FALSE SENSE OF PEACE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 183, 29 April 1920, Page 4

FALSE SENSE OF PEACE

SIR JAMES ALLEN'S WARNING NO FAITH IN LEAGUE OF NATIONS Sir James Allen was the guest of the New Zealand Club at luncheon in tho Y.SI.C.A. rooms yesterday. The occasion was marked by a particularly largo gathering of members, over which Sir. W. SI. Page, vice-president of the club, presided. In addition to Sir James Allen the Hon. Sir Francis Bell, IC.O (Sinister of Internal Affairs), SlajorGenernl Sir Edward Chaytor, Commander Williams (Naval Adviser to the New Zealand Government!), and the Slayor (Sir. J. P. Luke) were present as 'guests of the club. Apologies for non-attendance were received from tho Prime.Minister and Sir. Spencer, tho president of the club. Thij chairman, in extending to Sir James Allen the congratulations of the flub upon his appointment to Hie High Coiv.inissionersliip. remarked that they looked forward with confidence to his administration and tlicy felt that his appointment would have tho effect of still more closely knitting together the relationship between New Zealand and the Mother Country. „ (Applause). Sir. Paso went on fa refer to Sir Jaines Allen's distinguished record of service in New Zealand, and concluding wished him God-speed and every success.

Sir James Allen's Address. Sir James Allen was greeted with loud an-1 prolonged applause. He confined himself to the subject of defence. There had been no better advertisement for New Zealand than the doings of the Now Zealand Expeditionary Ecrco and the character and tlio attitude ot the men who composed its strength. _ Sir James Allen continued that a little more preparation on the part of the British would have saved an enormous number of lives! In this connection ho pointed out that we were very apt to think that because the war was over and the League of Nations formed that we had secured peace for nil time. This was a falso sens'.' of security. No • one would bo more delighted to be able to wipe out the Defence Department than himself, but preparedness could not in the light of the present trend of world events bo relegated to .the past. The refusal of America to come into the League of Nations had created on extraordinary position. There were, tinfortunately, good reasons for entertaining great doubt as to the efficacy of the League. Indeed, the League itself made provision for force to bo used if one of the nations did not obey the dictates of the others. Who wis to provide this force? The onus would fall O'l the constituent members of the League. Each nation would have to contribute its share of men and arms. Wo could not therefore settle down and think ourselves secure. Wo insured our property and our lives. Was it tot worth while to insure our country and our Empire? The only insurance we could place on our country was to bring up our young men healthy and vigorous mentally and physically, mm givo them also a certain amount ot basic training—which wo knew now from our military experience need not take up much time—in order to enablo them to be turned into soldiers in a comparatively short time. Passing on Sir .Tames Allen emphasised the fact that the war had showed us the mistake of not giving sufficient training to our officers and non-commissioned olhcen tinder the old system we were not getting the servico we should linve got for the amount of money expended, and it behoved us to (fuji.-l against a repetition of any mistake in this direction in the future. As a Inst word he dwelt on the necessity of the Dominion helping the Mother Country to keep her naval- power supreme and in that way ensure, that our roads of communication would always be kept open. Sir James Allen resumed his seat, amid applause, followed by three resounding cheers.