VIGOROUS DEMANDS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1927, Page 1

VIGOROUS DEMANDS

FOB DISARMAMENT

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, Nov. 12

There must he no more war. With surprising swiftness this determination, has spread all over Britain on the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the Armistice.

New and unexpected support tor disarmament- is forthcoming from piactically the entire Press. The dangerous drift into war talk had been most apparent, even last week people -spoke almost glibly of the new war. Great journalists and statesmen were found dangerously discussing its torni and type; responsible journals published elaborate details. Dean Inge wrote informatively and ruthlessly ol the terrors of the next war, accepting as inevitable the fact, rather than condemning war talk which is most likely to lead to war. To-day. with tlie memory of a million dead, the stark recollection oT workless and homeless heroes, wives and dependants, comes almost an incredible clamour l'or peace and disarmament, excelling anything since war time. First came the scathing authoritative denunciation from such a great soldier as Field Marshal HoherTson, wlm, tilien on the eve of fifty years’ military career, denounced war in .such terms scarcely ever heard from the lips of a great soldier. He described it a.s a ghastly. useless destruction. A great thinker, such as Mr 11. G. Wells, penned a remarkable letter to the Liberal candidate at the South-end bveeleelion, declaring that the Baldwin Government was heading straight for war, and adding, though lie himself was for Labour, he would vote Liberal in o-rder to notice a straight out contest and give the Liberal victory.

He stated; “It is the business of every man to end immediately the dangerous drift- toward armament and

Sir John Simon made a startling denunciation ol Britain’s trend towards another war. In an Armistice speech to-night, lie declared: “Though v.e condemned as unspeakable barbarity the bombing of towns twelve years ago-, we were to-day deliberately prepa ring and practising to do the same thing. Our own War Office was storing tip 'mustard gas. Were wo also sure we were not contemplating infa mo it sly submarining merelia n t men. which wo so vigorously condemned so recently. 'War must end. Vague aspirations towards peace are useless. A new generation is growing up with the view that war is inevitable.”

A iscouut Grey, in outspoken comment on Anglo-American naval rivalry. said: “A longer idea of parity between British and American fleets continues, and a more difficult sit nation will grow. It will result in the two nations building against- one another, even if they are not doing so now.” .“sir Edward Grey added: “Tt is extraordinary to recall when we framed our naval programmes before the "War. no account was taken of tlio United States Navy. Wluit reason has arisen since the War to make us regard war against the United States as a contingency ?” Commoner Ellen 'Wilkinson declared: ‘'The people wore filled with horror that the enornius sum of ID millions was spoilt annually on Britain’s war services, while the whole of Europe was spending five hundred million a year preparing for the next war.”

Mr Thomas, speaking at Derhv, said : “No one in politics or statesmanship was happy about the situation. There were ten million more armed men to-day than in 1911. Worse still, the warlike spirit was abroad.” A vigorous demand for Hie nation to drop war talk is found in the editor ia-l.x of all the newspapers.

AMERICAN PROPOSAL.

NEW YORK.. Nor. 12. Newton 1). Baker, ex-Secrctnry for War, addressing the annual conference of the World Alliance for International Friendship, sitting at St. Louis, proposed a plan for the United States to ostracise all nations 'engaged in war, hy a proclamation from the President and National Senate, that the United States would not insist on neutral trade rights with any nation held hy the League to he as aggressor in war. Tie also proposed the resumption of negotiations to bring the United States into a World Court; also treaties with other nations, stipulating reciprocal pledges not to make war. The .Conference recommended 'the encouragement of national unity in China anil opposed the discriminatory imigration restrictions in the United States. RUSSIA ADVOCATES. MOSCOW, Nov. 12. AT. Rykoff, in a speech, said : “Russia at the forthcoming Disarmament Conference would propose a consistent policy of disarmament in all countries, even to the extent of complete disarmament. provided this was under the control of the great toiling masses.”