The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-01-18
By PAUL GREEN

the contrary, am more hopeful
than ever that somehow the ma
tons of the earth will work out
ultimately'a united world order.
For everywhere there is a grow
ing consciousness of the need for
such an order. The question is, will
the passions Of nationalism and
class-feeling be controlled in time
to allow such a world order to
come into being?
The patience and understanding
of the United States and Great
Britain are needed now as never
before. Colonialism is dying and
will soon be dead. The last rem
nants of it in Asia are being wiped
away. There is a danger that vi
cious and deadly nationalism may
grow up in its stead. But the Unit
ed Nations Organizations are con-
scious of this and are doing all
they can to deal with i'll hope.
But likewise we continue our
errors in the shape of Hollywood
motion pictures-pictures of vio-
lence, crime and sex. So far as /
am concerned, Walt Disney is the
only man in Hollywood who is do
ing the right sort of job for Amer
ica's foreign relationships. Just
yesterday, here in Calcutta, I saw
the sickness and misery of little
children, Little children lying in
rags, enaciated, sick and dying on
the sidewalks, and just beyond
some of this, the big bright mock
ing marquee of a motion picture
house advertising M.G.M.'s latest
musical hit, erich, Young and
Pretty"
In Burma we saw good work be-
ing done, especially by the Unit
ed States Information Service. And
here, too, as in other countries, we
saw some good results from the
World Health Organization, and
the Food and Agriculture Organi-
cation, and the other United Ma
tions agencies. And here and there
we found specific projects being
fostered by some of the education
al foundations.
But as always, it seemed so
little where the need is so great.
Burma was terribly mauled and
beaten in the war. Siam suffered a
great deal also, but nothing like
Burma. And the latter country is
slow indeed in recovering. She has
her independence. The British have
left her with strong and solid
buildings created in the heyday of
trade, which have survived the
bombs. But somehow Burma still
remains weak from her expert
ences.
Wages are low, there is huge UNI
employment, and health, santa
tion, and education are measures
tagging far behind the. needs of
the people.
For instance, no trains run to
Mandalay. The brigands and Com
munist bandits in the jungles have
severed the lines. Boat traffic up
the rivers is curtailed because of
these bandits. The government is
desperately struggling to defeat
them, but so far-as is the case
with the British government down
in Malaya-it has failed.
The streets are terribly dirty
and beggars meet one at every
turn. Here and there on the side
walks piles of garbage-literally
tons of garbage-are heaped up
awaiting the day when it will be
carted away.
l met a number of young writers
and theatre people in Burma and
they reflected quite clearly the
sense of rustration and confusion
around them.
But everybody agreed that, as
soon as the new Parliament was
elected and got settled, times
would be- better. / hope so.
The Prime Minister, Thakin Nu,
however lis a young and dynamic
man and from what ! learned of
his policies and plans while in
Burma, feel that he win pull his
country through the present cris-
is.
The Burmese are a wonderfully
kind and talented people. Like the
Siamese they have a gift for
friendship, and the United States
would do well to foster, in every
possible way, this friendship.
We STAYED in Rangoon about a
See GREEN, Page -Four