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auxiliary languages now exist? What
steps are under way for the development
of an easier and more useful internation-
al auxiliary language? te

In some branches of science and knowl-
edge, for example, medical science,
there is a very free interchange of
ideas and knowledge. However, in many
branches of science the operation of
patent laws, the desire to preserve |
business secrets, operate against a free
interchange. Very few people will
agree that there should be no patent
laws. On the other hand, there might
be a difference of épinion with regard
to business sécrets. Some businessmen
might feel that they should let their
competitors -- not only those in their —
own country, but those of other coun-
tries as well -- visit their places of
business, their manufacturing plants,
even though that might give those com-
petitors some new and better ideas for
organizing and conducting their busi-
ness. Other businessmen might feel that
they must guard all details of their
organization quite jealously, so that a
competitor will learn eee about
them.

What practice do we follow in our busi-

nesses? What practice is followed gen-
erally in our country? in other coun-
tries?

Copyright laws, censorship, restric-

_ tions’ on the exportation or importation
of periodicals, books, journals, etc.,
constitute interference in the free in-

_terchange of knowledge.

Why do we consider some of these inter-
ferences necessary or desirable? So
far as eur ow country is concerned
would we be willing to have any of
these interferences eliminated or 1és-
-gened?

QUESTION NO. 7 - POST-WAR STARVATION
AND DISORDER

 

 

‘lWhat plans should be made now to deal
with post-war emergencies of starvation
and disorder in ether countries?

 

Rotary International -

(File 726) - Page 7

a re) eo} ae terme

There are serious shortages of food in
many countries. Immediate post-war
famine is regarded-as-a-foregone con-
clusion. Coupled with starvation,’ pe
there will be disorder, rioting, revo-
lution. Plans must be made now to’ set
up an organization to police disaf-.:
fected areas and help preserve order,
to build up reserves of food and medi-
cal supplies and to arrange for their
distribution immediately after the war,
in territories where they will be
needed most. Preventing starvation
will be one of the most effective ways
of averting disorder.

Governments of the United Nations are
already arranging for the purchase and
storing of huge food supplies for this
purpose. Attempts are now being made
to estimate what the post-war food re-
quirements in various countries will
be. And those govermmental plans call
for the setting up of an organization
which will snap into action as rapidly
as territories are freed:and it is
once more possible to send supplies to
those territories.

What can we do through increasing pro-
duction, conserving supplies, reducing
consumption, eliminating waste, etc.,
to help build up these huge reserve
stocks of food supplies which. will be
required to prevent famine in many
parts of the world?

CONCLUSION

These seven questions. provoke thought
and discussion. We have seen that

they cannot be answered simply, that
there is difference of opinion as to
how they should be answered. But each
one presents a problem to which a work-
able solution must be found if an en-
during world order is to be established.
It is not sufficient to give a few
hours thought and discussion to these
and similar problems. We should con-
tinue to think about them, to discuss
them, to endéavor to find the best solu-
tiers. It is not necessary to be an
"expert" in the fields involved. All
of us have ideas on these subjects.