DEFENCE, NOT MILITARISM.

Evening Star, Issue 21717, 11 May 1934, Page 12

DEFENCE, NOT MILITARISM.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —We can respect honest protests against defence forces by those who believe that war can be ended by one great nation disarming, but have the greatest contempt for Communists who are prominent at these “ no more war ” meetings. • Their propaganda advocating disarmament in Great Britain and New Zealand reminds one of the animals in the old fable who persuaded the lion to have his teeth drawn. In his , recent address on foreign relations to the Seventeenth Party Congress, Stalin defined Russia’s policy. “ Our foreign policy is clear. It is a policy of preserving peace and strengthening commercial relations with all countries. The U.S.S.R. does not think of attacking anybody. But we are not afraid of threats and are prepared to answer blow for blow. (Loud applause.! Those who attack our country will receive a stunning rebuff to teach them not to shove their hogs’ snouts into our Soviet garden.” (Loud applause.) ■ In spite of their approval of Stalin’s declaration, we find that if Mr Baldwin, Mr Forbes, or any other public speaker declares for peace, but points out the need for a navy strong enough to protect our own trade, the Communists take the lead in the howls of protest against militarism. What is wrong for us is right for Russia. The same old argument ! Again, local Communists call for “ mass ” opposition against school Cadets as being “ militarisation of our youth ” and the establishment of Fascism, yet in their fatherland, Soviet Russia, it has been decreed that all children must bo converted into fighters and taught military action. We don’t often agree with a Communist, but do so heartily with Vircogradoff, the Soviet publicist, who declares that “ war, like toothache, will last for ever,” and that the idea that it is possible to end war is absurd. “Quite right,” says the New Zealand Communist, “ but England must not be prepared to defend herself—that is Fascism, militarism,” etc., etc.—We are, etc., New Zealand Welfare League. Wellington, May 7.