FEAR AND WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 117, 19 May 1937, Page 8

FEAR AND WAR

PRIMITIVE IMPULSES

NATIONAL EFFECT

REMEDY SUGGESTED

The term emotion, is used to denote certain' states of feeling which are associated with instinctive tendencies, writes Dr. S. J; Cantor in the May of "Reveille," the official organ of the Returned Soldiers' and Sailors' Imperial League .of Australia. These instincts .and emotions are primitive mechanisms,*'.which provide most of the driving forces of the individual. Among these' emotions, one of the most important ;is , that of fear—an emotion which is associated with the instinct of flight =or escape (selfpreservation):. The emotion and the associated mechanism are therefore preservative-mechanisms, of great importance, to the organism. '- '.

Associated yith the emotion are certain bodily .changes, including the rapid pulse and- quick breathing, the dilated pupils, the pallor, and other noticeable phenomena, all of which serve a useful purpose. More complex forms of fear are seen in the feelings of awe and of insecurity; and in these circumstances the individual is able to make some preparations for resisting the real or assumed danger. What applies .to the individual applies also to a community of individuals, such as the nation. War results-for the greater part as a result of the emotion of fear. It is true that nations make wars of aggression, and the instincts of aggression and pugnacity play their part; but it must be realised that not infrequently the conquest of a territory by a nation is made for the purpose of obtaining greater security. The possession1 of a new" colony or of a conquered area gives access to raw materials, provides recruiting grounds, and affords strategic positions. Not infrequently also wars of aggression represent the desire of a nation, fearing the enemy nation, to "get in first," either at a favourable opportunity or because of the belief (which is not always right) that the best form of1 defence is to attack. ARMAMENTS FOR SECURITY. Armaments also are, generally speaking, the, result .of fear. They are, of course, necessary for wars of aggression; but for the greater part the swollen armaments of today are the result of the fepling of insecurity. The possession of great armies and navies gives a sense of security; indeed, in existing circumstances their possession appears to afford the sole means of security. ; It is possible to remove the emotion of fear by various methods. The use of alcohol, such as the rum issue to troops, gives "Dutch" courage; and under its influence they tend to become reckless and elated. The final result of the removal" of inhibitions by such means may not necessarily be as perfect as isdeslred; a high death-rate ampng the reckless soldiers may outweigh any commensurate advantages. It is as inadvisable to remove the protective mechanisms in this way as it is to put danger signals to ' the safe position. The training of men for warfare has a very definite value; among other' advantages, it enables the soldiers to face danger; but these advantages may-be overdone. In any case, in extreme danger it may. be inadvisable for soldiers to remain in certain positions; and too much rigidity in training may stifle all initiative. Fear, as has been said, is a preventive mechanism; it serves to safeguard the individual as well as the community. Today the fear of war is greater than it has been in the past. A measure of that fear is to be seen in the feverish military preparations in many lands. REMOVE THE CAUSE. It is impossible or unwise to remove Vas emotional feeling itself; but it is possible to strive to remove the cause of the insecurity. That insecurity of the nations results from the existence of a number of sovereign and independent .nations, without an adequate system bf international organisation, between them. The League of Nations is inadequate, having only the method of confederation; all other means of international organisation are also inadequate to prevent the feeling of insecurity. What is necessary.is a more advanced form of international political organisation— a greater League of Nations, with organs of government and with force under its control, for all government rests on force. !In other words, a federation or commonwealth of nations is required, with its executive head, its deliberating-body or parliament,' its world 'court, with all the powers of a> complete court of justice; a civil.service, and an international or world federal police force—all of which have been found adequate not only in states but in federations of states. When this world commonwealth shall have been created by the strivings and activities of men in many lands, then only will the sense of insecurity pass away and the emotion of fear between, nations disappear finally and forever.' WORK FOR FORMER SOLDIERS. It is most fitting, therefore, that of air men those fearless soldiers who fought in the World War .should now seek to have an international conference of ex-servicemen, and that by the deliberations and resolutions of .their representatives they should favour the creation of practical means which will give to mankind the boon of perpetual peace. Such s. conference may advocate the creation of the world commonwealth; and the final task of transition from the existing international confederation to the world federation will be rendered the easier, for the governments of the ■ nations, heeding the desires of the former soldiers of the world (a desire that may readily fire the imagination of all men) for world government under the constitution of some form of commonwealth of nations, and for world peace, may then take the final steps. • The advantages of the new order will be apparent; for there will be the means of international justice, planning, anu 00-operation; and from -the fearless labours of brave p--ser-vicemen may come the day when there will be peace on earth for all time, and good will to all men, and wars will be no more. :