NATIONAL DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 149, 25 June 1936, Page 6

NATIONAL DEFENCE.

A VITAL NEED

(To the Editor.)

Your correspondent Mr. Thompson says my ideas 011 the above subject arc of the year 1900. I counter with the suggestion that his are of the dim future, when the brotherhood of man mav be an established fact. If arguments such as mine led to 1914, then arguments such as his will precipitate the next war as a rich prize unguarded ,is a great temptation. However, he fails to point out my errors. If man has so advanced along the road to humanitarianism (quite a popular word these days), why is it the world is a place of war and turmoil; a vast armed camp of suspicious mankind preparing for a war which will probably mean the collapse of the present civilisation ? The world has just witnessed the crushing of a defenceless people by one of the "advanced nations," while the_ other "advanced nations" looked on, talked of ideals, but were unwilling or unable to intervene for fear of the mailed fist. The Dominion Conference of tlie U.S.A. strongly advocates increased defence measures, these men know from bitter experience what a vital need this is Like myself, they do not .believe that "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Mr. Clifton says I ignore immioration, as mentioned by the Piimc Minister, but'lie must admit a large, defenceless population is no guarantee of security. The fundamental principle of defence is to train and equip our own man-power. _Is the Prime Minister prepared to do this? As for my imperialistic, Victorian jingoism, I was unaware that tlie advocacy of national defence came under this category. At least during the Victorian period the prestige of the British nation was such that it was feared and respected ; quite a different position to these davs of pacifists and idealists. No, I do not love war. I learned to hate it "on Flanders

fields where poppies grow." H. FLEMING (10/3550)