Axton High School - Axtonian Yearbook (Axton, VA)

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PLANNING FOR WORLD PEACE “Where there is no vision the people perish. ’ These words taken from the scrip- tures have a special meaning today. While this world conflict rages, we must begin to look ahead and make peace plans so well that no dictator or military group can rise to plunge us into the destruction and sorrows of war. Our Allies think and speak of this need, for the citizens in the democracies have the right and must assume the responsibility of making plans for their liberty in the future. We know that the day the Axis powers lay down their arms in defeat, unless the victors can set up a workable peace plan, we will engage in another world war. Many people know there is no ‘coasting to victory”, as President Roosevelt put it. They also realize there is no quick and easy rovte to world peace. No American would want to live in such a militaristic world as the Axis would set up. If we don’t want to live in a world like that, where we must always be- armed for defense and be denied the privilege of planning our government or our lives; then we must accept our responsibility of helping plan and work out a satisfactory scheme for world peace. The effects of war will be felt by every nation on the globe, even by those who remain neutral or never know a battle on their territory. Almost all had done so by 1942, if only because of a scarcity of imported goods and the interruption of their normal export trade. The relief of human misery is the first problem the United Nations will have to face. Temporary relief m-jst follow the victorious armies of the United Nations wherever they are, so that this aid may help t ' ne people to help themselves and to pre- pare the way for peace. There will be people tc be fed and clothed, the sick and the disabled to be cared fcr, and many to be transported back to their native homes. At least enough temporary shelters must be found for these homeless people so that they can begin the task of rebuilding their war-tern ctur.trics. What can we do to build a post-war world in v hich everyone can enjoy “the four freedoms” freedom of speech, freedom o ' ; vership, freedom from fear, and freedom from want? Our government wants us all to begin discussing peace plans and making up our minds about them. If we are still uninformed when armistice day comes, we are likely to get the kind of peace settlement that will bring about World War III in another generation. In one generation we have had two world w ' ar-. We must find some plan whereby future wars may be prevented. If you are a member of a church, you will feel a special concern and responsibility for helping to apply religious principles in a practical Vv ay tc make a better world after this war is over. A significant statement on post-war problems was issued in 1943 by the Interna- tional Round Table Conference of Christian leaders from fourteen nations. The con- ference urged the people cf all nations to study and accept the principles contained in the program of the “Six Pillars of Peace.” The first pillar is political collaboration between the United Nations and, ultimately, all nations. Many people say, “Rather than shop around for some new and untried international system, why not use the League of Nations as a basis for building world order to maintain peace?” The League idea they speak of is a voluntary union of nations working together to solve common problems. Representatives of the nations who are m.erabers meet for a conference at some central place, discuss international problems and decide upon

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situation, declared war on the Axis. France, totally unprepared, fell; but Britain held firm, supported by a great ally, Russia. The United States still preserved its nuetrality. “We did not wish to be drawn into another war,” we said. In the summer of 1941, however, when it began to look as if we might be drawn in eventually, we thought we had better prepare. Then came the day which will go down as one of the blackest days in our history — December 7, 1941, and Pearl Harbor. Twenty-seven hundred soldiers and sailors were hurled into eternity and a score of ships and planes destroyed. America, the guardian of the fundamental rights, had been attacked by the samurai aggressors. The following day President Rocsevelt, like those who preceded him, upheld all the principles of democracy by asking Congress to declare war against Japan. A few days later we also accepted Germany’s challenge. Today everyone in America is fighting in some way for the ultimate victory that will be curs. When we attain this victory, we will try to make sure that this time aggressiveness is abolished. The mistakes of the past must not be repeated. The brave men who so willingly gave their lives for democracy surely have not died in vain because, as America marches on, our voices repeat these words to our honored dead. “Fear not that ye have died for naught; The torch you threw to us we caught. Ten million hands will hold it high, And freedom’s light shall never die, We’ve learned the lessen that you taught In yonder field.” Yes, the fires of dictatorship and aggression will soon go out; but democracy, the living flame, will burn on, inspired by the youth of today, the citizens of tomorrow! ELIZABETH RUMLEY, Salutatorian.

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what will be the best and most desirable action in each case. Whatever is decided upon at these meetings is then passed down to the national governments concerned .1 These may approve and carry them out or not as they see fit. The record of the League has been a mixed one, made up of failures and suc- cesses. Its main failure has been its inability to keep the world at peace. This we know was caused mainly by the lack of support from several of the larger nations. Its main success have been in the field of social service. It has had success in getting the cooperation of m.any nations in dealing with problems of health, working conditions, international postal service, and safety in navigation. Those who favor this plan say, “All the work that the League has done and is doing must be continued in a reorganized League Let us profit from our experiences with the old League to build a new and better one, a League so strong that this time it will be able to maintain peace.” It is history now and an oft told story of how Wilson went to Paris with his plan for the preservation of peace, of how he forced the acceptance of the League of Nations at the Peace Conference by tying it in with the spoils of war so that our allies had to take it to get what they Vi anted from the victory. Then Wilson came home to fight his last fight. He did his best but we t. rned down the League. Hence follows the question, as stated by Edwin James, ‘Had his country not belied Woodrow Wilson, would we be at war today?” The United States did not join the League of Nations for the following reasons: First, she objected to the provision in the treaty that nations entering the League must guarantee one another’s territory and independence against any attempt on the part of another nation to take any of their territory or destroy their independence; second, it would be more difficult to defend the principles of the Monroe Doctrine; and third, the United States had only one vote to Great Britain’s six. Our country, however, has cooperated and helped in many ways to make it a useful means of bringing nations together. Those isolationists who oppose the idea of a reorganized League are not convinced that this type of world order is the best one to be found. There are several plans of federal world government that differ mainly in details. The goal of all these plans, however, is the establishment of a world order which would be directly represented. The national governments in this federation wo .’id net be abolished They would con- trol all affairs of a purely domestic nature and the v or ' d government would control those affairs that affect relations between a nation and its world neighbors. One thing is certain, however, a nation can no longer exist isolated. Some plan for cooperation among nations must be agreed upon. The scond pillar of peace is collaboration on economic and financial matters of worldwide import. We have something on this order in the international organization known as the Pan American Union, which deals with problems that concern only North and South America. In order to further democracy in the western hemisphere, it is of great importance to the United States that we cultivate friendly relations with the nations of South America. The Union has done much to build closer trade relations between its members, and has also promoted the cause of peace. There are usually twenty-one Scuth American rations in the Union. They have held conferences since 1890. In 1911 an agreement wa s made with Nicaragua placing the control of customs in American hands. We gave them financial assistance also. The third pillar is the adaption of treaties among nations to changing conditions. To aid in friendly conduct of business between countries, nations enter into formal agreements to encouage friendliness. During times of peace the civilized countries are governed by treaties in matters of trade and political relationships. A treaty is good, only as Icng as nations are willing to stand by their agreements. Experience has shown