IUS and US

Sir,

The following news is taken from Australasian Student Labour Federation reports, and is important to VUC students.

Concerning IUS from which NZ USA has disaffiliated for nebulous reasons, they point out the importance of strengthening the international organisations like WFDY and UN which have come in for so much attack from those who have much to gain from a World War III. Because a young movement might have growing pains is no reason for our abandoning them altogether. Surely the period between the two world wars proved the danger of non-cooperation.

"The ASLF considers that the work of the IUS in the Pacific area and in Australia would be greatly assisted by the establishment of an IUS Pacific centre, with Headquarters in China, which could undertake the distribution of information, the organisation of travel and. exchange schemes in this area, and which could assist in the organisation of relief for students in the colonial countries, and in the organisation of regional gatherings. Such a centre should be in the nature of an IUS department, subordinate to the international headquarters of IUS. We believe that a Pacific centre could do much to develop close links between Australian (and N.Z.) students and the students of China, India and S.E. Asia, and we urge the IUS to give consideration to this proposal."

One reason made by NZUSA for disaffiliating from IUS was that IUS would not permit a Pacific bureau of organisations affiliated to her. This is untrue. Mr. K. Tolhurst, Australian representative to IUS, informed the late secretary of the Australian students' organisation that IUS agreed with such proposals. The question of expense has also been raised. To date IUS affiliation has cost NZ very little for the simple reason that few. If any, contributions have ever been sent. In any case IUS affiliation is very cheap and such an argument is not valid on humane grounds.

Concerning student relief, they point out how International Student Service (ISS) is governed by a self-perpetuating council which is not composed of students; its relief work has been noted for political discrimination.

"ASLF condemns the attempts made by ISS and Pax Romana at the last executive meeting of World Student Relief to wind up the activities of WSR. We fully support the determination of IUS to maintain WSR as the international student relief organisation, and consider that only through the continued participation of IUS in WSR can the absence of political [unclear: discrination] in relief be guaranteed. ASLF promises its full support for the Australian campaign, etc. .. ."

The second World Youth Festival of WFDY is this month, August 14th-21st in Budapest. As with the first Festival, the press smears It as Communist-dominated and Just a tool of Russia and her satellites. I have had experience of the much-publicised Boy Scout Jamborees, and know Just how hypocritical and ineffectual are the idealising and pipe dreams of their leaders. Wedy has a [unclear: con] programme for peace which was forged by young people wins bitter experience of World War II, deter-mined that their sons will not die of radio activity in a generation's time. The bitter attacks on IUS, and WFDY are indications of the success which these movements are having In building world peace. It is up to all progressive students to urge NZUSA to re-affiliate to IUS, and to pay up overdue fees, and while keeping strong our own links with WFDY to work towards NZ USA affiliating. The cause of peace and progress is not an easy one but it is the finest cause of all.

W.H.M.