THE QUESTION OF QUESTIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9668, 16 December 1909, Page 4

THE QUESTION OF QUESTIONS.

In Lord Curzon's opinion the question of questions is compulsory national training. Speaking recently at Oxford, he said the real question now and in the future and at all times was the continued security of tht? eountry, for .it waa upan that question liiat depended their contini ued existence as an independent ! State and the maintenance of their ! predominant position in the world. It was a military question, a naval question, a political question, and a social question ail combined in one. The position taken up by the National Service League was this: that this nation was not safe; that under the existing conditions grave dangers confronted them; that they had not tne forces with which either to carry out their obligations

w>tht their allies or even to defend their own shores. They knew very well that Continental Powers under modern conditions were armed to the teeth, and at no great distance from their own shcres another great Continental Pbwer not only possessed the most potent military force on the Continent, but was acquiring a naval force which 5n a few years' time must rival, if it did not surpass, their owr. He said nothing about the intentions of that Power. Let them presume, as they hoped, they were entirely friendJy; but surely it would be an act of criminal folly not to I allow that there were elements of danger in the situation, and not to safeguard it while they could. When he took up such a position he j asked them to believe it was not the ( argument of the panic monger. 1