NEW ZEALAND’S FOREIGN POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 22455, 28 September 1936, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND’S FOREIGN POLICY

ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE RAILWAY W.E.A. GLASS The lecture at the Railway W.E.A. class on Sunday afternoon took the form of a round-table conference oh the foreign policy of New Zealand. Five speakers took part in the discussion, each placing before the class what he considered to be the solution which would provide the greatest amount of security for this country. The first speaker, supporting a policy of collective security through the League of Nations, applauded the policy of the Government in asking for a strengthening of the League Covenant, and suggesting that an international police force under the control of the League should be instituted. After enlarging on the peculiar position of New Zealand geographically with regard to defence, he suggested that only when we had a system of collective security in operation right throughout the world could we afford to feel safe. There were several ways in which the League Covenant could be made more effective, and each oi these was.mehtioned in turn. By advocating reform of the League orNations the New Zealand Government ' was adopting a so pod policy for the future safety of this Dominion. . The second speaker, in support of the Imperialist attitude, .quoted as typical of the viewpoint of the Imperialist, a • verse from scripture: “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, 1 have a goodly heritage” (Psalm xvi., verse 6). Ihe members of the British Commonwealth of Nations could well say that they had . “* goodly heritage,” which had been handed down tol them by their predecessors, and , which had taken centuries of initiative, sacrifice, and endeavour to build. The civilising influence of the British Empire had been one of the most important factors in modern history. It still was the most powerful insurance for world peace that existed, and it was the duty of every British-born man or woman to endeavour to preserve this heritage. To' do this we must formulate and adopt a policy of effective armaments to defend our liberty and our Empire. The third speaker, advocating a policy of increased expenditure on defence, and compulsory training in defence measures, drew attention to the dependency of New Zealand on Great Britain, upon whose Navy the safety of this country was entirely dependant As a unit of the British Empire, she . had been able to develop her demo- ■ mocracy as she. could not otherwise have done, and she should therefore provide adequate means to assist the Slother Country in the defence of this Empire. The speaker further outlined the special advantages to be derived by this country through the promotion of a powerful air force,' and concluded with the warning that, although there were inequalities and anomalies in our present form of democracy, yet it behoved us all to at least “hold on to what we have.” - The next speaker, in support of the Pacifist policy of total disarmament, quoted as the watchword of the true pacifist, “ God defend New Zealand.” If the ethics of true Christianity were applied to our everyday lives then these words could constitute the best defence of bur country. What was required to-day. was increased friendship between the peoples of every nation, and a kindling of the spirit of cooperation amongst the peoples. New Zealand could do her share to help this by carrying out peaceful propaganda, in foreign countries, and assisting trade with these countries, all with a view to , promoting closer friendship. This policy would cost less and be more effective than a strong defence policy. The final speaker, in outlining the ' policy of the movement against war and'Fascism, stated that it was not now commonly believed that war could be averted merely by _ Governrents. Prevention of war lay in the hands of the people, although the Governments could do their share by the' organisation- of effective collective security. In the interests of international peace, New Zealand’s foreign policy should embody the following points;— Firstly, we should endeavour to alter Britain’s present policy of supporting Hitler and Mussolini, who to-day provide the most obvious menace to world peace. Secondly, every effort should be made to strengthen the League ■ Covenant. Thirdly, full support should be given to the Soviet peace policy, as has been given by most other small countries; and, fourthjy, every attempt should he made to bring about ■ a pact between Britain and Russia similar to that between France and Russia. „ , The class tutor read to the members a very interesting and instructive letter from the Hon. W. Dbwnie Stewart upon this subject, and also briefly outlined advantages to be gained through an: alliance between New Zealand and the United States, a policy which was becoming more favourably viewed recently. . It seemed that what security could he obtained by war-like •means could best be obtained through an alliance with our American cousins. The remaining hour was occupied with interesting discussion.