NO MORE WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1927, Page 2

NO MORE WAR

POXSON RY’S PKTLTI.ON. 'Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Dec. 20. Air Baldwin replying to Air Arthur Ponsonby’s letter signed by 138,703 .Britons refusing to support or tender war service to any Government which resorts to arms, said that lie had given the matter most careful consideration. It should not ho necessary for him to say that the Government is as earnestly desirous to preserve peace as any signatory of the petition. Support of the League of Nations had been the constant pre-occupation of the Government, hut the petitioners should reflect that if the British Navy and Army ceased to exist, the inevitable result would be the collapse of the League. No greater incitement could be imagined. AA ithout arms Britain cannot honour the sixteenth article ot the Covenant, which details the tinned forces with which powers support toe League. Britain tbetl would he obliged to leave the League, and gone Would be tbe immense influence we wielded in tbe Council and Assembly ill the cause of pence. He adds: Tbe salue reasoning applies to tbe Locarno treaties. Tbe effectiveness of tile League depends most, largely upon tbe knowledge ol all parties, that in tin- event of an unprovoked attack, tbe mighty weight of Britain will he thrown into the scale against the aggressor. A T ou cannot strengthen the League by weakening the British Empire. England disarmed would be ati easy prey to hostile forces aiul nothing is more likely to excite cupidity and hostile intention. If we sink to the level of a fifth-rate power, the colonies would be stripped from us, and commerce decline, famine and unemployment stalk the land. AA e are pledged by the Covenant to reduce national armaments to the lowest point consistent!! with national safety and the enforcement of national obligations. That pledge we are determined to carry out. AA’e hope to reduce armaments still further by means of an agreement with the other powers. 4 inally, it is the privilege as well as the duty of Englishmen to take up arms in defence of home and country’. A war of aggression is ail abomination and horror, but a war of defence is very different. Terrible and ghastly as were the horrors of the last war. cou!il we have ilislionou red our pledge word. AA'ould the world he better if we had stood idly while France was invaded and Belgium destroyed. I have yet to learn that the cause of peace can he served by rendering our country impotent. Air Arthur Ponsonby in a brief replysays : The signatories to the letter do not consider that security is based oil. or that the ultimate .sanction of forces is likely to succeed or strengthen tho League’s authority.