POSTERITY'S LEGACY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 500, 6 April 1933, Page 4

POSTERITY'S LEGACY

In his address to the Universities' Congress, Mr. Lloyd George repeated a statement which he made recently in referring to political developments I in Germany. He declares that the Germans have been driven into frenzy because they feel that they have been tricked. There has been ample justification for this feeling, because it was clearly stated in the Tfeaty of Versailles that the compulsory disarmament of Germany was only the preliminary to gen-

eral disarmament. But smce 1919 Germany has been the impotent spectator of rearmament on a dangerous scale, and despite the occasional attempts made to encourage the development of a j new pacific spirit, the process ihas gone on until the situation has become desperate. In the meantime, however, Germany had broken under the strain which had been imposed upon her. Long ago, Signor Mussolini contended that she could not be held' back as a sedond-class Power, and now the truth of his assertion has been proved. Mr.

Lloyd George contends that the task of preserving peace is still one for youth, which must find "other . means than pacifist resolutioris".to prevent.war. While Mr. Lloyd George aiid Mr. Baldwin are in the same camp on that question, the responsibility still lies with tKe elder statesmen who are ruling the countries now. If they leave a rich enough legacy to those who follow thfem it will be respected and received with gratitude, but until the .past two or three weeks there

has been little. sign of . concern about the kind of legacy .that was to be passed on. Sihce 1919. there has been a plentitude of international effor following tlie mbst calamitous years in world history ; but this can be swept away, even though there will have to be careful riegotiation with , a high-tempered Germany which is iiow flaming with a spirit of nationalism controlled by a man who does fiot inspire trust. • . "