WHICH NEW ORDER ?
SIR,—Your leading article of March 7th, " Which New Order? " is a most useful and constructive contribution to the War Aims con- troversy. As you point out, there is at present no urgent need to declare our Peace Aims—the opportunity to impress neutral opinion has passed, the moment to appeal to a defeated and disillusioned German people has not arrived—but there is a very urgent need to think about them. Furthermore, a unique opportunity for the investigation necessary before a planned programme for international reconstruction can be produced is presented now by the presence in this country of the Governments of five occupied countries, of the free French and also of representatives of that minority of anti-Nazi, anti-Blood-and-iron Germans, who have got to be made effective in the new Europe.
It is most important that, when the time comes to announce our peace aims, we should have the main principles clear-cut ; and that when the new order is put into effect, that it should work. Any plan formulated now will need adaptations to the changed conditions which our European friends will find when they return to their own countries ; but now is the chance_ to collect the aspirations of the peoples of Europe, and make out some sort of workable Least Common Multiple of them.
The setting up of a Society of Allied States in London would indeed give the countries it represented new confidence and hope, for it would be a tangible beginning of the Order which is to repine Hitler's New Order, which, as we sometimes forget over here, actually exists in Europe. It may not be possible to go as far as this. It may not even be wise to have any official deliberations be ween the States, for the task of the Versailles peace-makers would have been easier if no bargains had been made between them beforehand; though one imagines that with the experience gained in the last peace, and with such a good European as Mr. Eden at the Foreign Office, official discussions could be steered clear of danger. Perhaps it may only be an opportunity for. amateur spade work, to be under- taken by the Institute of International Affairs or some similar body, but even this would be of the greatest value, for the English Govern- ment has a genius for using results obtained through amateur work and initiative. If the best and wisest use is not made of our oppor_ tunity, it will be a mistake which Time will not forgive.—Yours, &c.,
MARGARITA SCOTT.
Carleton Grove, East Carleton, Norfolk.
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