LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 16

LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION.

Sir, —Your correspondent "A.G.8." makes very hasty interpretations of Mr. Todd's words, at the League of Nations Union Conference, that "they could either decide to support the League of Nations or they could assume that war was inevitable and prepare for war." That the failure of (he League of Nations would make war inevitable scarcely needs arguing. Equally it is certain that the League cannot develop without popular support. But Mr. Todd in no way implied that "the mere fact of this country supporting the League renders war impossible," nor that support of the League involves immediate abandonment of "modest defensivo precautions until a more secure and peaceful atmosphere prevails." Knowing Mr. Todd's views, I can positively affirm that he does not hold such beliefs. It should be made clear that the League of Nations Union Conference, in passing, after a very divided discussion, a resolution favouring the repeal of the compulsorv clauses of the Defence Act, did not advocate the immediate abolition of all military preparations, but merely the present compulsory system, which, it should be remembered, has received the most scathing criticism from advocates of more, not less, preparation. It is the psychological effects of the present system both in New Zealand and internationally that are most criticised by the loaders of the Leaguo of Nations Union, in which, I believe, they are supported by the majority of Now Zealand citizens. The fact that the Auckland branch of the union is arranging for a public discussion of New Zealand's defence policy, at which of different schools of thought Will speak, should make it clear that the union is anxious that the matter should be intelligently decided in tho light of facts considered thoughtfully, and not be regarded as sacrosanct and hidden away in ignorance, traditionalism, and prejudice. Finally, I. would suggest that we cannot expect a more secure and peaceful atmosphere to develop if we go on thinking and living as we did before the war. If we believe in the League of Nations our ideas on military preparedness must be viewed in tho light of that belief and not kept ii)i a separate compartment of our minds. Few agree with the advocates of complete unilateral disarmament; but we should be quite certain in our minds in what direction our actions are tending to move things, Wtti.is T. G. Airey. Exec. Chairman, .Auckland Branch, League of Nations Union. 111, Pacific Buildings,, June 19,