AIMS

Chronicle (Levin), 1 March 1947, Page 4

UNITED NATION'S AIMS

Faith and Comromise, Keynote n ' I M0VE TO FORMTEVIN BRANCH OF ASSOCIATION With a view to forming a branch in Levin, the Dominion Organiserof the United Natipns Association of New Zealand, Mr. Anthony Vogt, on Thursday evening addressed a group of interested persons and representatives of public bodies in Levin. . After outlining the aims of UNQ and the reason for the failure of its predecessor, the "Eeague of Nations," it was agreed by those present that the association in New Zealand should receive the fullest co-operation of all thinlfing men and women, and that an endeavour should be made to form a branch in Levin. The principle of the United ~7ations was the formation of one world, said Mr. Vogt. This was no new ideal,, The League of Nations had had the same thing in mjnd, o also had Hitler in his particular way, which was the "jamming of Ihe idea down our throats with bayonets." Hitler had made a point of understanding mass psychology and had operated on ihe system of repeating lies until the people came to accept them as fact. Democracy had still to discover that the continual repetitiou of the truth "would have the samo effect. It had beeh proved that people could live together arnicably though they shared differences in opinions such as religion. In some instances this was brought about by compulsion but later, more by good Government. The concept of the Loague oi Nations was still new. So new that some of the people who were behind it are statesmen who are now working on the United Nations Organisation.

When commenting on the League of Nations, Mr. Vogt said that though its most important task was keeping the peace, it had many successes in other fields. These did not get publicity and were inclined to be overlooked by many .who were quick to criticise. "Many good, solid, worthy and progressive moves had been made. such as the quiet work that eventually put down the slave traffic, the suppression of the drug traffic, and amicable discussions on questions of labour. These facts had never hit the headlines, said Mr. Vogt. "People are far more likely to take notice of things sensational. It is the nature of people to be tickled bv the s.ensation of the unusual." it weuld however, be idle to say that because of certqin achievements the League had been a success, continued Mr. Vogt. it had failed in its most imporant fuhction, that of keeping the peace. That failure was due principallv to the fact that there had been a considerable number of defaulters who did not maintain allegiancs and* it was not representative of the ! greater proportion of the nations! of the world. There was also no real support of the people's pressure groups. Had there been 50 or 100 behind them these tiny groups could have made the League stable by bringing more states in. The importance of individuals was not generally realised'. Even in local politics the fact that a government toppled or did not topple. rested with the individuals. Therx was also an indifference among groups of people who could sway public opinion.- The general assembly of the League of Nations had a job that was all embracing and altogether too vague. There were no specific duties. The League had power'to judge but not to enforce judgment. The court was there but the police were absent, continued Mr. Vogt. • In the eyes of many people the League was a failure and for the same reasons the United Nations Organisation would also t'ail. In contradietion to this view were the facts that there was now a bloc of oowers so strong that they could. by holdinfe together, be a buffer which would make it impossible for any nation to start a major war. The future success of UNO decided largely on the people themselves. They would have to be edulated up to these factors. Faith in he organisation was a necesjsity and for this reason the old fallacy ihat there had always beeh wars and always would be must be disoelled. One man had actually told ! him that he hoped there would be another war in five" years as only 'hrough wars did people shovv virility. In fairness to New Zealand. •9 id Mr. Vogt, it must be pointed out that *this man. though" he claimed to belong to this country. had spent most of his years in the East. Mr. Vogt added that the mere fact that next time there might not be anyhing left, was a deter"ent to most warlike, nations. The- Security Council of the United Nations cjiffered from ihe' League in that it had the backing of combined military and economic powers of countries pledged to use force if necessary. It could demand hat disputes be brought before it •fcr arbitration. Two nations, not necessgrily memberg, could be forced to refrain from going to war Such powers as these had nevbr before been held. These forces of the United Nation were direpted by a general staif comprised of th'e chiefs of staff of the fiye major nowers. The principies of the'charter could thus be applied globallv. These powers . were not generally realised. Compromise and faith was the keynote. Though admittedly the power of veto might len.d itself to abuse, he could not imagine "fivd nations who had lost most in the past war, not working tpgetheF to effect a lasting peace. In view of the present set up of the league, no - *

nation would risk another war over trivialities. Many disruptancies in the world were due to a low standard of . liyLng, and the raising of these standards was one of the first considerations of the organisation, said Mr. Vogt. "Just as now war is globgl, so also can peace be global, but it must be realised that we in a country such as New Zealand, with our high standard of living, are* not safe when within 20 to 50 hours by pla'ne ohere are people existing on a considerably lower standard." The League of Nations had been striving for this elevation of social and economic standard, and had' accumulated much documentary evidence which was now being used by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations Organisation. Already there was talk of a world bank. Seed and machinery was being distributed to those least advanced countries and was being spent and " would continue to pe spent to send the best brains arid scientific personnel to use them. Food was being shlpped globally under the direction of the council and all possible machinery was being set in motion to make us globally safe by making us globally prosperous. A tremendous information service was being set up so 'hat the people would corrie to a better understanding of the organisation's aims and results. Following a compleie review of the functions and organisation of UNO, Mr. Vogt appealed to those present to give the matter thought and see what could be done to interest the people of Levin in the work of the New Zealand Association, which had the goodwill of the "Prime Minister. Mr. Fraser, and the Government, -besides the person, ari backing of many cabinet ministers, members of Parliament, and the Church. When thanking Mr. Vogt for his address, the Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, said he was sure that tjie association would receive the backing of the people of Levin. He persqnally was very interested in UNO, and many organisations in this tpwn. sucji as ihe Jijnior Chamber of Commerce and Rotary, had already pledged themseiyes to support it to the full. He requested that Mr. Vogt make a return visit and" meanwhile muph would be done to nublicise the sugge^tion tha€ a branch be formed. Other speak^s v/ere the presidept -vf the Levin Rotary Club, Mr. E. R. Winkler. . and the president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Mr. D. J. Sweetzer.