RELUCTANCE TO DISARM

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 28 January 1933, Page 11

RELUCTANCE TO DISARM

‘ * n England,” said Professor •Gilbert Murray, in a recent, speech, “should make it as clear as We can that we seriously do want disarmament. I would even go further. 'Governments have all of them made tremendous professions in expressing their devotion to the cause of disarmament. If they go to Geneva and build other now buildings in order to discuss disarmament, spend sx months talking about it, and then spend another six months talking about it- again, and then leave the impression in the end that they are not talking the truth, and that during that time they have been lying to us, I want them to realise that in the present state of the world it will* be aa extremely dangerous situation. “I do not believe that the democracies of the world will stay patient

Natural Among Greater Powers

if they believe that their Governments are not sincere in this groat matter. A factor which we should realise is that all the reluctance to disarm comes from the great Powers, which is quite natural. They do not like to agree to arbitration because they are brought down on an equality with other nations; they do not like reducing armaments because the smaller nations are placed on an equality with them.

“The unfit, imoys desire for a reduction of armaments and for peace comes from the middle size and' smaller nations of the world.

“If* we speak to our Governments we can have at the back of our minds the knowledge that we have with us the public opinion of the enormous majority of civilised mankind.”