Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1943. A CHALLENGING DECLARATION.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1943. A CHALLENGING DECLARATION.

as it was by an almost puritanical, simplicity and by what has been called fairly a mathematical precision of statement, President Roosevelt’s first address to the 78th Congress of the United States was a commanding utterance. It is well worthy of being preserved in textual entirety as a standard by 'which to measure the upward or gress of the world in the years that lie ahead—not only in the remaining period of the war, but in the time that follows.

The President’s address was challenging first and foremost in its grim assurance of the impending overthrow of the evil forces of the Axis—in Europe; Africa and the Pacific. That assurance finds its full justification not only in the expanding material strength of the United Nations and the declining power of their enemies, but still more in the spiritual strength of the free nations as against the moral debasement, and bankruptcy of the totalitarian gangsters and those who meantime follow their lead. It is not in doubt that in this war, sooner or later, the enemies of humanity will, be struck down and. there are excellent' grounds for accepting and sharing Mr Roosevelt’s belief that the year now opened will see a very substantial advance by the United Nations along the roads that lead to Berlin, Rome and Tokio.-

In challenging those who have sought to cast humanity back into, a new dark age, however, President'-Roosevelt sounded a note of challenge also to that great proportion of humanity which has rallied, in defence of justice and freedom. Though the winning of the war will call still for tremendous effort and for bitter sacrifice, the ultimately overshadowing problem by which the free nations, and nations determined to be free, are confronted is that of achieving what Mr Roosevelt called a decent and a durable peace. It would be, as the President declared, sacrilegious if the efforts, sufferings arid sacrifices of this war did not lead to real and lasting good in the establishment of a better and nobler future for humanity.

The quality of the United Nations will be put decisively to the test when it is seen whether they are capable of remaining united to maintain peace, when it has been established. Our own nation and all which espouse worthy ideals of human progress may accept without reservation Mr Roosevelt’s affirmation: “We fight to retain a great past and we fight to gain a greater future.” The gaining of that future, when the war has been won, will depend primarily on the ability of the United Nations to hold loyally to one another in an international organisation capable of dealing promptly and drastically, at its inception, with any renewed attempt at predatory aggression.

More than this is demanded, however, in order that a better future may be opened for humanity. The ultimate hope is in the establishment of the four freedoms—freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom from want and freedom from fear. It is by a progressive elevation of ethical and social Standards, in the internal life of nations and in the relationship of nation with nation, if at all, that mankind will attain the blessings of security and of a decent and durable peace. It is one elementary but vital condition of a better future, as President Roosevelt rightly insisted, that no one able and willing to work shall be denied the opportunity of doing so.