Wirarapa Times-Age MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1940. A BASIS FOR PEACE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 February 1940, Page 4

Wirarapa Times-Age MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1940. A BASIS FOR PEACE.

WHETHER the United States is likely to make an effective contribution to the re-establishment of world peace has yet to appear. Against the careful but persistent efforts to that end which are being made by President Roosevelt and bv his Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, it has to be considered that Mr Roosevelt has entered on what will, in ordinary circumstances, be his final year of office and that before long the country will be. in the throes of a Presidential election. It is possible, but at present can hardly he considered probable, that international affairs may assume such a commanding importance as to overshadow for the time being domestic political issues in the United States. It seems rather more likely that if Mr Roosevelt is to play the peacemaking part on which he is reported to be intent, he must do so in the capacity of a President about to retire from office. Cablegrams on Saturday reported two important developments in what may be called the peace programme of the United States. The Assistant. Secretary of State, Mr Sumner Welles, is being sent to Europe to survey personally conditions in Italy, Germany, Britain and France in order that he may advise the President'and Secretary of State on these conditions. _ At the same time. Mr Hull has announced that “conversations have begun with several neutral States with a view to the eventual restoration of world peace on a sound and lasting basis,” and has announced that, these conversations will probably be broadened to include all neutrals. It is emphasised by the American Secretary ol State that there is no thought meantime of advancing a peace plan or plans, bnl that, the conversations “are in the nature ol preliminary inquiries relating to a. sound international economic system and a simultaneous world-wide reduction in armaments.'’ With what has gone before, these developments, if they are lor the moment somewhat inconclusive, at least imply a more or less purposeful departure from the traditional American policy of isolation. It will be remembered, for instance, that al. the end of last year President Roosevelt appointed a Protestant layman, Mr Myron C. Taylor, as his personal, representative at the Vatican.' In that action, it has been said, the President is calling on “all churches of the world -which believe in a common God” to pool their influence and efforts in preparation for the peace that is to come. Mr Roosevelt believes also, it is stated, that the Pope will be looked to in Europe as a welcome and influential peace mediator because of the Roman Catholic populations of many of the countries most concerned. While the primary condition of peace, from the standpoint of the Allied nations, is as it has been the overthrow of Hitlerism and abandonment of the policies for which it stands, it goes without saying that the action nolw taken by Ihe American Government will be welcomed.' Nothing better can be desired than that the United States should interest itself to the fullest extent, in peace problems and in the ultimate objectives indicated by Mr Hull—a sound international economic system and a simultaneous world-wide reduction in armaments. 1 . Much must depend, in the years that lie ahead, upon whether the United States is more inclined now than she was in 1919 to enter into a positive association with other peaceful nations in upholding international law and withstanding aggression. The refusal of American co-operation with other nations in the vital period following on the Great War settlement probably .was the principal factor accounting for the eventual collapse of that, settlement. It is possible that the way is now being opened to a. much more hopeful development of international co-operation, in which the United States will participate with benefit to its own people and those of other nations. In any case, it certainly is desirable that, neutral opinion should be mobilised and organised on the lines proposed by the American State Department. As their shipping and other losses bear witness, the interest of" neutral nations in the “restoration of world peace on a sound and lasting basis” is far enough from being merely academic. For neutral States as well as for those that have taken arms against aggression, it is becoming more and more a matter of life and death that means should be found of putting an cud to international brigandage and rapine. The more the neutral nations apply themselves to a methodical examination of the effects of totalitarian aggression and of the problem of establishing secure peace, the more they must be expected to find themselves in sympathy with the Allies in their effort to uphold and enforce principles of justice in the international sphere. “STRUGGLE FOR BETTER TEETH.” Llea propounded by the president, of the New Zealand Dental Association (Professor -J. R. Burt), that a society should be established to assist in the struggle for better teeth, is one. which a great many people may be inclined to look upon with sympathy. In. the, experience and great continuing achievement of the Plunket Society there is an impressive and encouraging precedent for the action suggested by Professor Burt. This country evidently cannot afford to be content, with a.‘ state of affairs in which dental disease is' still rampant, in spite of the efforts of the dental profession, the work of the dental clinics and various other agencies whose activities might be supposed to be making for good all-round health. It is encouraging to hear from Professor Burl that the technological era in which there was a belief in the infallibility of operative dental procedures has given place to a biological concept, while sociological and physiological factors hitherto little explored are claiming increased attention. A wider vision (Professor Burt stated) is required and it seems that if any real progress is to be made the whole problem must be considered in the light of a social problem, and must be approached from a standpoint of economics, ethnology, food habits and occupation pursuits. As a plea for research and for an organised and sustained community effort to build up better standards of dental health, this no doubt must carry all possible weight. From the standpoint of the layman, however, it may be suggested that other aspects of the problem will be simplified very considerably as soon as really assured information is available in regard to the conditions in which dental health is possible. Admirable operative dental treatment is and long has been available in this country, but our general standards of dental health appear to compare badly with those of countries whose living standards might, bo supposed to rale as inferior to those of New Zealand. There are some grounds for supposing, 100, that the teeth of young Nriw Zealanders compare badly on the whole with those of their parents and grandparents. Certainly cases of a distressing failure of teeth in children and young people are very numerous. There must be many parents in this country who have made every endeavour, in the rearing of their children, to apply the best, advice obtainable where dental hygiene and health are concerned and yet have had the mortification of seeing these children develop more or less serious denial defects. Some undoubtedly able and highly qualified dentists have confessed themselves completely puzzled in instances of this kind.

Excellent reasons appear for building up the community organisation advocated by Professor Pint, and in the extent Io which an assured and confident lead can be given in promoting dental health, there should be no difficulty in enlisting and mobilising strong public support.