BISHOP'S STAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 133, 2 December 1936, Page 11

BISHOP'S STAND

THE WAR IN SPAIN

AMBULANCE UNIT FROM N.Z,

STRONG OBJECTION

IV 'I'clc^i-■ • h—Press ."ssociation.) CHRISTCHURCH, December 1. Opposition to a proposal to send ar ambulance unit to Spain, which emanated from a public meeting held at Duncdin under the auspices of the General Spanish Aid Committee, was expressed by Bishop Brodic, Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch. at a public meeting called last evening by Mr. Douglas Kennedy, of Dunedin, lo obtain assistance for the proposal in Christchurch. Bishop Brodic, who is a member of the St. John Ambulance Association, said he was present at the meeting not as a member of the association but as Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch. He would have deemed himself a coward to have remained away, and considered it his duty to oppose the proposal. He had been shocked to read in newspaper reports that the two Orders in the world which he venerated, the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance, had been dragged into such a matter and in this he could say the Red Cross was not an actual participant. "Mr. Fergusson puts the movement completely offside by the phrases he uses in his speech, which has. I believe, been correctly reported," said the Bishop. "Mr. Fergusson is reported to have said that those who believed in democratic government and in law and order would be opposed to the military action of the minority in Spain. The problem to be considered was what steps should be taken in support of law and order. Mr. Fergusson says the Red Cross has, I believe, nothing to do with considerations of law and order. Mr. Fergusson also said such support would be nothing more than an expression of New Zealand's belief in democracy. DISLOYALTY ALLEGED. "By that, Mr. Fergusson violates the sacred pact entered into by England in the terms of non-intervention," said Bishop Brodie. "If we follow with action here on the terms used by Mr. Fergusson, we are being disloyal to our Constitution as a member of the British Empire, and very disloyal to our King. By the suggestion that this should be an ambulance tinit, Mr. Fergusson violates the age-long sacredness of the Order of St. John." "If the Red Cross would issue an appeal from its world headquarters and through the New Zealand centres lay down what assistance could be rendered, then I would support the proposal, but now it has been vitiated in its very beginning by the utterances of Mr. Fergusson, which show that he has taken, up a partisan attitude without even the knowledge that the British Government possesses. Mr. Fergusson forms the opinion that the Government in Spain is right. I say that the Government of Spain is simply a disgrace to civilisation, and that it had been marching over democracy and the religious liberties of a' nation before even Franco moved a man in his campaign. It had desecrated hundreds of churches and violated religious institutions throughout the country. Mr. Fergusson approves that and asks that we do the same. I am conscientiously against it until the Red Cross asks that we do something to assist. Mr. Fergusson used the words 'to support law and order.' We should be ashamed to mention those names with that of the Spanish Government. CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES. "I feel deeply on this matter, for we are living in times of crisis, when every word should be seriously considered for the result that may hang upon it. A further offer of facilities from the Red Cross has dismayed and pained me that it should be dragged down to the level of partisanship and not be asked to act on principles of Christianity and humanity. I thank God that the St. John Ambulance Association has been vindicated by the action of our chairman, Dr. Thomas, in sending a letter disclaiming any su. port of the proposal because of the non-sectarian form of that body and because of newspaper reports of the meeting in Dunedin. I am sorry for Mr. Kennedy, but I could show him certified statistics that would make him blush for shame to apply the terms law and order to the Spanish Government. Let the Dunedin people put this before the world headquarters of the Red Cross, and when it comes from the right quarter I will support it. But now it has been vitiated, as a Catholic Bishop I must and do conscientiously and heartily oppose the proposal in its present form." WOULD PROLONG WAR. i Bishop West-Watson said that any unit sent out from New Zealand would come under one or other militai'y authority, and so would help to pro- : long the war through the assistance it would give. He was not taking up the case for one side or the other, but did not want to see anything done that i would prolong the war. Dr. F. T. Birkinshaw said that Bishop Brodie's objections could be overcome if a cable were sent to the International Red Cross headquarters asking if they would accept help for the Spaniards directly under their control. He then moved: "That this meeting | cordially approves of the idea of help- , ing the sick and suffering in Spain, ! and that the New Zealand Red Cross be asked to cable the Interna- . tional Red Cross immediately asking j if help is needed, and if help is needed whether in the form of a medical unit J or monetary assistance." Bishop Brodie objected to the word- . ing of the first part of the motion, j and asked that to ensure his purpose , the words "wounded on both sides" be : inserted after "helping," but the sug- ] gestion was overruled by those present, ' and the motion was carried.