AFTER NINE YEARS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 7 January 1928, Page 2

AFTER NINE YEARS.

EUROPE STILL IN ARMED EXPECTANCY.

LORD ROTHERMERE’S WARNING

LONDON, Nov. 12. Viscount Ilotherinere, an an article endued “After Nine Years” in last mgnt’s “London Evening News,” asks now far we have advanced towards the inlfilment of that early resolution that war muse never happen again.” He unites:—

“Tlie answer in 1927 is not encouraging- Nine years alter the ‘war to end war” Europe is sinking into an attitude of armed expectancy exactly .similar to that of 1914.

“If we glance at the redrawn map we shall see that sparks, or pretexts for conceivable conflagration, are not lacking. It may even be said that they are more numerous than they were 14 year's ago. “Whereas in 1914 ‘a balance of power” between a few mighty groups of jealously watchful Governments kept the world pledged to the incessant tribute extracted by the h;g armament liriiis, the world of to-day has no jess cause for anxiety as it contemplates the new ‘balance’ revealed in the crazy patchwork of an attempted ethnological demarcation. “Our expenditure on armaments is now larger than it was before the war; and, in consequence, our industrial resources are still so crippled that we can with difficulty meet the demands of the big armament school. The vicious circle is here —an overtaxed nation is, by that taxation, prohibited from earning the gigantic sums annually extorted by those who profess to guard its safety. SQUANDERED MONEY. "1 do not suggest that, as things stand, at present, it is our duty to strip ourselves ox ad means of deieuec against poissioie danger. Rut tne return or Armistice Day ’irresistibly compels u.s to ask, hrst, wnetner tne present Government'll frequently proclaimed longing tor peace is to be ciiscernird tin any effective sincerity of enroll to promote disarmament at Geneva, ixi Washington, or elsewhere; next, whether the huge, sume ailoacteu meunivnue to -this nation’is ‘‘safety” are not squandered in utter oblivion of the lessons of the last war.

“Looking back over the years that separate us from 1918, one of the most depressing features of the retrospect is the prodigality with which successive Governments have dissipated public moneys. “To-day we ana faced by the tremendous fact that, as each year we commemorate the host of those who died to end war, we find that preparations for other wars are increasing on every side. “It is tlira duty of every Government, of whatever political creed, to give us some reassurances that the future will not merely repeat the past or double and treble lits tenors. “Whatever that reassurance, the impressive anniversary of the first Armistice becomes, as far as our rulers are concerned, hardly batter than a mockery both. of the living and- the dead.” LORD GREY’S WARNING AGAINST PRESTIGE. POLICY. LONDON. Nov. 12. Viscount Grey, speaking on disarmament at a League of Nations meeting at Plymouth said : “The longer the doctrine of parity between the United States and Britain is regarded as a principle of naval discussion the more difficult will things become- The two nations 'will soon be building fleets against each other, not so much for their requirements as for the sake of prestige. When the time comes to discuss next year’s naval estimates, I hope tlie Government will make clear what is the standard up to which we are to build. What reason is there. for us to regard war with the United States as a contingency? J do- not regard, the recollection of the friction we had witli the United States when we were at war as in any way altering the hypothesis on which we proceeded in tlie ye airs before the war that we should not make the United States Navy the standard for our own unbuilding.” Referring to the speech on the futility of war made by Field-Marshal Sir William R-obertson. Viscount Grey said: “The deduction lne drew from the experience of tlie last war was that it is absolutely Essential for nations to avoid war in the future. Fear must be removed before the armaments can be reduced. Armaments will decrease lin proportion as the sense of security against war increases.”