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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 14, No. 6. June 7, 1951

[Introduction]

This article, to be printed in two parts, deals with the World Peace Movement which is best known by its Stockholm "Ban the Atom Bomb" Appeal.

It is presented as a Salient staff effort, although some of the material was first used in a talk to the Catholic Students Guild.

At the outset, the writers want to make it clear that they:—

Don't want a Third World War,

Don't want to see civilisation blown up by the A-bomb,

But they don't believe endorsement of the Peace Movement is the way to avoid these two catastrophes, nor do they believe that the Peace Movement necessarily wants peace, except on the terms of Soviet Russia.

The Peace Movement has been prominent at Victoria for several years. The Students Association now has no official connection with it, but the Socialist Club and the N.Z. Student Labour Federation are still enthusiastic supporters. Hence we see periodic bursts of activity when outside speakers have addressed us, like Dean Chandler, or were merely invited, like the Dean of Canterbury.

In past years, when Victoria was affiliated to the World Federation of Democratic Youth, and NZUSA belonged to the International Union of Students, we acquired a considerable knowledge of the methods of organisations forming part of the Peace Movement. This article is an attempt to put the various groups of the Peace Movement into proper perspective.

The World Peace Council shows every sign of being used by the Soviet to compete with or supplant the United Nations. Hence it is well that we should understand its power, particularly in non-Soviet bloc countries like Italy and France.

Although it has failed to catch on in countries like New Zealand, where few besides the deregistered Waterside Workers' Union keep local Communists company, that is no reason to disregard it, or to minimise its importance.

Informed comment in the New Zealand press is rare; Salient aims to fill that gap.