EFFORTS FOR PEACE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1939, Page 6

EFFORTS FOR PEACE.

r ELL as llicy are enl il led, on their own merits ;in<l on I In* facts of the world position, Io command universal support, il seems unlikely that I lie peace appeals put forward by the Pope and by President Roosevelt have the slightest prospect of serving their intended purpose. Any hope of general war being averted presumably must depend largely on the extent to which aggressors, pariicidarly the German dictatorship, are capable of being influenced by considerations of prudence. Should Poland, in the circumstances by which she. is now faced, elect to accept imposed terms rather than light, a temporary respite might be gained, but the problem of bringing aggressors io order would in no way be solved. Moral appeals like those of the Pope and President Roosevelt certainly will carry no weight with dictatorships which disown morality in their outlook and policy and acknowledge no other authority I han t hat of force. So far as the t’nited States is concerned, the position might have worn another aspect had President Roosevelt been able Io speak’ as flic head of a united nation prepared Io take positive action—even in “measures short of war”—in upholding the cause of freedom. In its recent treatment of international issues and part icidarly in its refusal to amend the existing neutrality law. Congress, however, has gone far to make (lie international influence of the United Stales for the lime being a minus quantity, and correspondingly to reduce Hie President Io helplessness. As the “Xew fork 'rimes” has been prompt to recognise, the dramatic changes that have occurred in the European situation are of great moment to the United Stales. With Russia mH and with the possibility that she may even support the Germans with supplies, it observes, our relation to the conflict is materially and morally changed. At last there is a democratic front. Sham fronts are down and the anti-democratic systems arc on one side and the democracies on the other. Inevitably we are more deeply engaged in the conflict. Not only will pressure on the United States be increased, but its responsibility will be greater with Russia definitely out. The Powers opposing Germany will be more dependent on this country if war comes, and we will be the only important source of supplies. This is really what the American people are forced to face in this crucial hour. American interests as well as American sympathies with the democracies are involved. The people of the Un iI ml Stales could not stand by and see the European democracies perhaps defeated or fatally weakened without running the risk of inviting the same fate for 1 hemselves. If American public opinion had already developed and hardened on these lines, the President would have been strengthened enormously in his efforts for peace. At the moment, however, there is a rather obvious danger that the development of Amerieiiti opinion may be outpaced by events in Europe.