Is War Inevitable?

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 35, 4 November 1933, Page 9

Is War Inevitable?

Sir,—Political, hnstinct in England, particularly in the shaping of naval policy, has always recognised the intimate relation that must exist between the uninterrupted flow of food to her shores and the preservation of national independence. Other nations have similar problems. 'Phis shows how impossible it is to divide off into watertight compartments the economic from the political or moral. To preserve the capacity to feed its people, to sec that their children shall have milk, is certainly an economic affair.

So long as peoples cherish nationalised ideals, we shall have causes for war, ami as long as the causes are connected with fciod supplies and the right to live, especially when the so-called right encroaches upon other peoples’ rights, we shall have wars, and the causes of the wars will.be mainly economic. It is useless blaming politicians. Tlie only way to eliminate wars is to do away with the causes and make the world habitable for all peoples. Man’s real struggle is with nature, and nature here includes human nature. Tlie surest way is to awaken tlie people, to eliminate tlie paid politician, and get bodies of trained statesmen to control tlie affairs of nations. Here is a great opportunity for the people of New Zealand. who pride themselves on leading the world in a number of directions, to add one more achievement to her long list. — I am, etc., JOHN BULL. Wellington. October 30.