- ‘From Secretariat -- Central Office |

QUESTION NO. 5 - POST-WAR UNEMPLOYMENT

 

What are the special dangers of large-
scale unemployment which will inevit-
jably follow the demobilization of the
jmillions now occupied in war-time acti-
vities? How can such dangers be elimi-

 

 

nated or modified?

 

Throughout the world millions of men are
* thobilized, are being mobilized in the
armed forces. Millions of men and wo-
men are employed in war industries.

What will happen when the fighting
ceases? Will millions of men be dis-
charged from the army to seek employment

in peaceful pursuits? Will millions of |

‘men and women suddenly lose employment
in war industries?

One very big problem of the post-war
period is that potential large-scale
unemployment. As business and profes-
sional men we should make plans now to
avert the evils of post-war unemploy-
ment.

Probably after the actual fighting
ceases it will be necessary to retain
many men in the armed forces to preserve
order in various countries during the
period of reorganization and rehabilita-
tion. To some extent that will lessen
the dangers of unemployment because it
will mean that demobilization. Wad. be
effected gradually. —

Industries will be transformed from war-
industries to peace-time industries and
scores of articles which are not being
made during war-time will once more be
manufactured. Destroyed areas will have
- to be rebuilt; railroads, bridges, and
roads will have to be constructed. All
that activity will absorb the labor
power of many released from the armed
forces or from work in war industries.

But how will all this be effected? Can
it be done by individual initiative,
private enterprise? Or should all that
activity be organized and controlled by
the. government?

*

- Rotary International ----(File 726) - Page 6

The purchase now of Defense Savings

Bonds, War Savings Certificates, etc.,
not only serves a very helpful and
necessary purpose in providing funds
to prosecute the war, but it also
helps to build. up a reserve of savings
which, when put to use later, will

help mightily to provide employment.

Are we doing all we can to build up
such a reserve of savings so that af-
ter the war we can put the money repre-

-gented by those savings in circulation

and thus help create work and reduce
unemployment?

In our own businesses and professions

what opportunities do we see for cre-

ating» employment after the war? What

steps can we take now to make certain
those opportunities for employment
will materialize?

QUESTION NO. 6 - FREE INTERCHANGE OF
IDEAS

 

“What ea are there with the

free interchange of ideas and knowledge
which is necessary to the advancement
of civilization? To what extent can
and should such interference be re-

 

 

moved? "

 

A free’ interchange of ideas and imowl-
edge would help advance civilization
throughout the world.

The ‘parrier of language constitutes a
general interference in the free inter-

_ change of ideas and knowledge and for

that reason many people advocate the |
adoption of an international auxiliary
language. According to that plan each
person would learn not only the
language of his country but also the
generally accepted international

- language. And thus the barrier of

differing languages would be overcome.

Is it fair for us to expect everybody
in the world to learn our language?

Or should everyone, ourselves included,
learn, in addition to his own language,

a easy, auxiliary language? What

e
it