OPPOSED TO WAR
EX-SOLDIERS’ SENTIMENTS
DESIRE FOR, WORLD PEACE
SYDNEY, December 26,
A resolution having for its declared object the prevention of all wars lias been passed by the Federal Congress of the Returned Soldiers’ League, which has been sitting in Canberra. The idea is 'to arrange a conference of ex-sokliers of every country that took part in the Great War—enemies and Allies alike—to formulate an antiwar policy. Tlie motion, as carried practically unanimously, was as follows :— 1 That an endeavour be made to bring together the representatives of soldier organisations' throughout the world.”
In the course of the discussion that took place, politicians were not referred to in flattering phrases. In fact, many of the speakers" said that all ways were made by "politicians. Tliose ■who claimed that wars would never end, and those who indulged in a great deal of flag-waving, were like centenarians who advocated birth control, especially as so few of them knew from actual experience what war was like. No soldier who went through the Great War would ever advocate another.
HORRORS OF WAR. Mr G. W. Holland, of Victoria, who moved the motion, said' there was a vast difference, between preparing for defence and foiyyyay. Returned soldiers who had seen ike' ‘'horror's of battle realised their responsibility to the younger people of the world, and especially of their own country. He would not like to see his son placed in the same position as he was himself. If lie did not prevent, or try to prevent, liis son from taking part in war, then lie was not doing his duty. Exsorvicrimen, with their knowledge of war, were in a. unique position to tell the world of the dangers which lay in its path. Australia should feel proud if tlie league sponsored a movement to bring together ex-servicemen to help in the preservation of world peace, said Mr Holland. The futility of war was daily pointed out in all the war hospitals and in the position of the returned men to-day. He was afraid that future, wars would be , to the very doors of everyone. Every person would have to share, more than they did before, in the sufferings. EUROPE’S “ARMED CAMP.” The president .of,, the. New South Wales branch of the league, Mr L. A. Robb, who recently returned from a tour of’ ‘lHurope,"' saief tlmt'"' ‘the ’ pontinent was practically an firmed camp. In France he had seen inscriptirins on gas masks offered for sale:—“Learn to use these to-day: To-morrow you might need them.’’,That'indicated the prevailing atmosphere'.' Knowing something of the horrors and the futility cf waf,,: returned^rnrin should do. all in their power to prevent' war. Australia, as a young epuptry. could, in this matter, lead, the, rest of the world.
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Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1933, Page 6
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458OPPOSED TO WAR Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1933, Page 6
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