The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1917. PUNISHMENT IS NECESSARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1917. PUNISHMENT IS NECESSARY.

It seems that there are still members of the British House of Commons who profess to retain a sort of sympathy with the enemy, emanating from a desire to end the war by means of negotiation instead of by the sword. According to recent cables these peace-at any-piice legislators aired their views in the House, but were promptly and firmly rebuked by Mr. Bonar Law,' who rightly denounced a peace at a time when the greatest neutral nation liad recognised that the excess of our enemies had reached the limit which made civilisation possible. Apparently, the particular complaint wlii6h Messrs Ponsonby, Trevelyan and Snowden voiced wa3 in relation to Mr. Long's speech wherein lie said: "We have tai-.en possession of different German -jo'nnics in virion* parts of the world in consequence of the war.

.... Let 110 man think these territories will ever return to German rule.'' It appears incredible that men taking part in the legislative affairs of the Motherland, and presumably acquainted with the conduct of the ivar by our enemies, as well as the events which forced the Empire into the struggle, can so far distort their mental vision us to advocate that these ruthless despoilers of tlie small nations and a constant menace to the Great Powers, whose a:r.i when embarking on the war was to Teutouiie the map of the world and,oppress tlie nations with limitless tyranny, should have all their possessions restored to them much in the same way as a «;1fully obstinate and contumacious child, after having its toys confiscated and being corporally punished, is soothed hv the return of its playthings and told riot to be naughty or wicked any more. Those who advocate such treatment of the Huns must be peculiarly constituted ami have deliberately blotted from their memory the history of the war with outrages and atrocities. Even if they arc sincere in their views they must recognise that the hopelessness of their advocacy and the justice of some punishment being meted out to the barbaric violators of all the laws of humanity. To assert that the British Government 1 should not degrade the country by making the war one of aggrandisement and supremacy is mc-rely causing merriment for the Germans, who naturally attribute such views to fear. Let them ask themselves why Britain entered the war, for what she is carrying it on, and why it is necessary to have such a fixed and firm purpose in view before peace is made. Let them remember that Britain does not stand alone in this titanic struggle, but that the Dominions are sharing the burden and are entitled to a voice in the disposition of the acquired enemy possessions. When Mr. Lone; made tlie speech which has so upset these self-advertised peacemongers, he voiced the views of the Dominions a? wejl as of the sane portion of the British community. The Dominions are no longer children, but have arrived at man's estate They leaped to the call to arms when it sounded and have proved their virility and have become recognised as partners instead of dependents. They know only too well that the menace would be in the future if Germany were to receive back her coigns of vantage. It would be just as unreasonable and absurd to urge that all the war bills of the Central .Powers should be paid by | the Allies, and they would then in truth ( emerge from the war empty-handed,

bankrupt, and a prey -for our present enemies •when they recover from the present war. It would he well for these peace .praters to bear in mind how Germany proposes to cut up the Balkuns, Turkey, Belgium and France. There is only one way of preventing this, and that ia by means of crushing the militarism 'which is the cause of all the trouble. According to Mr. Trevelyan, whatever our military successes may be, we should still be compelled to negotiate for and not to dictate peace. That may be his idea, for it accords with the plea he puts forward, and if he is right it would be suicidal to continue the struggle. There can be 110 negotiations with madmen with homicidal mania strongly developed and hate elevated into a fanatical religion. It is not a question, of haggling over terms. The world's peace is involved, and it is for that and that alone that the fight will continue until the object is achieved—not on paper, liut by such superior force that will prevent wal- in the future. It is, therefore, refreshing and stimulating to read the spirited reply of Mr. Bonar La.w, in which he emphatically demonstrated that the punishment- of oene. mies was imperative. There arc various grades of punishment, and some people are apt to confuse the term punishmentwith that of vengeance. Britain has no thought of vengeance, but she, together with the Dominions and thtTAiiics, will be just by making the punishment in some'measure fit the crimes committed. The blood and treasure expended over this war into which we were forced jnu»t not be in vain. There must, as Mr. Bonar Law emphasised, be no second panic war. There must be security for peace and that can only be obtained by drawing the poison fangs of the enemy, and by preventing Germany from occupying territory which can serve as bases for future raiding operations. Germany has proved to be a re 'Hess gambler. She has lost and caiuu t expect to have her losses handed over, and it is high time that an end was lut to the vapid lamentations of those who hav • no soul above their own puny meanderings, and 110 conception of the dignity of a justice that upholds right i y punishing wrong-doers.