AGAINST WAR

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21582, 19 September 1935, Page 12

AGAINST WAR

ymws OF METHODIST CHURCH PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY TO DEPUTATION OBLIGATIONS TO THE LEAGUE IFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.3 WELLINGTON, September 18. "When we signed the covenant of the League of Nations we felt we were doing something to place the peace of the world on a sound basis. The testing time has now come, and we are not going to shirk our obligations." These statements were made by the Prime Minister (the Rt Hon. G. W. Forbes) to-day in replying to a large deputation from the Methodist Church, which entered a strong protest against war. and endorsed the principle of non-participation. The speakers were the Rev, J. H. Haslam, president of the Methodist Conference, Mr W. P. Carman, representing the laymen of the church, and the Rev. Percy Paris. "There are no party politics involved in this deputation," said Mr Haslam. "We are not seeking cheap notoriety, nor are we coveting martyrdom in the attitude we are taking up. We don't want any political capital to be made out of a situation which, we feel, is profoundly disturbing to all rightthinking people. We come to you as Christian men and women, to acquaint you with the existence ot a considerable body of thought on the subject of ponce and war, with which your Govenuw.it or any government in the Dominion must reckon in the, event of war being declared, and Parliament being called on to define its: attitude of this country to the Mother Land and its policy in the event of war.

A Definite Conviction

"No government can reckon on practical unanimity. That was mamiested in 1914, when we were ail taken by surprise, and never imagined a ■world war on such a scale. In the interval we have had to do some very hard thinking, and we have arrived at the very definite conviction that we cannot support recourse to armed warfare under any conditions. Mr Haslam quoted Lord Haig as saying that it was the business of the churches to make his business impossible. The deputation believed thai war was wrong in its methods and results that it destroyed human life and moral standards, and that another war on the scale of the last would threaten the actual existence of civilisation. But even more important was the belief that war was un-Chnstian, that \ it was a straight denial of _ Christ s teaching. "Holding these views, we can do no other than refuse to take part in any future war, and we shall deem it- our duty to resist in every moral way any attempt to conscript unwilling youth." Mr Carman, who said he represented the lay side of the «hurch, emimeci that Christian loyalty was greater than that which caused us to fight. _ Mr Paris emphasised the unenviable position Of young people in the event of war. Who, he asked, were those potential enemies against whom thf Whole thought of children was being directed, and against whom they were being trained in military crafts? Mr Forbes, replying, said that everybody would agree with the deputation in Its outlook on war. He did not think it could be said that there was one man or woman m New ? eala "? who was not utterly opposed to war. It had been stated that if a vote were taken the country would see whether the people supported of opposed war. Anyone who had anything to do With the ghastly horrors of the last war would not think of resorting to war unless under very special conditions.

Britain's Influence

There was no question but that Great Britain had exercised considerable influence on the side of Peace during the last few years. She had endeavoured in every way possible to bring about a reduction in, armaments, andliad sera lead herself to such an extent that her defences had been reduced, to a point at which it was felt they could not be allowed to remain •with safety. He did not think anyone could say that Great Britain had any desire to go to war. All her influences . 1- d been in the other direction. The s?-n» thing, of course could be said of Isew Zealand, which all along had done its best to support any movement in the direction of peace. "But When it comes to .deciding whether we should be prepared to defend our country," said Mr Forbes, "I do not think there are very m=ny people who take up the attitude tnat if an Invader came here we should not raise a hand to protect our wives and families, but should simply say that a Christian spirit makes us accept the position, and accept it without any rssentment. While that is a very ideal. 1 do not think you would get an ordinary person, to agree to it. I think a man's natural instinct would be to strike a blow on behall of his wife and family. Position in the League ■ "I don't know whether you have given'any thought to our position in the League of Nations. We signed the covenant that we would do everything possible to uphold peace, and that it any nation should endeavour to upset it we would join with other signatory nations to bring whatever pressure was necessary to prevent that nation from making an unprovoked attack or taking any other action which the league believed was not justified. "When we signed the covenant" said Mr Forbes, "we felt we were doing something to place the peace of the world on a sound bass. We undertook certain obligations, and I do not thank New-Zealanders would like us rot to stand up.to the Undertaking we «ave We have to exercise every possible, means of preventing an unprovoked attack on another nation, which is willing to submit to arbitration and is prepared to abide by what the League of Nations might do. When a Briton undertakes obligations, to him it is a serious matter. I respect your feelings concerning your attitude towards personal service, in the event of war but I don't know whether the precepts of your church prevent you from resisting evil. lam riot going ta discuss the ethics of the question. I can only take a practical view. ■ "As a Government it is our duty to protect the people of this country from any act of aggression. There is some belief that if a country remains in a defenceless state, "that in . «J security against any attack. I bold the opposite view. A reasonable measure of defence is necessary, and that is what we propose to have in this country. We have the minimum defence force at present." Referring to Sir Jcmes Parr's speech c: Ceneva Mr Forbes said that the opinions expressed by the High Commissioner were those he himself had always held. "1 trust," he adacd, "that even at the eleventh hour reason may prevail, and that there will bo no ■occasion for further measures. The existence of the league is at stake, and if it goes, the hope for. peace in-the futures-ill' be/small indeed." ,___.