Duxbury High School - Partridge Yearbook (Duxbury, MA)

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HONOR ESSAY The Post War World f - 7 I , f Although our thoughts today are concerned mainly with the problems of the present, we should devote some time to the future, to the peace which is to come. What kind of peace will it be? This World War II isf a decisive war, a war between two types of governments, Hitlerism, and government mainly by the people of a country. Thus, although a negotiated peace is possible, more probable is total victory- by one side. In considering governmental organization after the war, it has been found that th-ere are three possible plans for the world. The first, indi- vidual ,nations balancing their power against one another by means of treaties and alliances, has operated in the world for many years and has failed to prevent wars. The s-econd is world domination by the victor. The third calls for some form of world organization of free, self-governing peoples, based on ideals of freedom and cooperation and also upon facts of economics and geography. Through the process of elimination the first plan is discarded because it has caused numerous wars and conflicts. The second plan is also aban- doned since the allies are iighting this war to prevent world domination by the Fascists. The third plan has received considerabl-e thought and is one to which we should devote our attention. A broad base for the formation of a world organization of free, self- governing peoples was set forth in eight idea s formed by President Roose- velt and Prime Minister Churchill in the Atlantic Charter. In this they stated that they were seeking no territory, that territorial changes and forms of government should be determined by the people, that there should be freedom of trade, access to raw materials by all, improved labor stand- ards, economic advancement social s-ecurity, freedom from fear and want. traverse of the high seas and oceans without hindrance, and the abandon- ment of force and use of armaments. With th-e Atlantic Charter as a basis, Louis Adamic in his book Two- Wuy Pzzssq-gf' suggests that a Unit-ed States of Europe be formed. After the war the United States should send over an army mostly made up of the American-born sons of immigrants to help Europe develop an economic system that will work, a system similar to the American system-a mixture of private property, controlled industry, public works, socialism, and com- munism. Co-operatives, great continental labor movements, collective bar- gaining, and working unity should b-e encouraged. A tremendous -effort should be made to create a democratic revolution, a revolution for freedom l18l'

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GRADUATION .,v

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The democratic syst-em of the United States of America has worked for forty-eight separate and united statesg and for three-quarters of a century there has been no conflict between one state and another, but complete harmony and unity. If this system works in one land, why can't it work in another? Another p-an has been suggested by Clarence Streit in his book Union Noun Hi: brlieves that the world organization can be improved by the im- mid ate fcirgation of a union of the democracies. As soon as other countries wlsx .2 accept the principles of the union they can be admitted, thus evlntually spreading throughout the world. This union would have full power in making war and peace, and also over trade, money, communica- tions, and ciiizinship within the Union. Voting power would be propor- ticnate to its se 1'-gov-ei ning population. ilies- ai- only some of the proposals. What sort of peace will follow this x.'a-- cuzpnot be prophesied, but it can be planned. If we plan for a pe c that w--i be eternal peace, the boys on the batt.-eiields, on the seas, and in tize .ii :nd gn: people cn the home front will fight harder, making vic.o1-y c.cs--r to hand. PHOEBE SHIRLEY I 19 J