FIGHT FOR PEACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 69, 22 March 1934, Page 15

FIGHT FOR PEACE.

WAR HERO'S CAMPAIGN

LORD MARLEY IN U.S.A.

MILITARISM DENOUNCED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) < SAX FRANCISCO, February 23. One of Britain's war heroes, Lord Dudley Marley, D.S.M., has been conducting a whirlwind peace campaign throughout the United States, and made

an auspicious commencement in San Francisco after a hurried flight from Chicago. He was met at the San Francisco airport by a delegation of the local Chamber of Commerce and escorted the fifteen miles to the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco, his headquarters. Here Lord Marley, in his fearless style, pointedly pronounecd his opinion on world topics, giving the San Francisco newspapermen a shock by liis direct views, especially on Japan and Germany, in consequence of the military aspirations of those nations. War between Russia and Japan is inevitable, and may be expected by spring, was the opinion of Lord Marley, Deputy Speaker of the British House of Lords, member of the Labour Party in England, and head of the World Committee Anti-Hitler Association.

"Although Russian recognition by j America should have abolished any v thoughts of war in the minds of the Japanese war lords, the Japanese unfortunately are not acquainted with world opinion. In their country they ' face an economic crisis. The people are 4 clamouring for change, and Russia is 1 steadily becoming stronger." J Lord Marley maintained that Japan's aggressive policy was started by the 4 former war minister, who said that the ' Japanese were sons of God, and to them ' would fall the inheritance of the seas ' and the world. * Russia is a strong nation to-day, Lord Marley said. They have a huge air force * and in times of peace use aeroplanes for j transportation purposes and for sowing seed- In Siberia, he said, 500 acres are * gown daily with grain by aeroplane. j Marley Saw Much Service. : When Lord Marley addressed one of ' the greatest gatherings in the annals ' of San Francisco, under the auspices of the Commonwealth Club, he devoted himself to the primary objects of his United States tour, that"of relating conditions in Germany after a year of Hitler rule. He was instrumental in founding a number of Telief homes in Switzerland for those whose blood relationships or political opinions brought about their expulsion from Germany and the loss of their money. Lord Marley, who is chairman of the International Committee to Aid Victims , of German Oppression, was introduced amidst a scene of unparalleled enthusiasm as he rose to expose the cruelties perpetrated by the Nazi regime of Germany upon Jews and members of the working classes. The chairman of the meeting, in giving an outline of the brilliant career of the British nobleman, said Lord Marley entered the Royal Naval College at Greenwich at the age of 15, joining at that age the Royal Marine Artillery as a second lieutenant. For a time he served in the Mediterranean fleet and later devoted himself to the study of wireless telegraphy and became chief naval instructor in wireless. After a long experience with the navy he went over to the army and worked for two years in the Army Staff College. He was placed in charge of anti-airciaft gunnery in Belgium during the war, serving there for two years. He was also active in France and was twice mentioned in dispatches for bravery and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for bravery at Ypres. After several mopths in hospital through being severely wounded he joined the battle cruiser force and served with conspicuous bravery until the end of the war. doing special service in wireless telegraphy. In 1020 he was a member of the Labour party and since then has been a consistent worker for that party in England. In 1930 he was created a peer in order to increase the effectiveness of the Labour party in the House of Lords. Ho is the chief Government Whip in the House of Lords, Lord in Waiting to the King and Deputy Speaker of the Upper Chamber and was Under-Secretary of State of War. He became an authority on housing and probation for criminal offenders and has just returne from a two-montlis' tour of Soviet Russia and a trip to China, heading an international group for Sentiment Against War. His delegation conferred with commissions from China, Korea and Manchuria.

Not Blaming League. At the outset of his .ad drre « L ° rd Marley dealt with the noting and clis order in France and the latest develo P ments in Austria, laying particuJaj en - phasis on the attitude of Britain send ing a warning to Germany to P hands off in regard to i Austria. He said the League of Nations had not proven itself capable of taking international action even in a supported by the whole world, and o rendering itself for the n '°'" e n ' ]( j organisation upon which th could rely to settle differences. It » a young organisation, only just up. and has had peculiar difficulties to fftt-e in the last three years, he said. "In Great Britain wc hav o> the Mosley Fascist movement," he tinuc Oswald Motley is a well-known figmc, who started life as a Conservative member of Parliament, who then became a member of the Labour party an formed a party of his own, eventually finishing as the leader of the Fascist party in Great Britain. _ , "I have had many inquiries addressed to me in the United States about the importance and influence of Sn Os Jlosley, and I would say it woukl be unwise to under-rate the furtlwn p gress of his persistent efforts. e 1S man of great force of character, cruel and ruthless, and. knows exactly ho wants. He is a perfect leader of a Fascist movement. I can yieua!lis velopments in Great Britain m J Mosley may take a very important position. But he is a man °f vei y P political judgment. It would be q possible he would precipitate a drive London, and find himself in the of the awakened authorities because his movement had not fully ripened. "The United States is much neaier t other countries than ever befoie. i ments abroad have their repercussions in this countrv and have a vital beai on the United* States. In ao cism is government by force, and ' abolished democracy, individual libeity, free speech, and looks upon Parliament as a form of national deeßdence. Germany the object of the_ a dpmoeracy is a movement aimed against the .workers, and particulaxly

the organised workers in that country. Political opponents of the present regime arc ruthlessly crushed. The Jews became the economic scapegoat, and were persecuted accordingly." Diabolical Cruelties. Lord Marley described the horrible tortures inflicted by the German Nazis on helpless men and women in Germany. Men had been beaten with steel whips which seared into their flesh and had been attacked with rubber truncheons which destroyed internal organs. Innocent victims had been made to run the gauntlet while being kicked by Nazis in cellars and rendered unconscious. Some of his revelations evoked the indignation of his audience. He said it was fortunate that some American newspapers, notably the "New York Times," had not feared to expose the atrocities of tlio Nazis of Germany, and in this respect the "Manchester Guardian" had performed an equal service to the world, although their correspondents had been banned from Germany.

"Our international committee is not fighting the German people," he said. "But we are attempting to expose the hoi Tors of the Fascist regime. We are trying to aid the victims of German oppression. A new organisation has sprung up in Germany to oust Fascism from the country. (Cheers.) This underground movement will have the effect of ending a regime which everyone hates and abhors; (Applause.)

Climax Mass Meeting. The fourth and concluding meeting in San Francisco addressed by Lord Marley drew a great crowd in the Opera House, and was presided over by Professor Alexander Micklejolin, the British-Anferiean educator, and former president of Amherst College. Lord Marley said Fascism in Germany was based on hatred of foreigneis, and before talking of good will the country, it would be better for the !Nazis to stop hatred at home. "The whole position has been crystallised in the sabotage of the Disarmament Conference by Germany," he added, "How can other nations resort to disarmament when they realise that Germany is preparing for a war of revenge?" . "Germany's war attitude is of very "reat importance to the United States, lie continued, "because there is an accord between Germany and Japan, as both countries have Governments of a similar character. X know that there is a deli* nite accord in existence with respect to military activities in the future, irrespective of diplomats denying such an accord. These facts are undeniable, and they are of essential importance to the United States because of the interests of the United States in the Paciac. Towards the close of his address, Lord Marley said Germany was susceptible peculiarly to the organised opinion of the United States and Great Britain, and he suggested that something might be done to mitigate tlie severities of the Nazi regime if America and England united their'voices on a regime founded on such cruelty and suffering. (Cheers.) "Wc must relieve the victims of that system." Lord Marley's mention of the prosecution of a wholesale boycott in the United States met with thunderous applause. The examination of all German imports into the United States should be undertaken, he thought. United action would result in a success to the movement. . At the close of the fourth meeting ol the day in San Francisco, Lord Marley was smothored with pledges of support for aiding the German victims ot Nazism, the pledges totalling several thousand dollars. The following .day Lord Marley continued his vigorous campaign in Los Angeles, eventually working his way back to the Atlantic seaboard. Addressing four gatherings within ten hours, attending three committee meetings, and granting interviews to newspaper men, resulted in Lord Marley establishing something ot a record in America for endurance.