SMALL NATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 January 1941, Page 3

SMALL NATIONS

IN ALLIES’ NEW ORDER SUGGESTED STATEMENTS. RELATIONSHIP TO ITALY'S POSITION. I Although many thoughtful people i are writing to the newspapers suggesting'that our enemies, particularly the i Italians, should be given some clear \ picture of their future after an Allied victory, it is still unlikely that the British Government will make an early statement of precise war aims, a message from London, published in the "Sydney Morning Herald." stated.

It is more probable that an impersonal document will be drawn up. and will be issued on the joint responsibility of the British and Dominion Governments in conjunction with representatives of the Allied Governments. It is widely considered that the Allies should be ready to discuss peace, especially with Italy, with whom the matter might become of immediate relevance. It is argued that it would greatly assist British propaganda if now gave the Italians an assurance that Britain's new order was of vastly different conception from Hitler's, and that it would assure the Italians of a reasonable future as a free nation. Such assurances to Italians, it is calculated. would be a great stimulus to them to get rid of their evil leaders. It is also urged that the Allies should quickly determine whether they intend I a dictated peace, as in 1918. or a nego-, listed peace. EARLY SURVEY NEEDED. The necessity for an early survey of the whole international field and a planning of the future of the small nations is becoming more apparent since the appeal from Norway voiced by Herr Lie. the acting Norwegian For-J eign Minister in London. In a broadcast, he said: "We are aj seafaring nation, an old Atlantic; people. Our inclusion in a Continental bloc, in accordance with the German idea, would mean our economic ruin. The League of Nations aimed at establishing security and prosperity. It fail- 1 cd.

“The sort of co-operation we need is. above all. that which binds us more firmly to the Western peoples with whom we are connected by natural economic ties. Our prosperity is entirely dependent on that, and we look towards Britain and America and also the nations which have temporarily lost their independence but are looking forward to the day of liberation from the foreign yoke; also the Greece, which is winning such conspicuous victories over a much stronger enemy. • This is a mighty alliance which all freedom-loving peoples are labouring to build up and strengthen. We have learned that we cannot lake our independence for granted. If wo want to bo given influence in the now world after the war. we must do our duty and shoulder our share in war as far as our strength goes.” NEW DEMOCRACY. The first organised move to discussj with the British people the idea of an I aggressive democracy after the warj was seen in a mooting at Manchester.! which was addressed by Sir Richard, Aeland. M.P. <Liberal and Sir Charles Trevelyan, a former Labour Ml’. Sir* Richard Aeland said it was proposed' to hold a series of mootings up andj

down the country, because many people believed they would proclaim to the world that they were not fighting to restore 1 the old order, but to establish a new democracy—economic as well as political. The old order, he said, gave liberty for some at the top. but did not give liberty to the masses. 'Pho old order raised the standard of living to some

extent, but those directing it tried to organise prosperity by producing less. If the people at the top looked merely to their own interests and to power

from ownership, then the ordinary workers when asked to make greater efforts, would demand in reply' "If we work harder are we going to put more money into the pockets of someone else?'’ Therefore, argued Sir Richard Aeland, there must be common ownership of the great resources banks, railways, mines, land and key Industries —not for the usuiil reasons given by the Labour Party, but because without it we could not move forward to a new way of life, based on service, not self. That way of life was ns ditTerent fro mlhat of 1939 as free capitalism was from the feudal system. Sir Richard .Aeland forecasting an inevitable fall in the st.ar.dard of living os the war continues, aspect hov, was it possible to reduce an engineer's wage--, when shareholders in the ame factory were living .it the tide of i'. 20 a week. Tin- GoVf-rnm<-nt h<- • ..,<i should take over th<- great res-nirces ::<>w . which would make- a great mpr-w-a-t: on Continental people-., it would not, mean throwing the owners into tliej unemployment pool The owners j iJuntld bo giVi-n .i !, ■!«•! able v. ..l-t 1 landau! with full v. alien atb i ’ the war aiori;;-'do men who h:i<i Io ', eyes. arms, and legs' Sir Charte Trevelyan de'vribed the > Prime 'iLii :<-r. Mr Churchill. a- the' i. nP. great trat• m ' among <• w !<■<;.••• mid said that th- Minister fmj I.abmjr and National Service-;. Mi; Bo'.’in and the Minister fi . 11 m- S' • flinty Mr Morrison. Wire ca» aide <4 lending tin- worker In the ic.rgama- | tain of industry. BRITAIN'S O B LIC. A TIO N S. Directing attention w -> leamm: at • ■ , the Ni r : • gian broadcti ‘ The Times" point ou', '■!'•• • O'-'-'w w ■ m l!sc war. and part walariy the <i< two' ~f neutral status. Have caused deep! b.o .rt V4'”,*a-hir,e< >r all the enial! C'.m-- •. ~ . F.ur< ■"■ ?'• a '■ has a,-,--- ■ ■ • - . • , (■ - .• Phe ?> irv.'Cg .a : --a ) have no ?!W. Mt ' ' ■' I tmg to the tyranny of the "ttow ,n-.h , i . 1 / ; tv ran * ■ Ttf -opera-

lion between the free nations with which Norway is now joined in Ute common struggle lor liberty which aims at enduring and stable post-war conditions,” “The Times” adds. “No more courageous or heartening words have fallen from the representative of any small Power in the course of the present struggle.” Emphasising Britain's obligations. "The Times" says that Norway’s abandonment of her policy of isolation and neutrality can be neither negative nor unilateral. The gesture would be meaningless unless Britain plays her part in this now conception of the European order,

"Norway, and those who think with her. are offering this country the hand not only of friendship, but of partner-

ship,” it adds. 'Military alliances in the old form are obsolete, as is also the doctrine of collective security as it was preached for many years at Geneva. “The practical lessons of the last year have demonstrated that paper commitments of mutual assistance are valueless under the conditions of modern warfares, unless they involve the pooling in advance of military resources and military equipment, and above all. a common strategy, common loyalties, .and a common outlook on the world. "The British Commonwealth has given pointers towards a solution <*f this problem which is compatible with the substantial independence of the participating countries and winch involves no subordination of one partner t<> the dictatorship of another. (’ is an urgent task to find a similar solution which can be made applicable In the need'.- of .> wide: wea 11 It ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS ' Britain aiul the cotmtni's with; whom she is now associated are in Mr Churchill's famous phrase, wh.’it mixed tip together •; ->»ine >«f their .lift!;: : fol .ilt'ii mi.tOjil .it d gel. - i-r.’il advantage.’ It would not be a bad thing if tins nnxmg up sh--<u!d h ad w result.'-' a.-- bciwlwor!’. and lasting tlio-'v which. ■’■e<n likely to aecriie fr u. the cause of Anj’.l> • Arnct ieatt cMLb. - ration. N- r a die !'•' ■■link ■ ( ‘.he r« - -oui'ecs beiwßi-t un and h--i I’.ie. - w-au Allie, i iirelv witter of Ji'.;’;, ‘arv necessity "The eeoiiistnic di’Veb-.pe i-ats which are largely re’pi ms, bio l-: tii>.- o W 'i*' .(!<■* * i‘ ■ t j ! • .' ’ ■-; . . •if j '■«' ,51'U’ “Here, ' ><> the planned co-opi rat ■ winch has ah'ei'i.ly been iterun under iibandciiod .'it >■!<,.<■ it t i.in <■<■!.' ul'atb.ft With th.ee COUltil'ie ; who are Hew ih.uani: her fortum-’; <«f t war ~e<i! the lew.- <>f we Shew ■: ! ■■: " , W n p t( | j wa-y ■ f ymj .M v lay ,