Against War

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 148, 8 June 1936, Page 8

Against War

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The Hastings branch of the R.S.A. is to be congratulated on its decision to work actively for the outlawing of war and the promotion of international understanding and goodwill. It is questionable, however, if the men concerned fully appreciate tho difficulties with which they must contend. As a pacifist of several years’ standing, I can truthfully say that the greatest curse all pacifists must contend with is downright procrastination. So many one meets are prepared to agree that peace would be “nice” if such a thing as the threat of war could be banished; but beyond that they are not prepared to go further, the great god “Midas” and the banal things of life being to them much more important than such ‘airy-fairy’ notions as international peace. Occasionally they awake, raise protesting hands to heaven, and then follow tho first flag-waver. Then, when the tumult and shouting have died, they, or tho ones that remain, return to their ways.

Earl Russell once said that there had not been a war for the last hundred years which might not well have been settled without recourse to arms. Man was given brains for a purpose, but, taken in mass, mankind has failed deplorably to make the best use of his bruins. This denotes lack of education. Education has been too materialistic and narrow. Mussolini, in one respect, was no fool; he knew that to accomplish anything he must take the youth and by subtle means educate it to see as ho saw. The result is that for many years to come many Italians shall bo fire-eaters. Thus tho Hastings branch of tho R.S.A. could well take a leaf out of Mussolini’s book—namely, concentrate on tho youth. It is well, however, to consider the causes of war. First, there is commerce: this is the root cause of tho trouble in the world to-day. At present a nation must sell to. live; and each nation, while desiring to sell, does not wish to buy. Recently Hastings held an Empire Trade Week. Empire trade may hold the Empire together, but it will most emphatically not hold the world together, and so the idea that Empire trade brings prosperity is a fallacy. This erecting of trade barriers has been pointed out by authorities time and again as a futility and a grossly stupid blunder; yet nations persist in vainly endeavouring to make two wrongs make a right. Behind it all, of course, lie moderate greed, and a badly-devised monetary system. Many, of course, ask how things are to bo righted. There is only one way, and that is by sacrifice. Each one must learn that service eomes before self.

Another cause of war is one-eyed nationalism and bellicose patriotism. Nationalism and patriotism are in

themselves quite harmless, but with many it is a case of “Behold the Na* tion!’’ Let “A” boast of his blueblood, and “B” naturally gets peeved. As with individuals, so with nations. A* Shirley wrote. Sceptre and Crown Must tumble down. And in the dust be equal made With the poor crooked scythe and spade. In this world to-day lip-service 1* had for the asking. Mankind seems incapable of realising that the world must act as one unit. As Carlyle said, mankind seems intent, even determined, on finding some sugar-coated Mor-rison-Pill remedy for the world’s ills. Nevertheless, the Hastings branch of the B.S.A. is to be congratulated on its idealistic motion. It is attempting a gigantic task. But it is the duty of all the other citizens of Hastings and elsew-here actively to support these men, and not just to applaud and then forget.—Yours, etc., T. E. WILLIAMSON. Maraekakaho, June 4, 1936.