The Waikato Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1937. AN ANNIVERSARY.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20263, 4 August 1937, Page 6

The Waikato Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1937. AN ANNIVERSARY.

Twenty-three years ago to-day the greatest war in all history commenced. It found the Empire united in the face of danger, but, although aware that the days of testing were at hand, quite unable to realise what an awful price in human life and human suffering had to be paid that liberty might not perish. A generation has grown to manhood since then, in a world still suffering sadly from the aftermath of war, and forced to admit that peace is still a dream. The outlook to-day is a troubled one. In the Far East the threat of war is imminent, and in Spain an armed struggle has been made more awful by the assistance given to the rebels by Powers where the. voice of the people cannot be heard and war becomes an instrument of policy for virtual dictators. More than two decades after the outbreak of hostilities in Europe the nations are feverishly re-arming, and the Continent seems to be becoming a vast armed camp. It is a depressing picture, especially for those who, twenty-three years ago, were buoyed up by the hope that this would be a war that would end war for all time.

Numerous and momentous have been the changes that have taken place since August, 1914. The road to peace has proved both long and hard, and no one can yet say that the goal is in sight, but there is some cause for thankfulness that the desire for peace, for the substitution of law for force in international affairs, is still strong and that peoples are united in an effort to bring about this mighty change. In this connection the policy of successive British Governments has been a strong factor, making for the peaceful solution of involved problems, damping down the fires of warmongers and striving for an improvement of economic conditions that would lessen the tension and brighten the outlook. There may be many things of which the critic can speak bitterly but there can be few, if any, people who will deny that the influence of the British Empire has been exerted on the side of peace or hold that the efforts mado were lacking in sincerity.

Fortunately the passing of the years since the great conflict finds the Empire still united, and determined to defend its liberties against aggression, .but with no desire to menace in any way the rights or the territorial possessions of any people. There are still many serious problems to be faced, but there is no reason to conclude that those who were strong in war will prove weak in peace, or that those who were prepared to sacrifice then will not be willing to serve their country now. The greater the danger to world peace the greater the need for the exercise of all the influence a nation can command to ensure peace. The Dominion, with the other units of Empire, has come into a heritage of freedom because of the price paid by an earlier generation. That fact must not be forgotten, but the task remains of making this country worthy of the sacrifices then made. In those days of stress and strain people caught the vision of a better State, and they must not be content to lose it in the light of the common day.