ANTI-WAR CONGRESS.

Evening Star, Issue 21785, 30 July 1934, Page 12

ANTI-WAR CONGRESS.

TO TUK EDIXOJI, Sir, —A so-called “ National Congress ” is to be lield on August 1 against war.i It is being especially worked up by the New Zealand Communist Party—the New Zealand ■ section of the Third International. One of its slogans is “ No expenditure for arms,” TUe main aim of this movement, if one can judge by the language of its supporters, is to protest against British or Empire defence and demand our complete disarmament. Great Britain lias worked hard for general disarmament. Even . anti-. British New Zealanders prominent in the anti-war movement cannot deny this, oven if they have not the honesty to admit it. She has reduced her defence forces far below safety point in the face of increased armaments by other Powers, the huge Red Army which Stalin claims to be the strongest in the : world. The policy of Great Britain is declaredly to preserve peace and strengthen her commercial relations with all countries. Those who want peace and are striving after business intercourse with her will always receive her support, but she also upholds tho policy of having sufficient defence to resist attack and protect her possessions. For this reason she is now forced to strengthen her defence forces, because no other nation has followed her lead in reduction.

Early this year Stalin laid down the policy of Soviet Russia. It is exactly the same as that of Great Britain quoted above. He also gave evidence of the growth of the Red Army, which is far stronger than any armed force at Britain’s command, and, ho said, “ was ready to defend his country’s interests against attack.” There are unquestionably many sincere and loyal'idealists who believe in complete, disarmament of our country, as a gesture to the world. They claim that we should trust to the innate sense of justice in other nations to respect our rights. ■ There are those, oh, the other hand, who hate war quite as intensely as do the idealists, but consider it essential and right to maintain a-defence force strong enough to protect our rights if attacked. Both these schools of thought are honest, though each thinks the other mistaken. The Communists, however, who are working up this August conference to, protest against. “ expenditure for arms ” to “prevent transport of troops and war supplies if_ war breaks out ” are definitely insincere. They are declaredly working within the gates of our Empire to protest against the British policy of defence, while they enthusiastically applaud Stalin’s policy, which is exactly similar. ■ Their whole propaganda is anti-British, therefore • loyal advocates, for total disarmament should dissociate themselves from this Com-munist-inspired movement. If they would pass protests against the forces of Soviet Russia and other. Powers which are far larger than ' Britain’s their movement would inspire more respect, whereas the association with declared enemies of our Empire makes it suspect.—We are, etc.. ■ New Zealand Welfare League. July 25.