THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1910. THE PEACEMAKER AND PEACE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9992, 12 March 1910, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1910. THE PEACEMAKER AND PEACE.

In receiving the great Anglican deputation the King, the cable recorded recently, laid special stress upon the subject of peace, so near to the thoughts of the world just now. The concord of Christendom was unbroken, said his Majesty, and rarely in history bad the idea of war seemed more repulsive, or the desire for peace been more widely cherished throughout the Empire. All this is literally so true that a King may well say it; and yet behind the bright appearances lurk forces gathering ominous and potent for a veritable Armageddon of nations. What should break "the concord of Christendom?" Nothing, as far as i may be judged, but the un-Chris-tian aspiration of some nation to supremacy, a covetous desire to possess territory that belongs to others In what direction, or sentiment is this Empire other than resolutely peaceful? It seeks no gain out of the deprivation ot others, and throughout its anpee- j cedented lengths and breadths draws no invidious bar against white peoples of other nationalities, Out offers them open gates and equal citizenship. But while the King can draw this picture of conditions as ( they appear, suggests '

for it a grim other side. The greatest soldier of the Empire in his day warns his compatriots that they must arm and re-arm against an enemy who is stealthily preparing to attack them; the least jingoistic among the British Liberals agree that the war-ship-construction programme must be enlarged and accelerated on the same account; and the Navy Bill swells bigger yearly, in order that the Empire may keep its lead in the "mad race" in armament-building. That the idea of war has never seemed more repulsive than now is a truism, since people understand very clearly what a murderous clash a European war would necessitate, and ion w hat an unprecedently vast ! death-dealing scale it would be fought. But in view of all the warnings and all the evidences, there is nothing for it but to be ready and keep ready. And that applies wherever the flag flies, since in the predicted war, wherever the crucial battle is fought, the issue will be the continuance of the British fclmpire. Thus, while heartily reechoing his Majesty's peaceful sentiments, the Empire must take very careful precautions to keep its powder dry against the life-and-death struggle which it has done nothing , and will do nothing to provoke.