CAUSES OF WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 May 1939, Page 5

CAUSES OF WAR

PEACE PLEDGE UNION MEETING. How international problems could be solved by pacifism and the principles and objects of pacifism were the subjects of an address by Mr Michael Young, secretary of the Wellington branch of the Peace Pledge Union, in the Masterton Y.M.C.A. Hall on Saturday night. Mr T. Esler was chairman. Mr Young referred to the change in public opinion toward peace movements that had occurred during the past year or so and deplored the public’s tendency to become war-minded. “War does not defend that which it is alleged to,” he stated. “Wrong means must inevitably result in wrong ends, the Great War being a tragic example of this fact. Because all wars, aggressive or defensive, are morally wrong, the pacifist believes in the method of persuasion and non-violent resistance and renounces the way of war. Pacifists aim at exposing the causes of war and try to remove these causes. “Nazism is not a cause, but an effect,” continued the speaker in dealing with the present international situation. The cause was to be found in the unjust treatment served out to Germany after the Great War and the present unfair distribution of the world’s resources. Britain, America, France and Russia owned 85 per cent of the world’s raw material sources. The remaining 15 per cent was divided up among Germany, Italy, Japan and 60 other nations. Britain’s policy of peace was only natural, as a rich man had no desire to fight the poor. But the poor man would look to the rich with envy. Germany had sought by friendly means to gain her rights and had been refused. But now she was armed and was taking territory by force, and this would continue until other nations were prepared to make amends or until the dictators were satisfied.

“Let us urge the Government to call a world peace conference,” said the speaker. “Let us say that we will pool the trade markets of the world, for the good of mankind.” He contended that a country’s honour was actually that country’s interest, but in any case could honour be defended by doing the dishonourable actions that war entailed? Mr Young quoted a number of instances of successful victories by nonviolent resistance and went on to refer to the Peace Pledge Union’s activities in England. Its membership was between 150,000 and 200,000 and its supporters included many notable people from various'walks of life. The organisation was entirely non-sectar-ian and was very active in England, its activities ' including assistance to refugees as well as educating the nation for peace. At the conclusion of the address Mr Bert Ross stated his reasons for believing that all Christians should be pacifists to be consistent and after a period of general discussion the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the visitors for their enlightening information.