Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1943. A CASE FOR CONCILIATION.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 May 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1943. A CASE FOR CONCILIATION.

AT the moment prospects of settling the disagreement between Russia and Poland do not look bright, but it may be taken for granted that other members of the United Nations group—particularly Britain and the United States—will exert themselves to the utmost to bring it to a settlement as soon as possible. The details in dispute no doubt must be settled by the two nations immediately concerned, but it is supremely important to all the nations ranged against Axis gangsterdom that no dispute should be allowed to impair or undermine their unity. The break in Russo-Polish relations is gratifying only to the Nazis and their propaganda department. This last admittedly has scored a success for the time being and one which, as might be expected, it is attempting eagerly to extend. While the dispute in itself is best left alone, except by those who can help to compose, it, too much emphasis could not be laid on the manifest truth that every hope of future security and welfare, for large nations like Russia as well as for smaller nations like’ Poland, depends absolutely upon the present cooperation of the United Nations being maintained and built upon in the creation of an international organisation, able and ready to police the world against aggression in future. It goes without saying that the establishment of an organisation of this character must imply the just treatment of all nations, great and small, strong and weak. This in turn no doubt must imply the submission to some form of arbitration of any dispute between nations which the parties are unable to settle peacefully and amicably for themselves.

The severance or suspension, whichever it may be, of RussoPolish relations will serve one good purpose if it quickens action by the United Nations to the end of organising the world for future peace and security. In the fact that such a dispute has arisen within the circle of the United Nations there is support for the contention that the time is ripe for planning a measure of world government and that the future of humanity would be prejudiced fatally by allowing action in that direction to stand over until victory is in plain sight or until the war has come to an end.

A more than sufficient trial was made a quarter of a century ago of the policy of leaving to the last moment an attempt to evolve a system of world collective security. In light of that experience it seems clear that the only hope of averting future calamity is that the nations should at once apply themselves to working out the political and economic basis of a future world order, inviting in that enterprise the co-operation of all nations loyally intent on maintaining future peace. Some tentative steps of a promising kind are already being taken, notably in the calling of the Food Conference about to meet in the United States, but whether the United Nations are prepared to deal decisively and expeditiously with the total problem of future security is still an open question.