THE HARD WAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 29, 16 May 1947, Page 10

THE HARD WAY

FUTURE PEACE OF WORLD COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING “As Pacific neighbours in a great Empire we have many problems in common, and I venture to suggest that one of the most important is that of defence,”-said Mr E. Millhouse, Federal president of the Returned Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen’s Imperial League of Australia, in an interview in Hamilton, when the Australian delegation visited the city. “In Australia we are pressing for the re-introduction of compulsory military training, taking the view, which I suggest is only fair and logical, that those who served should have first say in our defence poN icy.” ■ ’ • He thought it was appropriate that the R.S.A. and the R.S.L. should study the defence of the Pacific as it affected their two countries, as in a "few weeks’ time Viscount gomery would ibe visiting the two countries. Mr Millhouse was convinced that Viscount Montgomery would be anxious to hear the views of the two organisations representing the returned men. ’ “Judging by the decision of the British Government to take immediate steps to have a standing conscript army of 300,000 men on hand at all times, Viscount Montgomery, as chief of the General Imperial Staff and sponsor of the plan, shares our views that a lasting peace does not come from back-slapping and solemn promises made *at conferences,” continued Mr Millhouse. “That has been proved twice since 1914. . • '

“I ask those who oppose compulsory training seriously to ponder this question, and at the same time I want to assure them that we are not war-mongering organisations. Far from it. We are just as much concerned at securing a lasting peace as the most ardent pacifist.”

Mr Millhouse said that in June both Australia and New Zealand wbul<j be represented at the British Empire Service League conference in London. This was a great gathering of Empire ex-service organisations, . and much thought would be given to the question of preserving peace. Won the hard way, peace would have to be preserved the hard way. Australia and New Zealand would sponsor a plan at the conference aimed at securing the views of ex-servicemen’s organisations in all the Allied countries as to the best means of stabilising the peace of the world. It would also be proposed to ask enemy ex-service organisations for their views.

“We feel confident that fighting men know best what is needed to prevent another world conflagration,” Mf Millhouse added. “We want peace, but at the same time we feel that precautions must be taken to ensure that we will never again be caught in the same state of unpreparedness as we were in 1939.’ f