WORLD CONDITIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1939, Page 4

WORLD CONDITIONS

NO ADVANCE THROUGH WAR. OVERWHELMING MASS DESIRE PEACE. A confession that he was in a mood of deep depression resulting from the state of the world and, particularly, of Europe, was made by Mr James Maxton, M.P., addressing the Independent Labour Conference. “It is to me,” he said, “the height/of tragedy that in a world where the overwhelming mass of the people desire peace with a fervour and sincerity never known before, and with a realisation of the horror and futility of war such as they have never shown before, the nations seem to be heading for a clash on a larger scale than ever previously experienced. Many people got into the mood of/saying, ‘Well, if it is to come, let it come and be done with it.’ That mood I will not permit myself to develop,” declared Mr Maxton. “I never have, and will not now accept the view that a large-scalq word war is inevitable.' I certainly cannot accept the' view that is propounded by many Socialists that this is a necessary stage with a view to a better order of society.”