Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1943. POSTWAR POLICY.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 February 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1943. POSTWAR POLICY.

JN urging that the United Nations should lose no time in getting together to shape and determine their post-war policy, the New Zealand Minister to Washington, Mr Nash, is in agreement with a ' good many others who have had opportunities for intimate and first-hand study of the problems involved. It is, in. fact, rather obvious that the continued cooperation of all peace-loving nations is essential to the establishment of international, order and security after the way, and that this co-operation must extend not only to the policing of the world against any future attempts at aggression and international brigandage, but to the treatment of trade and other economic questions, some of which are in their nature very complex and difficult. Mr Nash incidentally made a point of great importance when he observed that the progress towards self-government of the colonial dependencies of the British Empire—a progress which it is in any case the settled aim of British policy to assist and encourage in every practicable way—could be expedited if the Uniteci States accepted its share of responsibility for 1 maintaining peace and security in the post-war world. lliis consideration no doubt is now, and will be in the immediate post-war period, particularly of importance yhere India is concerned. If after the war an effective system of collective security is established and developed, the satisfaction of Indian demands for self-government will be beset by very much less serious difficulties than it is now. Apart from the fact that conflicting demands are being made by the organised Indian parties and that these parties represent only a minority of the nation, the duty obviously rests on Britain and the Empire of controlling and defending India until an end has been made of all danger of her becoming a victim and pawn of Axis aggression. Even when the war is over and India gets the virtual independence she is promised, it will be very necessary to establish safeguards against the danger of her becoming a centre of national and international disorders which might again destroy world peace. These safeguards assuredly could be established much better and more hopefully by a concert of nations, united in adherence to a system of collective security, than by any single nation. Given a firm and dependable international organisation, ready and able to deal at its inception with any new attempt at aggression, it should be possible to overcome the deadlock arising out of conflicting party demands and to clear away all other obstacles to the institution of self-govern-ment in India. At the broadest view the creation of an international organisation capable of upholding peace is indispensable it any hopeful outlook is to be opened lor humanity, and the United Nations cannot too soon apply themselves to the task of laying the foundations and building the framework of that organisation. The Atlantic Charter, which has been accepted by° all the United Nations as a basis for post-war reconstruction, is admirable as a broad statement of principles and aims, but it falls definitely short of being the practical working programme which is needed in order that when the war has been won, the peace also may be won.