Action?

From this the emphasis changed to Mr. Schapper's "Hope is not enough." Action is necessary. His remarks were confined to one crisis only: the East-West conflict. The crisis can be averted if we are prepared to look at the facts and act on the basis of an ethical postulate such as Confucius' "What you would not others should do to you, even so do not unto them," or Christ's "Love thy neighbour as theyself." These principles are preconditions of persons being able to live together and attain the highest in their potentiality.

Mr. Schapper (Lincoln) then began his survey of the facts of and basic considerations regarding the relations between "Communism" and "Democracy," basing his remarks primarily on "The United States and the Soviet Union"—some Quaker proposals for Peace, and, to a lesser extent on Wolfgang Rosenberg's article in "Landfall" No. 16—"Two Worlds or None." Some of the considerations were (1) The existence of a widespread desire for peace (2) Both East and West systems will continue their way of life for a long time to come (3) Their sometimes belligerent apparent aims should not blind us to their common aims, e.g., improved economic welfare, and equality of opportunity for all persons. (4) Both fail to live up to their ideal aims. (5) Differences of economic and political methods must not be ignored, but need not blind us to the similarities of the persons living in each system. (6) There is suffcient ent common ground for us to live in peace. Peace has been possible in the case of similar divisions in the past.

It was also commented that the fact that U.S.A. spends 5/7ths of its budget on military objects raises doubts as to the efficacy of the present methods aimed at security. The armament race will increase the likelihood of war. Nehru in April, 1949, put forward India's positive approach to this issue.

In conclusion Mr. Schapper mentioned eight points of the present New Zealand foreign policy which, in the light of the foregoing, are insupportable. Officially we are selfish and follow the policy of trying to be strong. Why can't our smallness in size enable us to be big in mind internationally ?