Lord Beaverbrook Says

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 37, 22 March 1935, Page 12

Lord Beaverbrook Says

The causes of «war, if we are engaged again, will almost certainly be the means we are taking "to avoid war. America is convinced that Europe will fight again. There are three things which may cause the next war: Balance of power, alliances, and the League of Nations, War does not now produce the dominating nations-it produces several demoralised nations. Now, devastation falls on victor and vanquished alike. As we have learned, by experience, there. is no use asking .a money indemnity of the defeated’ nation. The "balance of power" gives no guarantee of peace to Britain. Britain must emerge from.a war weary and_ broken. In practice, alliances mean for us an alliance with France or else an alliance with Germany. If the policy is to be effective, we MUST be on the winning side. It is true no longer that we will give victory to our allies. In modern war, all nations are defeated. , The League has never been a league of the whole world+it is less so to-day than ever it was. If it does not include all the nations it becomes not an instrument for peace, but a menace to peace. : It can only promise collective action against Germany in the’ -event ‘of war.

"""If we reject. all three plans, what then should be our policy? -lIsolation: going our own way and fighting only if we are attacked. If we reject this policy of isolation the. Empire will break up. The moment the situation. arises that Britain is at war and the Dominions at peace, at that --moment the Empire is at an end. We should be America’s companions in isolation. "We take no part in wars!"’That is the splendid objective of © a policy of isolation. We have pledged ourselves to war, but I deny that there are any commitments which Britain can not bring to an end if she resolve to do so. There is an unwritten. clause in every treaty, bringing it to an end if things do not remain as they were when the treaty was signed. ‘ _The people of Britain will not march to. the aid of Germany. The conditions which existed. at Locarno no longer exist. The Treaty of Locarno has been broken three times overby Germany, by France, and by conditions. themselves. We. have seen 15 years of futile effort to combine Europe in a common purpose. Unity in Europe is an impossibility ‘not worthy of discussion. We must turn away from these European hatreds and turn to the Empire..