The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 22nd., 1939. OVER-ANXIETY.

Grey River Argus, 22 June 1939, Page 6

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 22nd., 1939. OVER-ANXIETY.

I If there is anxiety regarding I risks of war so exaggerated in | character that it has had to be de- | precated by the Prime Minister of | Australia, the main cause is probj ably newspaper propaganda. For r reasons which are very various, | the practice has been for a eon- | siderable time to place upon every | unexpected international develop--1 ment the worst possible construc- | tion. The result is that British | liability to become involved when- ' ever there is a difficulty, comes to be popularly regarded as being « quite unlimited, not merely diplo. | matically, but in the way of ac- | five hostilities. Leaving aside J other and less excusable grounds, i I one object in emphasising this risk I has been that of giving a spur to 1 recruiting for military training and. another that of reconciling the public to an enormous enlargement of expenditure upon the mechanical means of armament. In British countries these objects have to be pursued in peace time far more indirectly than in those countries where conscription is the rule, and especially those in which government is less impersonal 1 han it is: in flic Rrilisih

monwealth of Nations. Just now there is a spurt in the agitation of the New Zealand Defence League for compulsory military training. One day the spokesmen talk of a force of thirty thousand trained men being made always available in case of a contingency, and the next day the plea is that the use of compulsion must be directed, not simply at home defence, but rather at the raising meantime of a trained army which shall have as its real purpose that of an expeditionary force to go to any place on the face of the earth where it might be directed by the British General Staff. The exponent of this latter view is an ex-Territor-ial officer who has lately been to Germany, where he was led to ad- 1 mire the effects which regimentation in the Labour Corps and in the Conscript ranks has had upon the physique of the youth. In his estimation, this is a process which challenges the democratic coun. tries to emulation, and, therefore, the youth of New Zealand should be compulsorily enlisted for military training. The further point is advanced that in Britain com-1 pulsian has been adopted as re-1 gards training in the Territorials, and therefore it only remains for the dominion to go and do like- , wise. But in objecting to. the idea of home defence as animating the recruiting appeal here, the ex-offi-cer surely does not seriously contend that the compulsory recruiting in Britain is designed less for home defence than expeditionary objects? The actual indications are that British military policy is not as yet inspired with the intention of engaging anywhere in war outside of Britain itself. The idea remains essentially that of defence. In the estimation of Continental countries, the measure of compulsory military service in Britain is so comparatively limited that it demonstrates no determination to play any longer the dominant part in European relations which Britain formerly could play through the enormous superiority of her navy over all others. If there are, indeed, in Britain itself critics of the Government and doubters of its bona tides in the matter of guiding major international political developments, the

reason is the belief that without a ring of allies, the available military forces are quite inadequate for the continuance of such a role. Hence, the urgency of many in advocating an alliance with the Soviet, and a greater effort to induce more active American backing. In the light of this view, it might be said that the plea for a' far larger reserve of men with military training in the dominion is all the more urgent. It would be calculated to make up in some degree for any lack in Britain by comparison with the conscript countries. There is also the point that every dominion should do its utmost to defend itself, and that in preparing for oversea expedb tions it is virtually defending itself. The best criterion, however, should be a proper interpretation of imperial defence policy. The reflection of that policy in Bri- , tain quite clearly takes the form of home defence. It is therefore safe to say that the first step in New Zealand, as in Australia, should be to ensure home defence. The advantages of military training are not to be gainsaid, and ■» many youths and also men of suitable age who engage in it will be themselves in several ways the gainers. It is not, however, a time for panic, and it is conceivable that a system inspired by anything of the sort would be subject to an eventual reaction. The best course is a steady and sustained one. If it should finally be found that compulsion is essential, it can be considered, but those who are too hasty are apt to defeat their own ends.