DISARMAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1931, Page 2

DISARMAMENT

AND WORLD PEACE. While so many people are basing their., .hopes oi w orld- Pence on tile Disarmament Con.'.erenee to be held at Geneva in February next, and while not a lew public speakers are glibly, repeating the rather exaspeiaiaig statement that “England ought to give the lead to the- other great powers in the matter of disarmament,” it may be well to study the opinions of a ilishop, who points out the trutu (which British people are slow to recognise), concerning England’s example in this matter. As for “England giving a lend,” she has been doing it generously for the past 12 years, and not one other of the great Powers Inis followed her example; on the contrary, while England has been greatly reducing her armaments, other nations have been increasing theirs enormously. We quote the following passage from the London “Quardian.”

DR. HEADLAM’S WARNING. The (Bishop of Gloucester writes, in his diocesan Magazine: —“I have received requests to take the chair at meetings m connection with the Lambeth Uon-ercnce resolutions on peace and the general question of disarmament. i need not say that, so far as regards the preservation of peace m the wond, I would do . everything that 1 could to promote it, but it seems to me that in alj these movements there is a dangerous side. “'Rhevo are those who are so en* thusiastic in the couse of peace that they seejn to thiiil? that if only this country begins a process of disarm* ament that it will make the rest of tue workl give up the practice of war, As a matter of fact, it is obvious that the situation in the world is very dangerous.. I am, therefore, unable to take the chair at any such meeting unless in is recognised that I should take tne opportunity i.T emphasising the following points:—

“The first is that all disarmament must lie reciprocal. As far as .1 can see, we have reduced our armaments quite as much as is possibly in existing circumstances, mill-.- (-hey arn very considerable reductions made by other countries.

“Tine second point is lor us to remember that without sea power the British Empire is very vulnerable. It is still imperative for us to be strong at sea ; we ought to be supreme. “The third point tu jemember is that if it were not for the protection offered by the British Fleet, piracy, at first in small and unobserved ways, later to an increasing extent, would rapidly grow (up almost all over the world.

“And the fourth point for us to remember is that the Soviet -republic ’O’f Ru’Ssia are 'drily prevented by the uncertainty of the issue from attempting to extend their principles, which, to most of us, seem to he destructive of civilised society. . . I have again and again emphasised what I believe to be true, that if we see.k peace there are two things requisite—we must be strong and we must be just. The League of-Nations cojild accomplish nothing unless it had power behind it .... While, therefore, am prepared in every way to help the cause of peace.