POLICING THE POST-WAR WORLD

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 189, 9 May 1944, Page 4

POLICING THE POST-WAR WORLD

The London correspondent of the New York Times has raised a question impinging importantly upon the post-war defence policies of the British Dominions. This refers to the contribution to be made by each toward the policing of the world against any future attempts to break the peace of the international community. Since the outbreak of the present war various schemes have been suggested for placing peace upon a more secure basis than existed after the last war. That something much more effective in its organization for prompt action, and more salutary in method will be essential, few at present dispute. There is general agreement, also, that the preservation of the peace is a matter of common concern to all nations, imposing upon all, obligations similar in principle to those assumed by the taxpayers of a community for the maintenance of a police force to safeguard civic law and order. In the past, this correspondent asserts, the Dominions maintained only small military and naval establishments, and never in peacetime contributed to the common pool for Empire defence. This statement is not strictly correct. It would have been more accurate to say that their material contributions to Empire defence were proportionately insignificant when compared' with the vast sums expended by the United Kingdom for the protection of her own shores, the Dominions, and the colonies. This, incidentally, is a thought for those in the Dominions who are apt to magnify the importance and influence of their own countries in the Imperial perspective and lose their sense of proportion. It should be remembered that Britain has never made demands upon the Dominions for contributions to Imperial defence commensurate with the value and importance of the territories and interests protected by the Flag. Before the last war the Dominions undertook to establish territorial defence schemes on the lines suggested by Lord Kitchener. This country accepted the principle of compulsory universal military training under legislation adopted to give effect to his suggestions. As it happened, these schemes proved to have been of great value as preparations for the war of 1914-18. When peace came, however, as far as this country was concerned at I all events, the training scheme was virtually scrapped as a measure of post-war economy. In the ensuing years Imperial defence policy suffered a seriousj decline in vigour through the infiltration of pacifist propaganda. As| a result the Empire was caught in a state of unpreparedness that! was highly dangerous, and might conceivably have been fatal. The' truth that should now have been driven home throughout the Empire is that international peace must be defended as well as established. A contributory responsibility is therefore presented to every single beneficiary of the coming peace dispensation. There can be no shirking. The correspondent above-mentioned conceives as a possibility of the future an obligation upon the Dominions to maintain forces for service overseas in the peacetime military organization, and he adds: “This obligation devolves on them, not as members of the British Commonwealth now approving the armistice occupation plans, but in committing themselves to a new principle and policy which they may later have to defend against those in their own countries who are opposed to military service outside their own territories.” It is not possible at this time and in present circumstances to conceive what may ultimately be' considered the most practicable and effective system of world-policing against aggression. Whatever form it may take, this country obviously will have to assume its fair share of the burden, and continue to bear it, however pacifist opinion and propaganda may strive otherwise to undermine defence policies based upon agreed! international principles of action.