Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1942. AFTER-WAR CO-OPERATION.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 May 1942, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1942. AFTER-WAR CO-OPERATION.

AS an extremely astute political tactician, l\lr Wendell

AVillkie no doubt is wise in declaring to his fount rymen, as lie has done, constantly and tirelessly, and did again the other day, that, after this war:

We must use the full force of our influence and enlightenment as a nation to establish continuing agencies by which we may develop a new world which will be worth the sacrifice we have made for it.

It is certainly true that when the ordeals and horrors of war have given place to peace, the world of free men will need all the light and leading it can get from the United Stales. It is just as true, however, and cannot be grasped or understood too clearly, that the continuing security and welfare of the United States, as much as that of any other nation, will be dependent absolutely henceforth on the effective establishment and enforcement of principles of international co-operation.

At present the Uniled States is assisting on a scale and on terms of unparalleled generosity all the nations that are withstanding in arms the evil forces of Axis gangsterdom. 'l’his help is not, being given, however, only or solely from an altruistic standpoint. As President J’oosevelt, l\lr Willkie and other leading Americans have proclaimed freely, the United States is as definitely fighting for life and for all that makes life worth living as are any of lhe nations with which it is allied or associated in lhe Avar.

This has its full bearing on the position that will arise when the war is over. The fact has to be faced that a considerable proportion of the American people have abandoned the policy of isolation reluctantly and that many of them would be glad to revert, to that policy if under it they could hope to enjoy security and prosperity. At present, both political parties in the United States are agreed ill repudiating isolationism. The National Committee of the Republican Party, not long ago, passed resolutions rejecting appeasement, or any attempt, to compromise with the Axis gangsters, favouring world co-operation after the Avar, and calling for the prosecution of the Avar till victory is attained.

The best reason for hoping that this outlook and attitude Avill continue to dominate and determine the policy of lhe United States is that it has been, demonstrated conclusively that isolationism, as one American commentator put it recently, Avill not Avork. It is sufficiently obvious that any Aveakening in face of Axis aggression Avould be disastrous. It must be hoped that it Avill be equally evident to the people of the United States and to those of other free and peace-loving nations, after the Avar, that failure to take common action against any recurrence of aggression Avould invite final, disaster.

When the Axis has been overthroAvn, the primary condition of assured peace Avill be the establishment of a. broad-based international organisation Avhich will not be a debating society, but an authority empoAvered and ready to take instant punitive action against aggression in its incipient stages, Avherever it may be attempted. The establishment and enforcement of a reign of IaAV is the all-important foundation on Avhich every hope of the elevation of national and international life and of the extension of enlightened co-operation in economic and other spheres must be based. Accurately perceived and acted upon, these truth must as definitely make an end of isolationism in the United States as in any other nation that is or desires to be free.