ABYSSINIA AND ITALY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21580, 17 September 1935, Page 9

ABYSSINIA AND ITALY

vn THE EDITOR OF TUB PRESS. Sir, —On Page IS of Saturday's issue of "The Press'' there were two points that call for comment. First, there is the extraordinary statement of the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre, "The League of Nations is an illusion. His sympathies were with Italy. Similar arguments against Italy's intentions could be used against the British ccming to New Zealand." If, in the first instance, Mr Mclntyre is correct, he would be well advised to flee to someremote spot where, without interruption, he can indulge in the airy-fairy and the puerile. In the second one might be pardoned for asking if he sympathises with the Italians (a) because they are but Mussolini's puppets, (b) because he sees them already defeated by the Abyssinians. " Then we have Mr Endean's words of wisdom. 'He appears to labour under the idea that unless New Zealand is enclosed in a fortress it is only a matter of time before the • United States and Japan swoop down upon us and play havoc. Japan, as a nation, worships the aesthetic. Hence, being a highly educated nation, she does not want war. Japan wants markets—naturally—and if under existing conditions, she does not get them peacefully, she will eventually be compelled to take them by force, and I consider that the only sufferers will be the fools who resist.

Mr Endean points scornfully at New Zealanders as a nation of cockies and land-lubbers. He would like to see us as a nation of jolly tars spending half our time at sea—with a sound working knowledge of guns and torpedoes of course: there is usually a catch somewhere. We can take it for granted, of course, that Mr Endean always travels by boat, is not a cockle, and owns a house-boat. It is obvious, too, that Mr Endean is afraid that some less enlightened but more powerful nation will, if annoyed sufficiently, deprive him of his possessions. In other words Mr Endean puts his trust'in defence. He is evidently unaware that much good can be accomplished by scientific and intensive education. j The Government has purchased some up-to-date aircraft, and is thinking seriously of yet greater defensive measures. This is rather extraordinary considering (a) that during the depression the Government has done — strictly speaking—nothing for unemployed men, and (b) has, with an airy wave of the hand, left the unemployed women to eke out an existence as best j they cculd; all this because the Government had no money. The recent aircraft were gifts from a well-wisher, I suppose.—Yours, etc., T. E. WILLIAMSON. Domett, September 15, 1935. 10 THJi sorrow or thb casss Sir, —I was surprised to read th<| report in "The Press" of September 13 of the debate in the Upper House on the Abyssinian situation by Messrs McCallum and Tsitt. After the agony

the world has gone through it was painful to read their utterances. Mr McCallum said that the proposal to take a plebiscite was the sheet anchor of a shuffler; does he expect the youth of New Zealand to jump into the firing line and sacrifice their lives without a pause and without knowing what for? Where ■ does Mr McCallum get his information that New Zealand is heart and soul with the Home Government in whatever war it undertakes? Mr McCallum talks of New Zealand being spoon-fed. Is that his opinion of our youths who will be called upon to wage war upon Italy when so many of them have been disheartened of ever earning a comfortable living, and have no hopes of ever being able to ge"t married, having only relief work to exist upon, and no prospect in view?

The Hon. L. M. Isitt says he has always been a strong pacifist, but not an insane pacifist. he be kind enough to tell me the - difference between the two kinds? He is also sorry that he is able to identity some with the Christian Church, arid they were wrong from the theological standpoint. I agree with him that the Christian religion is not a "peace" religion, though so many have been under the misapprehension that to bs a Christian was to be a pacifist. I have a copy of Mr Isitt's speech in the House of Representatives which appeared in a Christchurch paper, dated September 24, 1915. It is headed "Peace Lunacy." "Mr Isitt on Extremists." It says: "A sturdy contempt for the peace at any price person is held by Mr Isitt, whose expressive way of putting his views made members of Parliament laugh heartily as well as applaud to-night. After picturing the serious position the Empire has to face and the need of making all classes of the community realise the sacrifice needed, Mr Isitt continued. "I am not going to bother myself about the peace party any more. In other circumstances I did all I could to secure considerations for these who believed in peace. A section of that party have the decency to keep quiet even though they are not doing much for the common weal, whilst others shed their blood and face death in their defence. So far as those extremists are concerned their talk is absolutely lunatic' Mr Lee: Put them in an asylum. "Mr Isitt: For a man to write to me urging that Britain ought to disband her army and do away with her j navy and put her trust in God is not] sane. We must simply ignore them." The above goes to show that Mr Isitt, after all the suffering and torture that has been endured, has not altered his ideas of war.—Yours, etc., H.W.R. i September 16, 1935.