UNITED STATES' OUTLOOK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 15, 19 January 1933, Page 6

UNITED STATES' OUTLOOK.

DISARMAMENT AND WAR DEBTS,

(To the Editor.)

How many people who criticise the U.SA in her attitude towards war debts know that six months ago President Hoover's proposal for a reduction of world armaments by onethird was rejected by France and Britain? In addition, he asked for the abolition of tanks chemical warfare, large mobile guns and bombing 'planes. These proposals also were rejected. "You tell us that you are too poor to par Your debts. But you are rich enough to spend vast sums on armaments. Unless you reduce that I expenditure you •cannot expect us to take seriously your plea of poverty." Broadly, that is what the U.S.A. tells Europe to day. The nations of Europe are spending x-300.000.000 a year on preparing for war. They cannot afford that vast sum. It is unproductive expenditure. Military machines produce nothing. They only consume. Armaments pave thtT way to war. Speaking of the pre-war years, Viscount Grey said: "The enormous growth of armaments in Europe, the senile of insecurity and fear caused bv them —it was these that'made war inevitable." Those millions should be devoted to productive purposes, to the building up and enrichment of life, not its destruction. When the people of this and other countries wake up and take as much interest in the League of Nations and disarmament as they do in race meetings and Test matches thev will probably get the improvements in social conditions that they would then deserve. R. C. SIMMONS.