THOSE HUMAN RIGHTS

Chronicle (Levin), 19 February 1949, Page 5

THOSE HUMAN RIGHTS

Press ^.ssociatinn)

World State Ideal May Yet

(Per

"WELLINGTON, Feb. 18. . During the discussion on the Charter of Ilumgiii liights in the United N ations, eertain countries that had adopted communism proposed that the Qharter shonld embody the right of Governmeiits to suppress those who differed from them, even to the extent of obliteration,. This was stated by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) this morning, at the opening of the Dominion Conference of the United Nations Association. Mr. Fraser added that when the delegates of the democrat'ic countries recovered from the shoeh" and horror of realisation of what had been .put for ward, they would not give it a moment's countenance. The extraordinary part of it was that the proposal, although it would nave meant extinction of hUman freedom, Was put forward juite calmly by

the Communist countries. This cleavage of opinion was one of the dangers to the world. The aim of the democratic countries was not to suppress spiritual and inteilectual individuality, but to develop it. "It is difiicult to see° how these differing conceptions of human freedom can ever be reconciied, ' ' added the Prime Minister, ' ' but I do not want to say matters are hopeless." The Charter of the United Nation!was launched with the highest hopes, though many at the time saw- the dangers of the veto. It was not possible at present to proceed along tnc way towards world peace through the Charter, although many excellent things had been achieved. In the Western Powers he had not seen the slightest wish for aggression or war. ' ' Ou the other hand," added i\Ir. Fraser, "some of the representatives of. the Eastern Powers are just as nice people as ourselves, and some of them are very brilliant. Some of the'm have good intentions, and I am sure that if it were not for a complete misconception on their part of the ideals of democracy, world peace could be assured."

Ninety per cent. of the people ot Berlin wanted the West to proteet them, but if it were not for the Western Union and the Atlantic Pact u e might now be seeing the last gasps of western continental Europe, as distinet from Europe including Britain. "The danger of war has not been eliminated, ' ' Mr. Fraser added;1"" b'tit an equilibrium has heen established. It may he an uneasy one, but it gives the world breathing space. The United States and the United Kingdom have hatred towarcls no^e. Ultimately, they want the World State. As Mr. Bevm had said 'Out of these very regionai structures we may now turn. . There may yet grow that world government for whieh humanity yearns.' "I do not think that any statesman of any country at present wants war,' said Mr. Fraser. ' ' Everybody 'protests that he wants peace,. but even with the protests on their lips, it would be possible for nations to drift into war." He added that the cause of world peace could best be advanced by everyone working for it through such organisa tions as the United Nations Association. "Our Government," he added, "will not hestitate to spealc out against anything that it mav think is persecution or tyranny, East or Wrest, whether in Hungary or Spain, or any other part of the world. If we think injustice is perpetrated, our voice will ring out quite dearly throughout the world, even though *we have uot a large country or population. ' '