SIR.J. SIMON

Evening Star, Issue 16625, 7 January 1918, Page 6

SIR.J. SIMON

WHY HE JOINED THE ARMY. Sir John Simon, M.P., recently addressed a letter to tho chairman of the Walthamstow Liberal Association, in the course of which he explains the reasons which have induced him to pin the Army. As to what has been achieved by tho Allies in the war, he writes: That tho rulers of Germany, who planned their scheme of conquest and confidently counted on its success, are disillusioned, I do not doubt, but the peace of the world cannot be secured by accepting promises from Statesmen who hold that promises are. made in order that they may be broken whenever their military plans make it convenient to do bo. And in spito of all that has been accomplished by the Allies, and of the certainty which Sir Douglas Haig's strategy gives us that the enemy is being overthrown, I cannot bring myself to believe in the possibility of negotiating an immediate and satisfactory peace. The peace we want is a peace which -will prevent a war liko this ever happening again. Finally Sir John says: I can imagine only one crime which is to be compared to the crime of permitting tho war to go on for an unnecessary hour, and that is the crime of slackening in our purpose, after all tlie sacrifices we have made, before a real opportunity of securing ib has arisen. Holding these opinions, I have very anxiously considered what my own duty is, and though it i 6 but little that a man of ,my age and training can contribute by joining the Army in tho field, I have come to the conclusion that I ought at this stage to take that course. It is.not that I do not estimate as important the work which. Parliament is doing, and will have to do. On the contrary, tho time is coming when the task of Parliament in restoring and enlarging our peaceful liberties, and in applying to the life of our community" the ideals which have bound the nation together in undertaking the war, will be of unexampled importance. It is for that reason that I have done my utmost to help in framing and carrying the Franchise Bill. But that Bill is, I trust, secure, and peace will come all the sooner if those who care most ardently for the traditions and practices of peace remember, and show thafe they remember, for what we are fighting.