Evening Post TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1939. THE RIGHT ROAD TO PEACE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 10

Evening Post TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1939. THE RIGHT ROAD TO PEACE

While Europe remains in a state of what might be called suspended crisis, with the outlook still uncertain, there is a growing confidence that, day by day almost, Britain is becoming better prepared to meet whatever emergency may arise. It is clear that much of the leeway apparent in the crisis of last September has been made up, and that the nation is, as it were, girding up its loins for defence against any attack that may come from hostile Powers. What has been done and is being done on a larger scale and at an accelerated tempo in the shape of material re-armament was revealed in the different Defence Estimates recently before the House of Commons. What1 has been done to organise the human element in the nation for defence is indicated by the progress reports on the National Service Campaign for voluntary enlistment. The people who in tlie September crisis were often at a loss, though anxious to serve, as to how best they could serve their country and in capacity are now coming forward in large numbers under the direction of the National Service Guide, which specifies the services for which recruits are needed. In this way the "home front," which may be vital in modern warfare, is being adequately prepared with the necessary allotment of duties in time of need.

Britain's preparations have evidently impressed Continental nations. It is something for Senor Virginio Gayda to say in the "Voce d'ltalia" •—the "Voice of Italy" it may well be—that

the democracies are heading more rapidly towards war; their armaments are losing their defensive character and assuming an openly offensive one. . . . The astronomical estimates which Britain is able to afford come from an Empire denied to others. They prove that Mr. Chamberlain's formula of negotiated peace is changing to peace by intimidation.

The change of tone from that of the last few years is highly significant So also is the tribute of Dr. Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda in Germany, to the "almost inconceivable" size and wealth of the British Empire. When the British Empire is organised as it should be for defence, the likelihood of attack by predatory Powers on the look-out for cheap territorial gains will disappear. This is the gist of the message which Lord Nuffield brings to New Zealand on fris brief visit here just now. There was no doubt, he said, in an interview in "The Post" yesterday, that Britain's re-arming would be helpful to the cause of peace. Britain, after all, was not arming to fight, but to prevent fighting, and Britain was rearming faster than anybody else. Mr. Chamberlain's one idea in life was to prevent any further bloodshed.

In amplifying his message at the dinner given him last night Lord Nuffield'said he would like to try to give a little comfort to people so far away for the reason that he did not think that on many occasions they got the right information at this distance. This is important' in view of the despondent attitude sometimes taken up in ,the Dominions as to the outlook of the Empire. This attitude was reflected to some degree in the statement on New Zealand's defence made by Mr. Nash on behalf of the Government at the same dinner. After mentioning that New Zealand's defence expenditure this year was four times what it was four years ago, and yet was comparatively not enough if the country was to do all the things that ought to be done, the Minister of Finance added:

If we do talk of defence in the Commonwealth, it is good to remember that our defence lies in London, not here; that if disaster comes there, we are lost. England is the safeguard for this little country.-

Now, even if this were true, it would not be wise to say it. But the whole scheme of Empire 'defence, as laid down by the authorities in view of modern warfare, is for the separate Dominions to learn as quickly as possible to depend on themselves for their own local defence. Australia has already commenced a large system of local defence on these lines with the provision of local aircraft and other munition manufacturing establishments and the enlargement of the military forces. The case is just as urgent for New Zealand. Much has been done admittedly in the construction of aerodromes and the creation of the nucleus of a land force. Recruiting for this force has improved, but the numbers are still far below what many competent

authorities believe to be necessary. This brings up the whole question of national service and national training as part of the essential duty of the citizen. There can be no logical argument against the duty of the citizen to give his services in defence of his country. The reluctance of youth to come forward voluntarily is often attributed to the vain sacrifice of youth, as it has been described, in the Great Wax. The answer to that is that if the Empire had been fully prepared at the start, it is extremely doubtful whether there would iiave been any war at all. No nation -will voluntarily go to war unless the chance of victory seems, good. It is on this motive that Britain's -re-armament relies. If the democracies are so armed that attack on them would appear a desperate venture, there is all the less likelihood of attack. This is the best guarantee of peace, with the world as it is, and the lesson for New Zealand is that adequate preparation with national service will not only strengthen her own position but relieve to that extent the burden on the rest of the Empire.