The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1915. THE ABOLITION OF WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 34, 10 June 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1915. THE ABOLITION OF WAR.

Will it ever be possible to find some substitute which may supersede military force and the clash of arms in red war as we now know it? There are some at least who think it may be, because civilization revolts at the indescribable horrors modern war on German lines has introduced. As an institution militarism must cease the world feels, but it will doubtless be a slow and gradual process. An outline of what may be accomplished is attempted by Sir Robert Laidlaw in a lengthy article appearing in the "Contemporary Review." Briefly, according to Sir Robert, in the first place, German militarism must be crushed. When that is done an International Conference might be summoned. The Conference would establish an International Council or Parliament, to which all nations would send representatives, and to whose decision they would all lie pledged to submit disputes which they could not settle amongst themselves. This would do away with the practice of rushing to

arras to avenge real or imaginary wrongs or on pretexts put forward to cover ambitious designs. No State would lie allowed to keep up colossal armies or navies. I?aeh might have only sufficient forces to preserve order within its own territories, or to repress uncivilised races upon its frontiers. The forces of all the States would combine to enlorce the decrees of the general Tribunal. The picture drawn certainly seems reasonable enough, and the idea in a nutshell is that no State would henceforth light on its own account. Any State taking up amis against its neighbour would be a rebel against the World's Government. In the details of Sir Robert'-i plan there will he found much of interest. For example, limitation of armament is arranged by a grand Council, which would dcteVumie the

number of soldiery and lighting ships by some fixed proportion to the population (say one hundred soldier.-, to every million inhabitants), and in regard to the Navy by extent of coast line to be guarded, say two battleships to every thousand miles of coast line. On this basis Great Britain would have 45,000 soldiers and 56 ships, China 40,000 soldiers and five ships, and Russia 10.400 soldiers and IS ships. When all the separate force-; were combined there would be a World Army of 175,000 soldiers and a World Navy of 249 ships. International inspectors with large powers' would be expected to see these pro-, portions were not exceeded. The na-J tions would, it is also suggested, be | divided into classes for representa-1 tion on the Council which would direct [ all world affairs, and it would be on something like the following lines:— (1) First Class, possessing over fifty million inhabitants ;-(2) Second Class, with a population between fifty and, twenty millions: (3) Third Class, those with a population under twenty millions. The nations of the First Class e.g., the British Empire. Aus-tria-Hungary, China, .Japan and Russia, would have three representatives on the Council ; the nations of the Second Class, e.g., Italy, Spain.- would have two representatives, and those of the Third Class mow known as the Minor States') would have one representative. The Council would make international laws and administer them, judge between disputants, and have the supreme control over armaments. Of course all this is just now] quite outside the range of practical application, but it is at least good to know that thinkers and men of note are endeavouring to formulate some scheme which may make impossible for j ever such a catastrophe as that brought about by.the military maniacs who have deluded Germany and made] her what she is to-day. j