Calling the War-Mongers' Bluff

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 41, 19 April 1935, Page 14

Calling the War-Mongers' Bluff

Leicester Webb Speaks Out Against Politicians’ Hypocritical Blunder-ines-Disastrous Sophistry of Nations-The Beginnings of )

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MR. LEICESTER WEBB (3YA). TN the last month the prospects of escaping another world war have diminished very * perceptibly. First there has been the British White Paper, which has indicated quite clearly what the British Government thinks of the international . outlook. Then, a few days later, came’ the German ‘Government’s announcement that it no longer considered itself bound by the Treaty of Versailles. There is a: connection between the two. events: The preamble to the arms clauses in the treaty says that Germany is being disarmed in order to make possible a general limitation of the armaments of all nations. In the eyes of the Germans, at any rate, the British White Paper means that Britain at least feels that a policy of reducing her armiments is no longer advisable in present circumstances. It has been obvious for a long time that most of the other European nations also regard disarmament as impracticable. The German Government therefore holds that, as the ‘other nations are’ not holding to their part. of the bargain, she is no longer obliged to hold to her part of it. There is not much use in discussing Whether Germany is right or whether she is wrong. The point is that the armaments race is on, and that the peace treaties, which are the basis of order and security in Burope, _ have been seriously weakened. cS .%

Att these disastrous events wouldn't be so bad if the peoples of the world would only realise that they are disastrous. The trouble is that all over the world statesmen are trying to make a virtue out of necessity. A few years ago» everyone. was .agreed that war was as- horrible as it was stupid. A few years ago everyone was agreed that disarmament was essential to the peace of the world. A few years ago it was agreed that what is called the balance of .power could never bring security, and that the only hope for permanent peace lay in the League of Nations. All these propositions are true. But because the Disarmament Conference has done nothing and because there is everywhere a scramble for defensive alliances, the statesmen are saying they are not-true.. The first requisite of statesmanship, it seems, is to be able to show that what is happening is what ought. to be happening. Thus you have the Rt. Hon. Mr. Blank assuring the world that-the increase in armaments contemplated by his government will bea notable contribution to the peace‘of the’ world. Thus you have the French Foreign Minister assuring his countrymen that an alliance with Italy and Russia will leave France so powerful that no nation will dare to attack her. Thus you have Herr .Hitler assuring his countrymen: that war is necessary in order to bring out the best qualities of the Nordic race. Thus you have Signor "Mussolini: telling Italians that war is 4

to men what maternity is to women. Even in this country I have heard men arguing in public that war is inevitable because the combative instinct is part of human nature. {zt is really rather amazing how nis sort of nonsense gets accepted. Probably the combative instinct is part of human nature; but to argue from that that war is inevitable is merely absurd. Why, every one of us bas dozens of unpleasant instincts which, if given free play, would cause all sorts c£ trouble. The point is that we live in a society and have acquired the arg of restraining our instincts or giving them outlets in ways which are not socially harmful. ° Our combative instinets are aroused every day without causing bloodshed. The other: day my neighbour left his wireless set going full strength for 4n hour or two, At one time jt would have given me great ‘satisfaction to have assaulted either him or his set with a piece of lead piping. But I didn’t, and I don’t seem) to have suffered any very serious psy-¥ chological consequences. All of us, I! suppose, are naturally covetous; but we don’t go about robbing, and stealing, and shoplifting. All of.us are greedy, but we learn how unwise it is to overeat. Perhaps some of you will say: Yes, this is all very well, but you don’t assault your neighbours or steal their property for the very good reason that if you do the police will. clap you in gaol. If you think a little you will mt

realise that this is not,really the exDlanation. The basig of law und order is not force. It is common sense. If our combative instinct does not make it necessary for us to assault our neighbours when they annoy us, still less does it make it necessary for us to dress up in uniforms and do our best to kill men who have never done us any harm, and who are quite unknown to us. MR. G. M. KEYS (3YA). HEN Sir John Macdonald. by his Police Act in 1878, gave birth to this force of Mounted Riflemen, he Was actuated by two main concerns. British Columbia had been promised the C.P.R, six years earlier; in fact the railway was worthless unless it glossed the plains and the Rockies, for British Columbia was its reason for »xistence. But not a rail had yet been ‘laid on the plains, for the very obvious reason that across this 1000 miles of prairie and 500 miles of mountains, tribes of Redskins wandered uncontrolled, only too ready to destroy all evidence of the white man’s progress and to scalp him into the bargain. They must first be subdued-hence the Police Act. But there was a second problem. Refugees from the late American Armies were pushing North. Bankrupts, outlaws, and rascally traders were prepared to rough it and risk it on the chance of being able to fleece the Indians of their horses, and hides and land. If no action were taken it might not be only the Indians who would lose the land. Canada might lose it forever. It was hoped that the force of Mounted Igiflemen might solve these problems. put SOme rather senseless objections Were raised immediately, particularly by United States’ newspapers, who . discussed this new "military move" and spoke of it as if Montana were to be invaded. Sir John, in anger, changed the name of his prospective force from "Mounted Rifles" to "Mounted Police" and the officers’ titles from Major and Captain to Superintendent and Inspector, which terms are still used to-day. The title "N.W.M.P." was to change at a later date, because of Royal patronage, to the "R.N.W.M.P."; and still later to its present title of "R.C.M.P." [TENSITY of training weeded out the unfit then, as it still does. The work in this first instance was particularly exacting, and the rumours of what lay ahead caused a few, the lazy gnd faint-hearted, to take "leg-bail." yhe remainder said, "Good riddance," ' Msprit de corps became established, and after a period of training, which seemed all too short in view of the work which lay to hand, the column moved out on its long march of 1000 miles into the prairies-a handful of scarletcoated men, each troop on horses of a distinctive colour, followed by wagons, two field-guns and mortars, and a procession of ox-carts, agricultural implements and herds of cows and calves. Tt was a histgric day for Canada, this 8th of July, 1874, when this expedition of young men from whom the waverers and the weaklings had been weeded, fist invaded Indian land, The record of this first journey would in itself provide the material for several] interesting talks, but the contrast between the conditions which this force encountered and the highlight of the sign-

ing of an important treaty with the Indians three years later, is surely eloquent testimony to the way in which they accomplished the work which they were sent Out to do. DONALD COWIE (3YA), ‘TJNDOUBTEDLY the ranks of litezary genius are thin at present: but for the consolation of the aspiring there still towers head and shoulders above most of his fellows one manRudyard Kipling-who, I am sure, will be regarded by the literary historian of the future as the true recorder of our age, a fine instrument who lived wholeheartedly in it, and then wrote dowr faithfully what he heard, saw, felt and thought. There has been much speculation as to the origin of Kipling’s

queer Christian name, and for some time it was thought he had been named. after q lake in the Midlands, where his parents had spent their honeymoon, Nothing so romantic is the fact, however, The boy, on good authority, wis named in accordance with a_ grandmother’s wish, after a London Square! Kipling’s was a precocious genitis. At the age of 17 the young exile returned to his beloved India where, through the influence of his father he obtained a position on the staff of i Lahore newspaper. Almost immediately he began writing those fine short stories which in 1888 were published in the volume "Plain Tales from the Hulls." At an age when most writers have still to cut their wisdom tecth Kipling was producing his best work.