UNKNOWN

Maoriland Worker, Volume 10, Issue 447, 1 October 1919, Page 2

UNKNOWN

_.__ - ~~-*~ Following is a letter of fhe National Peace Council to the Admiral, dated September 9th, 1919:-----1 liave been directed to write 1o you in order to give expression to some 'thoughts now exercising ihe minds o! , ■tilt , members of this Council concerning questions upon which you have been sent out to the limits of the Empire to report, and which this Council sincerely believes to be of vital importance to the welfare of the world. You have, since your arrival in Australasia, moved amongst a section of the people who express in words an-1 actions one definite idea, namely, the development, oi' Imperialistic ideals; but we beg yon to believe that there exists in this Dominion a large body of opinion, formed on the basis of a clear understanding of all the principles upon which social order and international relationships are formed, which other and more liberal views of these matters, and it is hoped that you will not leave these shores wichout gaining: first-hand some knowledge of these views. We note that you have, on more than one occasion, stressed the necessity of increased naval defence, and, no doubt, involved in this will come corresponding accelerations of military preparedness. You are "reported to have said in Wellington recently that— "HISTORY SHOWS THAT ONE WAR BREEDS ANOTHER; THAT JP YOU WANT PEACE YOU MUST BE PREPARED FOR WAR." The eself-evident deduction, therefore, is that the war just concluded has laid the seeds of future war, and your intention is now to urge preparations for the prospective conflict. Thus the cycle is interminable. Such a state of affairs appals us, as its continuation must assuredly mean the ultimate extermination of the human race as the means of destruction becomes perfected and the dimensions of the opposing forces increase. We dare not gaze upon such a prospect unmoved nor allow it to go unchallenged. Against such a theory as this we oppose the interests of humanity. We believe humanity to be one, and that the essential interests of all the peoples are identical, not antagonistic. "In the gain or loss of one race, "Sll the rest have equal claims." States are only the convenient organs of human co-operation, their purpose being order and mutual help. Any condition of society which renders it impossible to rely upon the normal development of this purpose must end. ,We quite concur with you in your remark regarding the sinister influence of war, and, therefore, we say war must cease if the best social, political, economic, and moral conditions are to obtain. Now, we have been convinced, from careful scrutiny of the facts for many years, that modern wars are the direct, outcome of tht supposed necessity for ■the exportation of capitalistic wealth accumulated in private hands under existing financial and commercial conditions, and this view is remarkably confirmed by no less a personage than Marshal Foch, who, in, his work, "The Principles of War" (Pp. 3(3-37), enclaves that:— ;'*7V VWttr, to-day, is a c&Qiinercifll enl tesprise undertaken jiy the. whole nation. ,, . In another trenchant pas;a;r'?, th? Field-Marshal, when dealing with a number of modern wars, asks what the nations are seeking: in those connicts, and replies:— "Tor commercial outlets to an industrial system which produces more timu it can sell, and, therefore, is constantly smothered by competition. What happens then 1 New markets are opened by iurce oi arms." 'To end this system, which outrages the common sense and humane feelings of the more cultured of our race, the remedy does not lie in more armaments and Imperialistic development, but in the elimination of the root cause—the unbridled accumulation of the world's capital resources in private and irresponsible hands, with equally irresponsible investment, in any part of the world, in dividends, and exclusive of the larger considerations of human welfore. Increased ' armaments and Imperialistic drvcir;;--ment lead, through theories ci ....- balance of power, methods of secret diplomacy, and private 'chicanery, to further mutual destruction of the peoples by war, disease and famine. The immense growth of INTERNATIONALISM, in spite of all the adverse forces, produced by evil social conditions of the past, has been phenomenal, and must increase as time advances and the populations of tho different States grow; and it is for us who live in an age when the opportunities are far more favorable than ever before for the inculcation of the true principles of goodwill and brotherhood, to strive for the recognition of the unity of all the peopled of the earth. We respectfully suggest that you have demonstrated the impossibility of this happy consummation by means of the antiquated "war-method" which, as you have Qeclared, only breeds more war. \ We would further like to point out that by the mandatory system, Samoa is left unfortified under the suzerainty of the League of Nations. We would suggest that, similarly, all other lands of the Pacific Ocean should be left unfortified, their self-government beinir assured by the League of Nations or

by International Agreement. Tha people of New Zealand would be more secure unarmed under such an arrangement than can be the case when equipped with the paraphernalia af war and handled as a pawn. This country is liable at any time to be sacrificed by the moneyed interests of the world under whose tutelage the Governments of Ihe world generally are carrying on ihe war game. The 10,000 of the best lives now uselessly sacrificed by this Dominion alone should surely be a sufficient object lesson of the brutal necessities and folly of the armament and war system, and the failure of that system to safeguard the lives of our citizens. And yet we are told by yAirself and others of its exponents, that wo are to be more fearful than ever of attack from without, and to arm and prepare for war to an extent unprecedented in the world's history. We ask you to report that New Zealand is not likely much longer to tolerate this foolishness and to recommend that quickly and earnestly endeavor-; be made to bring the variouGovernments together to promote the well-being of their peoples by curbing the antagonistic private financial interests and developing an International Board of Control, International trade relations, and financial undertakings. Will the people ever find out that politics is their business and that government is the.ii' business? Or will they continue to 'allow a small crowd oi' rich, or greedy persons to select a Government for them and to foist upo_. them as great patriots and great statesmen a coterie of front-bench political pedants blind to everything but party interests and party intrigues?—lt. Blatehford.