BETTER WORLD ORDER

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 257, 29 July 1942, Page 4

BETTER WORLD ORDER

Prospects Of League NATIONAL RELATIONS AFTER WAR “If at the end of the war there is the will among the peoples a way will be found to bring about a better world order,” said the High Commissioner for Canada, Dr. W. A. Riddell, at the conclusion of an address to the Wellington branch of the League of Nations Union yesterday on “Future World Order.” “We must never forget, however, that the world order which we have been contemplating is but a dream till we have won the war.” Dr. E. N. Merrington, who introduced Dr. Riddell, recalled that he had spent 18 years at Geneva as a representative of his country.

Dr. Riddell said the titanic struggle now going on between two groups of nations was for the right to determine future world order. The Axis system was based on domination by a socalled super-race, and the United Nations desired the friendly co-operation of races motivated by the desire to secure the common good of all. Unless the United Nations won the war -they could -have no part in determining world policy. Many found it difficult to think of world order apart from a league of nations. The League of Nations had undoubtedly been the most successful ■attempt to achieve world order. In some fields it had succeeded aud in others it had not been so successful. Its machinery had -been kept intact in ■the expectation that it would be the only organization able to cope with the after-war problems. Encouragement For Hope.

“The United Nations have been chary of committing themselves as to whether they contemplate using the machinery of the league after victory is won,” said Dr. Riddell. “The Atlantic Charter, which has now been signed by 28 nations, aud the recent Auglo-fSovict Treaty do afford some encouragement for hope. No definite proposal is made in the Atlantic Charter for a league or society of nations, ■as was made by Wilson in his Fourteenth Point when he spoke of ‘a society of nations which was to be established to guarantee the political independence and territorial integrity of nations.’ There does, however, seem -to te ground for belief that some form of world organization is contemplated. •For the last of the eight points of the Atlantic Charter refers to the establishment of a ‘wider and more .permanent society of general security.’ It is difficult for many of us to contemplate any permanent general security which would not lie based on some form of collective organization.” The recent statement of the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, in the House of Commons might also be taken to indicate that the parties to the Anglo-Soviet Treaty thought such an organization was within the realm of possibility, for in referring to the duration of the treaty he had stated that it would remain in force till the contracting parties by mutual agreement recognized that it was superseded by the adoption of proposals for “a long-term system of international security which the treaty contemplates as its goal.” If that goal was not achieved it was only then that the treaty would remain in force for twenty years and thereafter till it was terminated by either party. On the other hand, it might also be inferred that a definite period had been fixed because of doubts, slight perhaps, but doubts, that such a system of international security would be set up. Mo?t Reassuring Statement. “The recent statement by the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, is much more definite,” he said. “It is the clearest and most reassuring statement, in fact, that has been made regarding the international organization after the war.” He had spoken of the adjustment of international armaments in such a manner that the rule of law could not be challenged while the burden of armaments was reduced to a minimum, and had said it was plain there would have to be an international court of justice. Here was a most important recognition of the two essential organs of the collective system. Asking if it was possible to speculate on the form international organization would take after the war, Dr. Riddell said flic first three points of the Atlantic Charter did not conflict with tlie Covenant of the League of Nations, but that points 4,5, aud 6, went far beyond the Covenant when they stated that the nations pledged themselves to economic collaboration for improved economic standards, economic advancement and social security for all and to give assurance of freedom from fear and want. They were of new and great significance for the peace of the world. They had been advocated before, but never accepted before as national policy by 28 governments which had behind them at least four-fifths of the population of the world and probably as much of its wealth.

It was true that the Atlantic Charter should not, be taken too literally, and some said that its points were intended as battle cries, but even if that were partly true it was not likely to prevent the attempt being made to give the vision reality.