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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 2, No. 2 March 15, 1939

A Peace Pact

A Peace Pact

The youth of the fifty-three nations present at the Second World Youth Congress

"convinced that war and militarism are inherently brutalising forces, destructive of all that is valuable in civilisation and human personality "

signed the New York Peace Pact, the articles of which we give in full below.

Article I.

We swear to develop a spirit of fraternity and collaboration between the youth of all nations, to help unite the youth of our own nations and to work for unity with young people of all other countries without distinction of race, creed or opinion under the leadership of the World Youth Congress Movement.

Article II.

We solemnly condemn any war of aggression directed against the political independence or the territorial or administrative integrity of a State.

Article III.

We pledge ourselves to do all in our power to guarantee that the youth of our countries never participate in any war of aggression against other States.

Article IV.

We agree to bring pressure to bear, whenever the circumstances arise, upon our respective authorities to take the necessary concerted action to prevent aggression and to bring it to an end, to give effective assistance to the victims of treaty violations and aggression, and to refrain from participating in any aggression whether in the form of supply of essential war material or of financial assistance.

Article V.

We solemnly declare that the bombardment of open towns and civilian populations constitutes a violation of the canons of humanity and the rule of conduct among nations and undertake to mobilise the forces of world opinion to condemn any such action and to give aid for the relief of the victims.

Article VI.

We, recognising that there can be no permanent peace without justice between nations and within nations, or without their recognition of the right to self-determination of countries and colonies seeking their freedom, undertake in a peaceful manner to set right injustices against peoples, regardless of race, creed, or opinion, to establish political and social justice within our own countries and advocate that international machinery be immediately instituted to solve differences between nations in a peaceful way.