“PEACE WITH HONOUR.”

Evening Star, Issue 22277, 2 March 1936, Page 3

“PEACE WITH HONOUR.”

TO THE EDITOR. Sir. —“ Pease With Honour ” will forgive me if 1 fail to be impressed by such words as “ protection.” “ flag,” “ Empire,” “ citizen,” which lie uses so glibly. Me will pardon me for failing to perceive those benefits which the “ country ” bestows upon myself and the rest of the working class, and seeing instead the benefits which the workers themselves have bestowed upon the “ country.” He will pardon me when I say that I look around and cannot sec this “ nation ” of which he speaks, and when I see instead the rich and the poor, exploiters and exploited. masters and slaves—this Empire which rests upon the subjection of colonial peoples, and in which Indian natives toil in the cotton or tea plantations for a few pence a day—in which the negroes of East Africa pay the British Government six shillings a year for “hut tax” from their wretched incomes of about 20 shillings a year. But perhaps, as your correspondent says, I am rather “ strange.” 1 “ insult and vilify.” not my own nation, but rather those who keep my own nation in subjection. Mr Mulqueen has excellently replied to “ Peace With Honour’s ” assertions as to the Soviet Union and disarmament. 1 should like to add a few more facts, real “ official news,” for which vour correspondent has such a liking. On November .‘lO, 1927, M. Litvinov, chief Soviet delegate to the Preparatory Commission for the Disarmament Conference, tabled the Soviet’s proposals for disarmament. These provided for the dissolution of all land, sea, and air forces; the destruction of all weapons, mditary supplies, and means of chemical warfare; the scrapping of all warships and air vessels; abolition of military training and service; the destruction of fortresses and naval and air bases; the scrapping of war industry plants; the discontinuance of funds for war purposes in State budgets and public bodies; legislation making infringements of above a crime against the State. The next day the Soviet delegation presented their draft disarmament convention. The commission refused_ to accept these even as a basis lor discussion. Litvinov had committed tiie unpardonable sin of presenting the revolutionary doctrine .that the rignt way to bring about disarmament is to disarm. The English Press called the plan a “clumsy and cynical farce,” a grotesque ” .scheme, a scheme unworthy of a schoolboys’ debating club. The British delegation was instructed to offer uncompromising opposition. It docs seem ns though “ Peace , With Honour ” was a little unfortunate in his chioee of nom dc plume.—l am, etc., „ , Spartacus. I 1 ebruary 29.