PEACE PROPOSALS.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3277, 27 June 1917, Page 3

PEACE PROPOSALS.

MAJOR A. AY. CiIAPPLE'S VIEW

HIS ANSWER TO THE I.L.P

* A recent issue ol the Dundee Advertiser statu-- that Major W. A. Chapplo, M.P. for Stirlingshire (an exmembcr of tlie New Zealand Parliament), wrote to the I.L.P. in his coit stituonov, replyintr to then' letter with the resolution of their branch, urging tho Government to enter into peace negotiations with Germany, and asking his support. Ho said: — I have seen the horrors of this war- - tho broken bodies on their beds ol pain, the broken hearts of those be reaved, the awful -mutilations that must lie carried to the grave, the waste, the wanton, wicked waste ol homes and towns and piled up treasures, the fruit of sweat and fears; -and I solemnly declare that for the man who makes war upon his fellows with the modern weapons of destruction there arc no torments mado in hell to fit this crime.

Our conscience its a. nation is clear, and posterity, even German posterity, will acquit us of every lot and part in the causation of this war. Germany designed, prepared lor, aud consummated this bloody raid upon mankind, with no other .justification than the lust for power, the pride of an insane egoism, and the desire to use a military machine she thought sho had brought to tho_ highest pitch of destructive perfection. I cannot support your view because it would not be peace, but war postponed ; it would bo tho triumph find no! the defeat of Prussian militarism : it would be bending to the folly and weakness of those who aro faithless towards our destiny and disobedient to tho heavenly vision; it would bo disloyal to the dead.