GENERAL RUSSELL'S NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1920, Page 3

GENERAL RUSSELL'S NEWS.

FURTHER IMPRISONMENT USELESS.

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, July 23,

Tk„ opinio,-i vvasj recently expressed to''sai«r r Qei&r?*l ftbßtoU &* V oure4 tho release of thp conscientious Bbinrtow. His declaration has been exciting a good deal of discussion lh« Genernl was approached and asked to make a further statement on the sub--56 General Russell explained that he had made his past statement in reply to a. specific question, which he answered, and he undertook to make his answer nu’blio, h V% d .. , y < j'have advocated the release oi the conscientious objectors on the around that their imprisonment serves no useful purpose,” said Sir Andrew. “This vjndictivp ‘eye for an H tooth’ policy is otrtptdalc as a reformative measure. It provpu ineffective during thp war, Tim eessitv for preventive punishment A«r»»»lngto On the restoration of peace, such action, in my opinion, is no longer necosrv. The conscientious objectors in question will not be prevented from similar action in the case of futuie war by any further punishment now. Tor the future, the true prevention of this abnormal view of a citizen s duty itoliis -chmiliy js'to h? s P w B h ?> a negative process’ of punishment, but L''a posßivc process of inculcating ;;,d fostering a- true national spirit, There will always bo found In every community a few abnomal men, who Li. to realise that their conscientious objections are In fact a form of selfishness in that it means that someone llse has to take the conscientious objectors’ place at tho front. As to the disfranchisement of the conscientious > ioctors who refuse obedience to any ij. with which they disagree, they certainly cannot claim the nghr to malm laws to lip ijnposed op others I fturvtorc take if.* view that pn ess Uv make it perfectly clear that they ~re prepared to obey the laws of .the country, they should not receive toll civil rights in the meantime. Hm continual imprisonment of these men SniiWcs expense to no purpose if my ' conclusions are correct.” *i It must be understood, of course, / ..-indcd Russell, “the views I have 4 tons expressed apply sohdy to genuine ' conscientious objectors, and not to fdrkcrs -Moreover, I wish you to rim lie clear that what I have stated is -...civ mv qwk P ersonal VI6W-