Disarmament Conference

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 45, 22 May 1931, Page 9

Disarmament Conference

\ WHETHER or no one agrees with the _ principles of disarmament, one could not but be impressed by Dr, Gibbs’ talk on the subject from 2YA on Friday. His delivery was very impressive, albeit a trifle slow, Incidentally I should have recommended a little more distance

from the microphone to neutralise the hiss of his sibilants. These are small points, however, which in no way offset the value of the Doctor’s talk. We were reminded of the overwhelming catastrophe that another world war would bring about, and, in the Doctor’s opinion, should the all-important Conference of Nations next February fail, then such a war becomes inevitable. Great Britain, as usual, is expected to lead the way, and, if she does so, it is claimed that the rest of the world will follow suit. I wonder! Past experience does not endorse this optimism, and one cannot but fear the boldness of such a policy unless we have more definite guarantees from the other nations than we have had up to now. That we must back up our British statesmen in their stupendous efforts to secure world peace is unquestioned; but I, for one, trust that we shall

be equally insistent that the British Empire be not allowed to play a lone hand in the matter. A world war, even if we are fully prepared, will mean chaos of an unprecedented nature; but world war with Great Britain unprepared and disarmed would lead to our total effacement. Our Empire statesmen have before them a task of such magnitude as has never before confronted the statesmen of any country.