Dr B Bydzovsky, president of Charles University in Prague, during a recent visit to the United States made this pregnant observation:

There is more pessimism over the future of the United Nations here in the United States than anywhere else, and it is because you are always speaking in terms of the next war. But there can be no next war, because the countries of the world are too exhausted. For Europe it is unthinkable. If your journalists would place an embargo on the word 'war,' your people could think more clearly in terms of peace.

This is a happy suggestion. What should be realised by all of us is that, however disquieting the international situation may be, war is not a present factor in the equation. That is not the way some of our military men and all of our jingoes react to the problem. But it is the way of common sense, for the reasons cited by Dr Bydzovsky. There is no probability of another war in the foreseeable future, in spite of the split which has taken place between Russia and the United States, in spite of Soviet machinations and American exasperation.

If most of us could accept that proposition, we would be giving more attention to and showing more respect for the U. N. That agency is still functioning to achieve its purpose, and doing so in the teeth of cavalier treatment from several quarters. For example, it was a report from its observers in Greece which clinched our realisation that early reports of an "international brigade" in Northern Greece had little foundation. The Greek foreign minister seems to have been responsible for a sensational fabrication, which took in even so knowing a person as Chairman Eaton, of the House foreign affairs committee. The congressman announced his conviction that war is at hand because of developments in Greece

Dr Bydzovsky is right. There is too much talk in this country about war blowing on our necks. That makes us look away from the U. N. It keeps us from "thinking more clearly about peace."

Speaks at University Birthday Observance

By A I Goldberg.

PRAGUE, Czechoslovakia -

Charles university formally celebrated its 600th anniversary Wednesday with an academic procession in which 40 universities were represented. Diplomats of western nations generally boycotted the celebration. The ancient school accepted a restored charter from President Eduard Benes. It was the Czechoslovak leader's first public activity since Christmas. In a charter presentation address, Benes said:

There can be no peace or calm in this world until there is full honour and respect of one individual for another. Only through tolerance of all peoples and real humanity can we attain real peace.

Bohumil Bydzovsky, rector of the university since the political crisis of last February (the communist seizure of power), voiced regret that Oxford university was not represented. He said he wanted to offer the English school

... our expression of gratitude. We cannot forget the aid and refuge given to T G Masaryk and his pupil, Eduard Benes, in the United States." Bydzovsky said, "and the aid given by the two great democracies to our scholars in the last war.

Both the American and the British ambassadors stayed away. The French envoy, whose country's universities had eight representatives in the procession, was present.