DEPARTMENT OF PEACE AND ARBITRATION.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 276, 18 June 1918, Page 2

DEPARTMENT OF PEACE AND ARBITRATION.

Those who wore present .it the Convention at Timaru will probably remember that one of the points emphasised by our President was that resolutions which had been passed by Convention should be discussed b> the different Unions, with a view to doing what they tan to tarry them into effect. It is with this in mind that 1 call the attention of our Unions to the following resolution, which was passed this year: ‘A recommendation having been made b> the National Efficiency Hoard th.it weekly lessons should be given in all the public schools on the history of the Umpire and our duty to it, with a view to incubating in the minds of the children a patriotic and national spirit, this Convention of the W.C.T.U. would respectfully suggest to the Minister of Education that such lessons should have a wider, international bearing, cultivating a sense of their responsibilities and an apprcc iation of ♦heir privileges, not only as citizens of the Empire, but as members of that wider community of which every nation is one small part.” As will be seen, the main idea of this resolution is the replacing of the purely national feeling by the wider sense of internationalism—the recognition of the fact that no nation exists solely for itself, but that in this, as in every other <ase, the part mu't ever be inseparable from and subservient to the whop*. That is a fundamental prim iple in the evolution of the race; all through we see gradual expansion of interests and relationships ; the individual interest merging into that of the family, the family into »he community, the community into the nation, and as the next step, the national into the international. This is the point we have now reached, any one who makes even a su|x*rftcial study of the suggestions towards the reconstruction of society pu‘ forward by the majority of the leaders of public opinion at the present time, cannot fail to notice how these arc all based upon the international ideal in one form or another; one and all recognising that this ideal is the only one that can ensure future t>cace and prosperity to the world. The second idea embodied in the resolution is that this reconstruction will rest largely with our children; they will be the builders of the future civilisation, and the nature of the

building will depend mainly upon the direction which is now being given to their thoughts and aspirations. If the international ideal is to b< the basis of the society that is to be, then that ideal must be implanted now in the minds of those who will have the making of that society. A very usefui •little contribution towards the study of this id'*al was published in the year preceding the outbreak of the present war, under the title “How the Nations Help One Another.” It shows how nations, like individuals, are dependent upon each other for the production of the necessaries of life how this runs through all aspe< ts of life, physical, mental, moral and spiritual, being based u|xmi the esential unity of all men as children of one Father. It further points cv* how the international idea enters into all social matters, regulating the postal system, finance, commerce, etc., all of which are arranged by mutual agreement between the nations concerned; and how all these things depend u|x>n peaceful relationship, and are disturbed, and may be eventually destroyed by a state of war. This little book expresses briefly, bui clearly, and in a form comprehensible to the child-mind, the principles upon which international relationships should be based, and is therefore eminently suitable for use in schools, and by all w ho arc engage d in the edue ation of the young. For this reason, 1 comrnc id it to the attention of our Unions, and would suggest that by bringing it to the notice of the schools in their districts, they would be carrying out the spirit of the resolution 1 have quoted, and helping on ihe growth of the international ideal amongst us. In these dark days of strife our main hope for the future lies in the* possibility of so training our children in principles of love that a life of love* may be the result, making impossible any return to the present ir.etfiods adc.pted for the establishment of satisfactory international relationships. There came into my hands some little time ago the following, taken from the “Signs of the Times” for January 22nd, i<)i7: —“All school teachers in Hungary have received the following notice: ‘The Royal Hungarian Minis ter for Education requests all teachers to pay special attention, in the coming term, to the respect and honour to our enemies; that no hatred or contempt should enter the minds of the children against the brave men with whom their fathers are in deadly

combat; and that hate or contempt is not to be cultivated in the youthful mind.’ ’’ If this example could be un vcrsally followed, might, it not help to build up a moral force whic h would prove far more powerful and effective in the establishment and preservation of peaceful relations than any that have yet been tried? I may add that I have received from America a limited number of pamphlet- published by the Department of Good Citizenship and Peace and Arbitral >n, and shall be glad to send intent copies to any Union desiring them, with a view »o ordering a larger supply. It is my intention to send a further order shortly, and I -h ill b<- glad to include anything which may be required. MARION JUDSON, N.Z. Superintendent.