COMMONSENSE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 671, 25 October 1933, Page 4

COMMONSENSE

The remarks of Sir Samuel Hoare as cabled on Monday should serve as an antidote to the scaremongers who recently have been responsible for what almost amounted to a war scare i in various parts of the Empire. i "During the past few days there j have been very disturbing events in Europe," said the Minister. "There are scare-makers who want to make everyone believe that we are on the verge of a great European war. We have to keep to the facts, and the facts are that Britain has set an example of disarmament, incessantly pursued a policy of peace and. made the most practical proposals for a general reduction of armaments and the restoration of equality of status to Germany. In this matter Cabinet is fully unanimous. We shall continue to proceed on these lines, and carry ont onr treaty obligations. There is no cause for panic, but a need for scool heads and commonsense." New Zealand has recently had an example of this war scare in the unnecessary prominence given to the somewhat overdone overseas messages regarding Germany's withdrawal from the League of Nations. "Cool heads and commonsense," as Sir Samuel puts it, are a tried and proven British remedy which should not desert us now. Later events have shown that Germany's withdrawal was a diplomatic move and nothing more ; it has been accepted with comparative equanimity in Europe which has a great deal more reason to develop war scares than this Dominion. There are indications, indeed, that Germany's action has had the effect of throwing the other great powers more closely together and has improved the possibility of their arriving at a closer understanding. Great Britain can at least rest j secure in the knowledge that she I has conscientiously given a lead j to the world in disarmament and , has given tangible proof of the i sincerity of her motives. There are fortunately no signs of panic among the statesmen who are ' directing the destinies of the Empire in Whitehall. So long i as the British people maintain their level-headedness, their commonsense and their sense of humour there is little danger of I their being carried away by the j extravagances which have per- | vaded Germany with mob-hys- j teria. But if the press of the Empire becomes stampeded, it will not be long before the reac- • tions are felt all over the world.