CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 257, 24 July 1920, Page 8

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

FURTHER STATEMENT BY GEMEItAL ItUSSBLL. Tlie opiuieu recently expressed by Major-General Sir Andrew Hussell, regarding tho release of conscientious objectors, excited a good deal of discussion. General liussell explained to a reporter yesterday that he made the statement he did in reply to a specific question which he answered, and he undertook to make his answer public, which ho had done. "I advocated the release of conscientious objectors on the ground that their imprisonment serves no useful purpose," said General liussell. "The vindictive eye-for-eye and tooth-for-tooth policy is date. As a reformative measure it is ineffective. During war the necessity for preventive punishment is imperious as a. clear warning to .others. On tho restoration of peace 6uch action, in my opinion* is no longer necessary. Tho conscientious objectors in question will not be prevented from similar action in a future war by further punishment now. l'or the future the true prevention of this abnormal view of a citizen's duty to his country is to bo sought, not by the' negative process of punishment, but by the positive process .of inculcating and fostering a true national 6pirit. There will always be found in every commuuity a few abnormal men who fail to realise that their conscientious objection is, in fact, a form of selfishness, in that it means that someone else has to take the conscientious objector's place at the front.

"As to the disfranchisement of conscientious objectors who refuse obedience to any law with which they disagree, they certainly cannot claim the right to make laws to be imposed oir others. I therefore take the view that, unless they make it perfectly clear that they-are prepared to obey tho laws of tho country, they should not receive full civil rights. In the meantime the continued imprisonment of these men involves expense ito no purpose, if my conclusions are currect." "It must be understood, of course, concluded Goneral Russell, "that the views I have thus expressed apply solely to tho genuine conscientious objectors,, and not to shirkers. Moreover, I wish you to make it clear that what I have stated is purely my own personal view."