Effects Of Soviet Policy On World Peace

Chronicle (Levin), 4 May 1948, Page 4

Effects Of Soviet Policy On World Peace

♦ ( After the recent war all -tlpn^ing men had looked fprward t'o a rebirth of democracy, or perri9-P$ an extejisiPh of it base4 £rie Christiap principies df goqdwill, tolerarice and Co-operfttiori, said Dr. L. J. Hunter, speaking on world peace at the ahnual reuniori of the Levin South "African War Veterans' Association on Saturday night. A veteran of two wor:u wars, Dr. Hunter dealt.vrith sofne of the aspe'cts of world events m their relation to world peace. ' • One had to say at the o.utset that man was dissatisfied and disappointed at the turn which affairs had taken. The' world found itself stepping into" the uncertainty of a new era from which all familiar landmarks hau been swept away and felt that it might even fear the future, he remarked. In current reports there was very little to quiet these fears and people were asked to read and piece together the setbacks and djfferenees ,that; had'; occurred in the meetings of riational arid., world couiicils. ' . Dr. Hunter weht on to 'quote happenings -in various. countries which had elements wlrich ! c.o.U4d lead to • war. ' These he .divided intp three pategories, Firstly,lhe' saia, there were local disturbarices which were more in the nature of lawlessness' than an attempt to overthrow governments. Secondly, there was news of outragps perpetrated by Jeys on British soldiers and Arabs, outrages which savoured pf the worst days of Hitlerisin. "Thirdly, we must read pf happenings in Security and tjnited Nations Council, at Foreig.n Minlsters' conferences, where a decision to found an'd preserve peace seems as far away as ever. We wonder why Russia opposes- anythipg that is suggested by Western nations. It is all bound up in the forces that lie behind the foreign policy Jfof that country, and the foreign policy of a country is dictated mainly by two aspects — the geographical or national aspect, which includes the size, shape and -surroundings of a territory, and the distribution pf its nakura! resources, and the stock of . belief s which those who dictate . its foreign policy hold. "The Bolsheviks think. that. their revolution in 1917 placed Russia in the vanguard Qf social thought and action, and their ^evolution is a prelude to similar revolution in other countries. As the Soviet regime prospers and strengthens so will the decreasing weakness of capitalism become more and more apparent. , They may think . that the leaders of the .capitalist world facing this prospect are eager tq attack the Soviet and forestall it, but are prevented by the clashes between capitalism and worker. This helps to explaln the ea?y complaisance with which" Russia views industrial unrest and pyen tries to further it. "This leads us to three possible outcomes. Firstly, if European capitalism, State and prlvate, bolstered by American aid, recqyers xjs Strength and virility^ iu Europe the Soviet will be isolated and driveri back to the planning of the 1920's or to war— a face-savipg "war. Secondly, ^ if Europeap capitalism should succeed in traii§forminig ; itself into some intermeaiat'e* fofrh of economy, riew and powerful enough to remain independent of both American aid and the Soirjet system, a new situation v would' be •created to which Soviet policy and idealogy must be adapted. Thirdl'y, should European capitalism fail or collapse, then the pre§tige pf Soviet policy will be enhanced. VVe find there can be no co-operatiori, so we ask ourselves is there room in the world for two such copflicting ideologies. The answer is yes, but only - if 'the Western powers are united among themselves. .. • "■ "To have even an uneasy peace," said Dr. Hunter in conclusion, "we must have uniori of those who desire peace, and must be prepared to work hard and relentlessly for it. We prosecute our owh- ideologies assimilating what is useful frpm others. Above all we must be prepared to prevent aggtes$ion, and that means we must have -forces trained and ready."