To Outlaw Dictators Would Bring War

Northern Advocate, 25 January 1939, Page 8

To Outlaw Dictators Would Bring War

(Received 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, January 24.

Addressing the Millions’ Club, following a civic reception, the Australian High Commissioner, Mr S. M. Bruce, said it was difficult not to sympathise with the point of view of those who would substitute for the ipolicy of appeasement a policy which would outlaw dictators, having regard to the aggressions, brutalities and defiance of treaties by certain Powers. The acceptance of this view, however, would mean the consolidation of the German people behind their dictator and the cementing of the anticommunist Pact between Germany, Italy and Japan into a formal military alliance which would be likely to culminate in another world war. Mediation When Force Fails.

Mr Bruce added that it might be conceded that even the dictators had set out to ensurb the economic and social welfare of their people, just as the democracies had done, and it could not be denied that they had achieved a great deal in recent years, but their standards of living now were decreasing, due to the heavy expenditure upon armament. Thus, when it became apparent that the dictators’ ends could not be attained by force, the way would be open for an improvement in the world position.

Armed strength by the democracies would constitute a real instrument for the promotion of policies of political and economic appeasement and progressive disarmament.