OUTLAWRY OF WAR

Grey River Argus, 22 March 1928, Page 6

OUTLAWRY OF WAR

WA&MAKERS SHOULD BE PUNISHED. (By J. M. Kenworthy, M.P.) In the “Daily Jlcrald’* (London), Commander J. M. Kenworthy, Labour M.P. f.. r Hull, gives a warning that the American proposals for jthe outlawry of war would bo met by “pretty manoeuvring” on the part of the European si a| esmen. “If we are simply to have a series of pious declarations emlmdied in Treaties between America and other leading nations, including our own country, there will be no opposition from the dark forces of reaction.” says this writer. Indeed if such Treaties are not to interfere with armaments, preparations for war and a policy of Imperialism and exploitation with i.ts all to probable consequences, they will be welcomed by the reactionaries in this country. Then Sir Austen Chamberlain will be able, to wrap his white sheet around him and point to the wonderful achieves of the Conservative Government in bringing peace to the world. The Tory orators at the next election will talk loudly about having “outlawed war,” while carefully avoiding any reference to tho £120,000,000 a year spent on preparation for the next one. Put there would appear to be more in the American, proposal .than a mere declaration of good intentions. Proof of this is already forthcoming in Paris. In April of lasf, year the French Foreign Secretary. Briand, proposed an exclusive Treaty with America “outlawing war” as between the two Republics. The existing Arbitration Treaty between America and France fighting each other, the astute Frenchman no doubf thought lie could secure his country against any interference from America should the French system of alliances lead .to another European explosion. But Mr Kellop has gone much farther. Tlis proposal is that France and America should set an example to other nations by signing such a Treaty and should be prepared jo sign outlawry treaties with the other Great Powers. As this might mean Germany, an alarm has been raised in French military and reactionary cirlcles.

“Pertinax” and the “Temps” have already come out with warnings to the French Foreign Office of a trap. Thev are astute enough to endeavour to show that the Outlawry of War proposals may be inconsistent with the Covenant of the League of Nations. For when the treaties came to be negotiated they might be found to bo on the lines of the proposals of Senator Borah. It is necessary here to refer to the Borah Resolution now before the Committee of the Senate of Foreign Relations. It was tabled in December, 1926. It declares war between nations an illegal act, and it would oblige the United States Government to take powers to punish its own war makers, just like other criminals, and to encourage other Gavernmeuts to take similar steps. A Supreme Court of Justie is to be established for the settlement of international disputes. Tn other words, Borah proposes to illegalise and out lav.’ the Jong-established, respectable and “glorious” institution of war-making. The Senator’s proposal has been

contains the words: “Such an international arrangement . . . would not such right being inherent and ineradicable. but should not be a mere subterfuge for the traditional use of war.” I have just heard from America that Senator Borah is prepared so Io alter

or amend these words as to close any possible gap through which the warmongers might find a way of escape. This is going to the root of the problem and would suit neither the Quai d’Orsay nor Dowling Street, nor the Washington State Department as at present constituted and controlled. FOR IF WAR IS OUTLAWED IN THE BORAH SENSE OF THE WORD IT WILL MAKE AN END OF TTS MACHINERY. It will check the subtle propaganda for war. It will outflank the position of those who are trying to to make the League of Nations into a new Holy Alliance for the purpose either of overwhelming Russia or of organising a pan-European block against tho United States.

We of the Labour Movement must be on our guard against tho misuse of the League machinery. We must remember that certain League of Nation circles were loudest in their gibes at the Litvinov proposals for real disarmament. A plot is being hatched at this moment to use the League machinery actually to prevent disarmament. THE EXISTANCE OF THE COVENANT AND THE SANCTIONS EMBODIED TN IT IS TO BE MADE AN EXCUSE OF MAINTA I NI NG AR MAM E N TS, OVER AND ABOVE THOSE REQUIRED FOR THE PRESERVATION OF INTERNAL ORDER. FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF SANCTIONS UNDER THE LEAGUE. What Mr Kellogg really means will be exposed l>y Ihe negotiations. Can we not insist on these negotiations being public .’ Th* real outlawry of war proposals not only illegalise war-making and preparations for war—they ligitimi.se in municipal law the contemplated action of millions of wage-earners in this and other countries, including veterans of the last ‘‘war to end war,” who propose neither to be fighters in nor workers for another “war to end war,” should their Governments attempt to stamp, de t hem into it.