The Times TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1938. Arming the Enemy

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 44, 22 February 1938, Page 6

The Times TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1938. Arming the Enemy

Governments are willing to undertake the complex task of preparing for wars; all the peoples have to do is fight them. Therefore, it possibly is ungrateful of any people to further burden with questions any government preparing for war. The people should, above all things, refrain from asking why a government which may soon order its people to fight against some other government often encourages, and at leas, permits, certain of its own citizens to help arm that other government. To Kritaiu’s former Minister of "War, Alfred Duff-Cooper, this arming of the enemy appeared not to concern the men who might have to fight. He considered that when a man had been hit with a shell it was rather an academic question where the shell had, been manufactured—whether in the enemy’s arms plants, or in those of his own country! Mr. Duff-Cooper is not alone in, the assumption. Kecall the clash between Italy and Russia over Russian charges that an Italian submarine had committed piracy against a Russian ship. For a while that crisis appeared to be thrusting the world toward the edge of war’s abyss. Note that Premier Mussolini’s adherence to the ltome-Berlin-Tokio axis represents an interest in stamping out Communism. Then turn to the reports of the recent Italo-Russian disagreement—this time overpayments for and deliveries of oil between the two countries—and learn that during this period when Italian and Russian ideologies have been heading for a collision, Italy actually has been constructing battleships to be used by Russia.

Against whom would these ships be used? "Well, if they had been ready, they might have been used against Italy, had the submarine piracy charges led to armed action. If Germany should attack Russia, and the ships are ready, they may be used against one of Italy’s allies. Another of Italy’s present friends is Japan, but Italy makes ships for one of Japan’s potential enemies. No wonder the peoples who send their sons to man these ships, and to man the ships that must meet these ships, should not ask questions! The governments are too busy preparing for war to take time out for such complicated considerations.