A COUNT OBJECTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 160, 8 July 1940, Page 3

A COUNT OBJECTS.

PACIFIST OUTLOOK. RAN AWAY FROM SANDHURST. NO ANSWER TO DILEMMA. (Special—By Air Mail.) LONDON. In May last year Count Henry Noel Bentinek disappeared from the Royal Military College, Sandlmnst. This week in a written statement to the southeastern conscientious objectors' tribunal, he said that Sandhurst filled liim with a complete revulsion against, the Army. Count Henry Noel Bentinek who is 20, wrote: "I went to Sandhurst in August, 1938. I saw young men as yet unable to view the Army system and principles objectively being trained from youth as professional killers. I was horrified, and after stormy but unproductive interviews with my guardian I ran away. I base my attitude of conscientious objection to military service on a positive belief in the underlying unity of man." He said the best thing lie could do at this time was to combat Jingoism and help to create a public morale which would make a constructive peace possible and avoid a repetition of Versailles.

The count said further lie did not want to establish a Nazi dictatorship in this country. On the other hand, he conscientiously objected to killing a person. He admitted that these two points appeared to conflict, and although he had seen the dilemma for some time he did not know the answer. He was registered for non-combatant service.