WAR NOT SEEN AS INEVITABLE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25227, 4 July 1947, Page 7

WAR NOT SEEN AS INEVITABLE

LORD MONTGOMERY’S VIEWS FAITH IN MODERN YOUTH CANBERRA, July 3. I am told that there are nations in the world which want war,” said the Chief of the Imperial General Staff •Field-Marshal Montgomery), at a press conference in Canberra. “Which nations? I know of no such nations. Even if there were nations which wanted war, I doubt if there is one which would be in a position to undertake it. “Ability to wage war depends to a great part on the industrial situation of a nation. Most of the nations are still suffering from the ravages of war. We soldiers do not make wars. We try to stop them. “The piling up of atom bombs does not necessarily mean that we will have another war. I do not subscribe to the theory that we are drifting to disaster. That is a wrong attitude. It means that the youth of to-day is being brought up with that belief. I have immense faith in the youth of to-day. They should be brought up in an atmosphere of hope and confidence, to look forward to a world in which they can march forward to better things. “People say that it is an uneasy peace. It is better that the statesmen should take time over it and get a decent world, rather than rush it through and not get a lasting peace. “I do not agree with criticism that the soldiers won the war and that now it is up to the politicians to win the peace. The winning was done by a great national team. This is the team that should win the peace,” When asked if he believed that the next conflict would be a “push-button war,” he said: “By jove—‘pushbutton’—that’s a wonderfully expressive word. The progress of science will, without doubt, influence the way you make war. but-there is no evidence vet to say that the future war is going to be one of push-buttohs. There is no evidence that the land battle and the air battle will disappear.” Field-Marshal Montgomery added that the Empire forces must be prepared to battle on the land. He said that there would be defensive developments against directed missiles.