DEFENCE LEAGUE

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16883, 10 July 1920, Page 9

DEFENCE LEAGUE

GENERAL KUSSELL MEETS LABOUR PASTY. (SFECrAL TO ''THE PRESS. '} WELLINGTON, July 9. A deputation from tho National Defenco League, headed by General Sir Andrew Russell, waited upon the annual conference of tho ~Scw Zealand Labour Party to-day. An official report of the proceedings was supplied as follows: — General Russell addressed the meeting by favour of the Conference. _He| referred to the objects and aspirations i of the National Defence League, and at the conclusion of his remarks a number of questions were asked. The first question was: "What guar•antc have wo that the forces which tho League proposes to set up shall not be used or employed against workers in industrial disputes?" General Russell replied that he was not in favour of using troops in tho case of industrial disputes. A country that did so was quite wrong. He admitted to an interjertor that he took part against j the workers in the 1913 strike, but purely as an individual. He did not intend to do so again. Tho General was asked whether he was in favour of the release of all conscientious objectors, and replied "Yes." In answer to a further question as to whether he would be prepared publicly to advocate their release, he replied: "I will publicly advocate anything 1 have advocated before this Conference." He was asked how he himself treated conscientious objectors during the war. He stated that only one case had come directly under his notice. A soldier had refused to take part in an attack upon a forward position. He directed the commanding officer to give tho soldier another chance. He himself talked with the man in question, and proposed that he should have a free hand for six weeks to look around and see tho suffering of others. After six weeks the man was still of the same opinion, so ho was returned to the base. On tho question of capital punishment, General Russell advocated the revision of the Army list. His own opinion was that in warfare there were certain things which called for severe punishment. He could not say definitely whether he was in favour of the abolition of the death penalty. He admitted that Australia had abolished tho death penalty, but • not so New Zealand. Another question was: "You say to preserve peace wo must prepare for war. Is not,©then, an unarmed Germany a menace to the peace of the world?" General Russell replied that the questions were getting too deep for him. An unarmed Germany would bo a menace to the peace of tho world, because it would invite attack from hostile countries. General Russell refused to discuss Irish and Russian affairs'. He expressed the opinion that tho colonies should have a say in foreign and Imperial matters. He did not believe war would finish war. The only way to finish war was to restrict the passions of the. individual, and not promote those passions which made for war. The Conference did not come to any decision respecting its attitude towards t.ho League.