Axton High School - Axtonian Yearbook (Axton, VA)

Page 44 text:

that some nations have little respect for a treaty. Others honor a treaty with care. International peace and good will would be increased if all nations would carry oat their treaties in the same way that honest men carry out agreements in their dealings. The fourth pillar is self-government for colonial people. Self-government should be given to all nations whose people are capable of using it to their own advantage. Great Britain gave self-government to all of her colonies as soon as they were able to use it wisely. She will doubtless give it to India as soon as the citizens show their capacity for governing themselves The United States has promised freedom to the Philippines in 1945; but as to whether they get this freedom depends on the outcome of the war. The fifth pillar is the control of armaments. When the Allied Nations win this war, their first act will be to completely disarm Germany, Ita’y, and Japan. This will automatically wipe out one-half of the world’s fighting equipment. If the nations now opposing aggression are honest in their professed derire for peace, they will disarm themselves just as quickly as they can safely do so. By transferring the munitions industry from private to government ownership and operation, munititions could be placed under control without jeopardizing the nation’s safety. By maintaining an inter- national police force empowered to force nations to keep the peace, peace-loving nations could protect themselves from fut o(b attacks from powers that may secretly rearm by bootleg methods. The last pillar, one which is very important, is the right of intellectual and religious liberty for all. The first ten amendments to the United States National Constitution are spoken of as the Bill of Rights. They are so called because it is a series of simple and specific statements which clearly define the rights of indivdual citizens. They safeguard the right of the people to freedom, of speech, the right of trial by jury, ahd the rights of the people peacefully to assemble and to petition the government for a satisfaction grievances. They also prohibit Congress from passing any laws to establish a national religion or specific form of worship. These rights must be guaranteed to all other peoples if we hope to maintain a peaceful world. In conclusion, oar democracies must plan to establish a collaboration of nations after this war carrying out the princi- ples in the Six Pillars of Peace.” We, classmates, must be alert also in doing our part toward establishing a world order for lasting peace after the war is won. As we leave one another and our friends in the community, we expect to put our shoulders to the wheel moving “onward, on- ward, ever upward” to a goal of security and happiness which is worldvi» ' ide. It is only by some plan of world unity that all may continue in peace and security which I hope is soon to be ours. With these thoughts we bid you farewell. LISABETTY JONES, Valedictorian.

Page 43 text:

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

Page 45 text:

Left to right: 1, A cool drink. 2, Homewardbound! 3, “Frog” and “Minnesota”; 4, V.P.F.; 5, Lightning Speed! 6. Fran ; 7, campus stroll; 8, Comrades; g. ize fighters; 10,J|ope climbing; 11, Elmo, in service; 12, Frank at the barracks; 13, Sailor Clarence; 14; Elmo, before service; IS, George and Buddy; 16, Action; 17, Chinning- 18 AHS team; 19, Ex-pref.; 20, Readyf 21, Drill; 22, (gatch it 23, Riming high!