The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1928. THE SPIRIT OF ANZAC DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 96, 24 April 1928, Page 6

The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo.

TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1928. THE SPIRIT OF ANZAC DAY.

THE CAUSE OF PEACE.

For the cause that lacks assistance, tor the tcrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Why does New Zealand keep Anzac Day, and in what spirit should the day be observed ? We have received from the mother of a soldier ■« no fell at Gallipoli a letter in which these questions are raised in poignant terms. Why, asks our correspondent, "have these old wounds and heartaches been torn open year after jear on Anzac Day? We are not as those who have no hope. If our boys did something glorious, worthy of remembrance, let us be proud of their bravery and rejoice in their honour, and let our general commemoration be in that spirit." The nondenominational Anzac Day service she finds "heart-harrowing," and thinks that the Church is the right place for such a commemoration. In all sympathy and reverence, it may be pointed out that the churches do hold memorial services, and that services in public halls are arranged so that the community may observe the day without distinction of creed. Of all days in the year this is the community's day, the time for combined commemoration. Our correspondent's definition of the proper Anzac Day spirit is admirable. We keep the day not to reopen old wounds or to revive old animosities, not to boast of our military prowess or to glorify war, but to commemorate the courage, honour, and self-sacrifice of the soldiers of this young nation in their first fiery trial—a trial that in a sense stands for the whole of our national effort during the four years of war. Grief cannot be excluded from Anzac Day, but it does not monopolise tho commemoration.

Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail Or knock the breast, no weakness, no contempt Dispraise or blame, nothing but well ami fair And what may quiet us in a death so noble.

The quotation may not be entirely appropriate, but the sentiment it expresses is one that is, or should be, prominent on Anzac Day. We must remember that it is nearly ten years since th' l war . ended, and a generation is arising with few if any memories of the struggle. We owe it to them to praise famous men, and to do it with legitimate pride and deep thankfulness.

It now seems that a strong reaction is taking place at Home in favour of the American proposals for a-general agreement between the Powers to "outlaw" war. Az first Britain apparently held the same view as France, that while a bilateral treaty between any two Powers to dispense with war is practicable, the extension of such an agreement to include several other Powers would in many ways conflict with commitments already undertaken, and might encroach unduly upon the sphere of the League of Nations. But judging by the comments of the "Daily Telegraph" and the "Times" upon the present situation, we may conclude that the British Government is now inclined to ignore the more important objections raised by France and to accept the American scheme in its revised form.

The British criticism of France's attitude applies chiefly to her insistence on tho necessity for maintaining all the safeguards that she has already secured against any possible attempt on the part of Germany, 01* any other Power, to upset the peace settlement. This is no doubt a perfectly natural and reasonable attitude. The "Daily Telegraph'' comments rather censoriously on France's "ineradicable distrust" of Germany, and appears to sympathise with German resentment at French apprehensiveness. But surely it is rather early in the day for France to feel supreme confidence in Germany's peaceful and amicable intentions.' Considering all that has happened since 1914 we need hardly be surprised that France should take this opportunity to remind the Powers that they have assumed certain definite obligations, in regard to the Rhineland and the Franco-German frontier which must not be superseded by some other form of compact or agreement dictated by the United States.

But while the leading English journals are inclined to expostulate with France on her irreconcilable attitude, they are apparently disposed to go a very long way i'or the purpose of conciliating and placating the American?. The "Times" urges that Britain should not miss this opportunity for promoting the great cause of world peace, and it now insists, contrary to the opinions originally expressed, that there is nothing in the proposed agreement that would weaken the Locarno Pact or infringe upon the Covenant of the League. This change of attitude on the part of the leaders of public opinion at Home strikes us 83 rather startling and ominous. It suggests that Britain is inclined to renew the dubious policy of sacrificing too many other important considerations to secure the goodwill of tha United States.

"CRUSH WITH CARE."

The Bolsheviks, though they are not easy to praise, possess at least the conspicuous merit of frankness. Kalinin, of the Soviet hierarchy has just reproved the poorer peasantry for complaining of neglect, and has assured them that the only reasons for ignoring their needs hitherto has been that the Dictators have been too busy crippling an-1 destroying the -wealthier cultivators of the land. It is the duty of the State to crush all elements obnoxious to it, but it must "crush with care." So far it has discriminated between the richer and the poorer peasantry, and the latter still survive. But one would like to know how soon it will be necessary for the Dictators to discriminate between the "urban proletariat" and the tillers of the soil, and what will happen to the poorer peasantry then. "Crush with care" is a sound motto, no doubt, and if the beetle under the iron heel cherishes independent views about it he must keap them to himself.