The Dominion. MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1914. AN OLD MAXIM CHALLENGED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2284, 19 October 1914, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1914. AN OLD MAXIM CHALLENGED

The well-known maxim, "If you wish for peace, prepare for war," came in for some adverse criticism from tho Anglican Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Spkott) in the course of an interesting address delivered at Victoria College on Saturday night. The Bishop contended that the present conflict was a flat contradiction/ to this maxim. ■ The great nations of Europe had been preparing for war for years,, and instead of securing peace they, were now, in the midst of the 'greatest struggle in the history of the world. Dr. Sprott expressed the opinion that anyone who quoted the maxim with approval in future would make himself ridiculous. But before we throw the_ old saying on the scrap heap, it' is worth while to consider whether, after all, it really deserves such an ignominious fate. The war has certainly compelled us to revise many widely-accepted ideas, and the saying which has been so emphatically challenged may require modification and qualification; but.it contains sound underlying principles which ought to save it from being cast aside as quite useless like an eighteenth century gun. It stresses the need for constant readiness; for preparation in time of peace for the possibility of war. It is a variation of the saying that when "a strong man armed Tkeepeth his palace his goods are in peace." A prudent nation 'will . always • be in a state of readiness for emergencies as long as human nature is what it is. Though many of us may not agree with the Bishop's _ sweeping condemnation of the maxim under consideration, everyone will heartily sympathise with his plea for a higher standard of honour and morality in international affairs. It is deplorable that "a schoolboy with a pistol" should be able to set Europe ablaze, though all the world knows that the assassination of the heir to. the Austrian Throne was not the real cause, but only the excuse for the war. It was tne unbridled ambition of the German War Lord that forced the Allies to draw the sword, and as long as the possibility of such unbridled ambition in high places remains, every nation that has anything worth defending should always be ready to withstand aggression. If a nation wants to live in peace and security, it must bo prepared for tho possibility of war. This state_ of readiness may not_ bo ' an infallible guarantee against attack, but it lessens the likelihood of aggression; whereas unreadiness is a standing temptation to the greediness of unscrupulous neighbours. It would bo a mistake to think that even the dreadful experiences of the present war will induce the nations of Europe at its close to disband their armies and cease to trouble about the efficiency of their navies, but'some understanding may be arrived at that will put a check upon tho feverish race for armaments which has proved Buch a heavy tax upon tho resources of all tho Powers. Armies and navies will still be needed; but something will probably be done to extend the sphere of international arbitration, and means may be found of _ placing tho relationships between civilised States on firmer and more rational foundations. The Bishop laid great stress on the principle of nationality, which seems to be a permanent and valuable characteristic of the human race. Tho Jew, the Greek, the Roman, the Briton, and every other people have had their special contribution to make to the advancement of humanity. The wonderful variety of aim and aspiration, and of physical, mental, and spiritual ideals to which the existence of distinct nationalities gives scope, has played a great part in the enrichment (if the individual and social life of man. Yet the Empires of the past made great efforts to crush out these racial differences, and the danger has not yet passed away. ' It is the duty of .every nation that values its independent existence to take the necessary measures to save itself from extinction. Every country should '.-always be. ready, to fight'for'its life.

To do this effectively it must prepare for war in times of peace. This involves the possession of armaments adequate for its needs. In the course of the ages to come the world may devise some scheme for safeguarding the existence of national individuality without the assistance of armies'and navies, but that time is not yet in sight. Meanwhile the possibility of an appeal to force must always be taken into consideration even by the most peace-fully-inclined countries. International arbitration no doubt has a great future,,and law and morality will probably play an increasingly important part in regulating the relations between civilised States, but it is difficult to see how the world can entirely get rid of the need of force. When a Power like modem Germany, or ancient Assyria, refuses to recognise the plainest dictates of the moral law, and deliberately tramples on the rights of other nations, force must bo met by force. The exercise of legitimate force, in a just cause is neither immoral nor incompatible with civilisation. Indeed, the progress' of civilisation would be seriously checked if no power existed to restrain the • violence of criminal States; and the maintenance of armaments for the purpose of helping the weak and repelling external aggression is quite as defensible as the existence of a police force for the prevention of internal disorder. An Act of Parliament is only a scrap of paper unless there is power to enforce it, and tho most perfectly devised system of international law would be of ho avail in the absence of means to compel nations to observe its rules. As a matter of fact, the mutual relations of States rn peace and war are already regulated to a large extent by the law_ of nations, but Germany does not" care a snap for inconvenient legal maxims unless they can be backed up by overwhelming might. Dr. Sprott believes that the process of reconstruction, _ which "will begin after the war is over, will succeed in _ removing the barbaric element which still finds a- place in international relationships, _ and bring the dealings of nation with nation more completely within the sphero of civilisation. A big step will no doubt be made in this direction,, but those who are expecting universal disarmament are doomed to disappointment. The frustration of. Germany's plot for world dominion and tlic rearrangement of the map in accordance with the principle of nationality _ may_ bring about a settlement which will remove the likelihood of another great war in Europe during the present century; but though the nations may sheathe their swords, they dare not throw them away. However much they may wish for permanent peace, they must still be prepared for war.