BISHOP BARNES

Grey River Argus, 19 January 1940, Page 7

BISHOP BARNES

AS BLOCKADE BREAKER Proposed Food for Enemy [Aust. & N.Z Cable Assn.) LONDON, January 17. Right Rev. G. W. Barnes, theBishop of Birmingham, and a modernist theologian speaking at the Convocation of Canterbury, urged that the Anglican 1 Church should send a petition to the Government to allow of free importation of foodstuffs to Germany, in accordance with the precept, “if an enemy hungers, feed him.” The Archbishop of Canterbury replied: Germany tried to starve ns. We are entitled to reply in the same way.. The Bishop of Birmingham later withdrew his motion, saying the House was divided on practicalities, and not on moral fundamentals.

Anglican Leaders on Blockade BISHOP BARNES’ IDEA. REGARDED AS IMPRACTICABLE. (Received January 18, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY January 17. An interesting debate took place in the Upper House of the Convocation of Canterbury to : day on the ethical aspects of the economic warfare. The Bishop of Birmingham, Doctor Barnes, sought for means of distinguishing between militarily useful supplies and those supplies the deprivation of which might result in the starvation for civilians.

The Primate, Doctor Lang, Archbishop of, Canterbury, informed the Bishops that he had consulted with the Government on this question, and he had learned that no discriminaUon was possible, in practice, as b<Ween the foodstuffs which could be converted to war uses and the foodstuffs for civilian consumption. He said that the ultimate responsibility for feeding the German civil population rested with the Nazi Government, which in willing war, must be taken to have willed the results of war. The Archbishop of Canterbury associated himself with Dr. Barnes, Bishop of Birmingham, in deploring, nmong the many unspeakable horrors which war let loose, the suffering and want that are being inflicted on women and children. Evervthing that could be said against such horrors of war was an argument, he said, against the use of war as an instrument of policy. The Nazi rulers of Germany had chosen to use that instrument, and. evil as was the war in which that choice had plunged Europe, they could not feel, Doctor Lang declared, , but that great evil would have come upon the world if these rulers had not been resisted. The Bishop of Birmingham withdrew his motion after the Primate’s speech. He said he had no wish to emphasise theii' difference, which, he was certain, was on practical considerations rather than on moral fundamentals.

Early Peace

ANGLICAN VIEW.

[Aust. &■ N.Z. Cable Assn.l LONDON, January 17.

The Upper House of the Convocation of Canterbury passed a resolution trusting that the statesmen of neutral and belligerent countries should eagerly watch the opportunity to negotiate a just and durable peace. The Bishop of Chichester said that hundreds of thousands of Pastor Niemoller’s followers and Catholics were rallying to Hitler’s flag in the belief that the Allies were determined to destroy and dismember Germany. Britain’s soldiers should be told what kind of Europe they were fighting to establish. TALK OF WORLD CHAOS. HONOLULU, January 17. Archbishop Wand, of Brisbane, who arrived by the Mariposa, -issued a warning, that world chaos would result if the trend away from ideals and morals continues. Church,- civic, army and navy leaders attended, a luncheon in his honour. He will continue his voyage to-night.

Cardinal Objects

GERMAN WAR-TIME IMMORALITY.

fAust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] BERLIN, January 17.

Cardinal Bertram, Archbishop of Breslau, has objected to official approval of children being born out of wedlock during war-time. He has issued a pastoral letter, drawing attention to the Commandant "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery.” Appeal for Savings TO USE IN WAR. (Received January 8, 7.40 p.m.). LONDON, January 18. The National Savings appeal nas realised 62 million sterlin gin 8 weeks.