Evening star., 1940-02-05
World Union
P| an Discussed
Al Town Hall
Streit Outlines His
Proposal; Is Quizzed
On Its Limitations

A proposal for democratic world
government was outlined to the
Town Hall of Washington last night
by Clarence K. Streit, former New
York Times foreign correspondent
and author of Union Now" The
neWSpaperman presented general
data about the proposal to unite IS
democracies in a federal union.
Mr.. Streit claimed that the union
OF nations would prevent war, end
depression and protect the liberties
OF people. However, in the panel
discussion which followed his talk
the Rev. Edmund j. Walsh, vice
president of Georgetown University,
and Felix Morley, editor of the
Washington Post, sharply questioned
the limitations included in the plan
as to eligible nations.
In reply, the speaker pointed out
that only the leading world democ-
racies were included in the plan
and that later, when the theory
had taken root, organization accom-
plished and a working system
evolved, other nations would be
taken into the union.
The writer claimed this is "anoth-
er federal union like ours, strong
but elastic" designed for the people
and not for governments or dicta-
tors. He pointed out the world
movement is not bloc or an alli-
ance, but Is an organization of the
Is more experienced democracies, a
union open to all nations as they
restore or develop democratic rights.
1t would stop the dictators by offer
ing their peoples something inf
nitely better, he claimed.
Nothing Untried in Plan.
Based on the idea of the United
States Constitution, he said, there
was nothing untried or untested
about the plan as he pointed out
how it had functioned here and
abroad for many decades. He dis
counted language and racial bar
riers by citing the Swiss. Canadians
and South Africans. These people,
he pointed out, have several Ian
guages and are composed of vary
ing racial lines.
The proposed Is founder democra-
cies, he said, are the ones that can
most easily and quickly and happily
unite. These are Australia, Belgium,
Canada, Denmark, Finland, France,
Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zea-
land, Norway, Sweden. Switzerland,
the Union of South Africa, the
United Kingdom and the United
States.
Father Walsh questioned the nmi-
tations and pointed to the 81 repub-
lies of South America as we'll as to
the colored races of the Orient. If
this is to be federal union, he said,
all races, creeds and types should
be included. To this the speaker
replied that the IS democracies
named were just to be the founda-
ton from which the union would
grow.
Could Resist Any Foe.
Mr.. Streit pointed out that the
union would have strength enough
to Withstand assault from any quar-
ter in view of the fact that it would
control most of the essential war
materials.
The speaker told his audience of
more than 200 that there were five
powers which would be given to the
union under the plan. These, ne
said, were common citizenship, de-
fense, money, postal and communi-
cation systems and free trade areas.
Mr.. Morley challenged four of the
five points. He pointed out there
now is a world citizenship, inter-
change of currency, commerce and
mail and communications systems
However, Mr.. Streit replied that
greater development could be had
in these fields under the union.
Mr.. Streit developed, in addition
the point that leagues of nations
do not work whereas a union could