WARS & THREATS OF WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 January 1939, Page 5

WARS & THREATS OF WAR

DANGERS OF PRESENT EUROPEAN SITUATION Events Reviewed by the Hon W. Perry NEED FOR INCREASED TERRITORIAL FORCE A graphic review of the troubled course of events in Euiope and elsewhere since the Great War and the resultant menace to the peace of the world and to the immediate security of the British Commonwealth of Nations, was given by the Hon W. Perry, M.L.C., president of the New Zealand R.S.A., when speaking in the Municipal Social Hall last night. Mr. Perry made a striking appeal for support for the New Zealand Defence League, of which he is Dominion chairman, and described as precarious the state of the Dominion's land forces. Great Britain, he said, was faced today by the most formidable ring of enemies or potential enemies in her history, while the. threat of an invasion of New Zealand by Japan was very real. The meeting was largely attended and it was decided to form a Masterton branch of the league. A strong working comfnittee was set up.

The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, who presided, said he was very pleased to see such a large attendance at a meeting called to discuss a matter of such vital importance to us all. Events of recent years, of recent months and of recent days had caused us to ponder and to think whether our freedom, liberty and happiness was going to be ours undisturbed for very much longer. It appeared to be the practice today of certain countries to think themselves strong enough to nominate what they were going to take from their next door neighbour. It was our duty to take notice of the wealth and strength of those nations and of what was going on overseas and to do something to help the Government to do its job. (Applause). Mr Perry, who was greeted with applause, said the tense situation throughout the world made it absolutely necessary for democracies to take stock of and to analyse the events of recent years which had led up to the present state of affairs. For years after the Great War, Britain’s foreign policy had been based on the Covenant of the League of Nations and the Five Power Conference Treaty. Then in 1930 came what he termed the “infamous London treaty” when Great Britain agreed to limit her cruiser strength to fifty ships, notwithstanding the advice of Lords Beatty and Jellicoe that the minimum requirements were seventy. On account of the slowness of replacements, a.few years ago the effective British cruiser strength was reduced to thirty-four. In 1930 the then National Defence League of New Zealand pointed with fear and apprehension to the dangers confronting the British Commonwealth of Nations. The campaign of the New Zealand Defence League today was merely the culmination of the fear that existed prior to 1930. Since 1931 there had been an orgy of treaty breaking. The breaking of treaties had become so commonplace that today there was no such thing as the sanctity of treaties. When the history of the post-war era was' written it would be famous for treaty breaking. It was clear today that the rule of force had taken the place of the rule of law.

FIRST REAL TEST. The invasion of Manchukuo by Japan was the first real test of the League of Nations and, unfortunately for the world, the League failed. England and France’s strongly-worded Notes were ignored and Japan simply went on with its job. In 1935. Italy, a member of the League, attacked without provocation Abyssinia. another member. That was the second big test. And the League again failed. Abyssinia really dealt the death-blow to the League of Nations, an institution on which for years had been based the prayers of millions throughout the world. Had Mussolini attacked Abyssinia in 1913, with Italy at the same strength, Great Britain would have told him to keep his hands off and nothing further would have been heard about the invasion of Abyssinia. In 1936 Hitler marched into the Rhineland, breaking the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact. The civil war in Spain came in the same year and since then both Germany and Italy had given Franco substantial assistance, while England and France and the other Powers had pursued a policy of non-intervention. The League of Nations had proved itself hopelessly incompetent to settle major disputes. The failure of the League had taught the people of Great Britain that a policy of unilateral disarmament incurred a risk of war and in 1936 Britain had embarked on a policy of rearmament.

GERMANY STEALS A MARCH. In her programme of rearmament Germany, particularly in the air. had stolen a march on England and the other Powers, which it now seemed almost impossible to overtake. England s rearmament programme was timed for completion in 19.39, but were our potential enemies likely to wait until the end of 1939 for England to finish her programme? In 1937. Japan marched into China and last year German troops moved into Austria. Then came Czechoslovakia. In another six months the whole of that country would belong to Germany. From the point of view of democraticpeoples. 1939 opened most ominously. Franco had captured Barcelona and the end of the Spanish civil war was in sight. What would be the outcome of that war? Why was Germany and more especially Italy so interested in Spain? It was not because Hitler liked the shape of Franco’s moustache or that Mussolini liked his looks. When Franco won the war. Spain would no longer be a free and independent nation. It would be a Fascist Spain under the domination of Mussolini and Hiller. With a Fascist Spain what would

happen if Gibraltar went to a hostile power? Not only would our entry to the Mediterranean be menaced but also our trade routes round the west coast of Africa.

DEMOCRACIES HUMILIATED. Recent events had been a series of triumphs for Italy and Japan and a series of humiliations for democracies. Great Britain and France had not been strong enough to make their voices heard in the councils of the nations and their weakness had been provocative of war. Had Mr Chamberlain been backed up by a stronger armaments force at Munich, Czechoslovakia might have been in a different position today. Hitler’s greatest triumph at Munich was when he drove a wedge between France and Russia, and also destroyed the Little Entente. In this 20th century Hitler had achieved Bismarck’s dream of 70 years ago—German domination of all Central Europe down to the Black Sea. Today Germany was astride of Europe. He did not blame Mr Chamberlain for signing the Munich agreement —neither did he praise him —it was the fault of the people. Government’s could not do everything, and if the people were not prepared to make sacrifices, not by the use of their cheque books, but by personal service, then in the riot very distant future they were going to be badly disillusioned, and would learn that they had been living in a fool's paradise. “GET IN AND DO A JOB.” In the ultimate result it was for the people, young and old, to get in and do a job of work. 1939 found us almost surrounded by a ring of enemies or potential enemies. The ring consisted of Germany, Italy and Japan, with Spain a possibility in the not far distant future. Great Britain was faced by the most formidable ring of enemies in her history, and in the event of war she might not be able to spare any help for Australian and New Zealand. That would mean that Australia and New Zealand would have to stand on their own feet as regards local defence. It was New Zealand's duty to pull her weight with the British Commonwealth of Nations. New Zealand had not always pulled her weight in the Empire defence boat. The British taxpayer contributed an annual sum per head of £2 5s 7d for defence and New Zealand’s contribution was 9s per head. Apart from the development of its air arm, New Zealand in recent years had failed to provide an adequate land defence force. A Territorial establishment of 9000 was a miserable story, and was merely toying with the position. The Territorials had done splendidly, carrying on a skeleton force in face of sneers, handicaps and discouragement. It was absolutely essential that a much larger force should be built up. It was not fantastic to imagine a 'raid or an invasion of New Zealand. Danger from Japan was one of the major reasons why a trained and fully equipped force of 20,000 or 30.000 men was necessary. A determination to make the prize not worth the price would practically ensure that no one would attempt to invade New Zealand. But it could not be done with a force of 9000 men. ORIGIN OF THE LEAGUE. The New Zealand Defence League had been formed in 1936. Since then a not very successful effort had been made to bring about a realisation of the dangers confronting New Zealand as a co-parlner of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and as a member of the League of Nations. The Defence League had been inspired by a letter written by Sir Andrew Russell, “our great war time commander.” urging the necessity to “open people’s eyes to the danger.” The league had done its best to assist and encourage the volunteer Territorial movement. It had. however, come to the conclusion that the volunteer system had received a fair trial in New Zealand in recent years, and unfortunately had failed. The league favoured the introduction of a compulsory system, and also compulsory national service by all. If the people of New Zealand were not prepared to give their services, and make personal sacrifices in the interests of their country then they deserved to see their institutions and their heritage perish. (Applause). AIMS AND OBJECTS. The Dominion Organiser of the league, Mr Eric Reeves, dealt with the state of the forces and outlined the aims and objects of the league, which now had 42 established branches in the Dominion. Summarised, the aims and objects were as follow:—(a) A minimum of three months' compulsory continuous recruit training by all youths on attaining the age of 12 years; (b.)

Thereafter continuous training in the Territorials for a period of 4 years; (c), The league affirms the principle of equality of economic sacrifice in war time; (d) That the league advocates the establishment of a national register of both sexes with the obligation of the part of all those registered to render such service to the country as may be most convenient to their ability and the requirements of the situations. It was unanimously decided to form a Masterton branch of the league and the following were appointed as a committee, with power to add: Messrs T. Jordan (president), Raymond Lee, A. J. Hume, E. S. Smith, W. A. Jones, S. Fletcher, G. R. Booth, R. N. Shaw, W. A. White, H. H. Daniell, G. D. Wilson, T. A. Brown and N. J. Bennington (secretary pro tern).

In moving hearty votes of thanks to Messrs Ferry and Reeves, Mr Jordan thanked them for “coming along and stimulating interest in our well-being." He ■regretted that the audience consisted mainly of veterans tried in service, without a leavening of the youth of the district.

A large number of members were enrolled after the meeting.