PEACE BALLOTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22131, 10 June 1935, Page 6

PEACE BALLOTS

BRITAIN AND AMERICA SERIES OF QUESTIONS LEAGUE AND ARMAMENTS Considerable interest i 3 being taken in Great Britain in the "peace ballot" being conducted throughout the country by the League of Nations Union. A referendum containing questions dealing with British foreign policy, disarmament and general attitude toward the League of Nations has been prepared and an army of door-to-door canvassers is making a tour of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The ultimate aim is to call on every house in the territory.

The ballot commenced at the beginning of the year and by March 28 nearly 4,2f>0,000 votes had been cast. The final result will be announced at a meeting to be held in the Albert Hall, London, on June 27. Speakers at the meeting will include the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Home and Mr. Walter Citrine. British Answers There are six questions on the ballot paper. In ftnswer to the first question, "Should Great Britain remain a member of the League of Nations?" "Yes," was the answer in 97.2 per cent of the votes counted by the end of March; 92.6 per cent expressed themselves in favour of "an all-round reduction of armaments by international agreement"; and 85 per cent in favour of "the all-round abolition of national naval, and military aircraft by international agreement." The prevention, by law, of the private manufacture of arms and munitions of war was supported by 9«J per cent of the voters.

Fewer votes were cast on the last two questions on the paper, these being of a somewhat more controversial nature than the others. In answer to the question, "Do you favour the establishment of collective security by economic and nonmilitary measures?" 3,669,687, or 94.1 per cent voted "yes" and 229,598, or 5.9 per cent "no." In answer to the remaining question, "Do you favour the establishment of collective security by, if necessary, military measures and action?" 2,448,652, or 73.7 per cent voted "yes" and 872,167, or 26.3 per cent "no." Votes from the London area and several large cities are yet to come. Opinions in America Toward the end of last year, a poll on fairly similar lines was conducted in 118 American colleges and universities by the magazine Literary Digest, 112,607 voltes being received. In answer to the question, "Can We Stay Out of War?" 68.65 per cent voted "yes"; 83.54 per cent of the students expressed a willingness to bear arms in the event of the United States being invaded by an enemy,, while only 17.82 per cent stated that they would fight if the United Sta,,tes were the invading Power. Just ov£x 90 per cent favoured Government control of armaments and munitions and 82.35 per cent voted for universal conscription of all resources of capital and labour in time of war. American entry into the League of Nations was supported by only 49.47 per cent of the voters. In answer to the question, "Do you believe that a national policy of an American Navy and Air Force second to none is a sound method of insuring us against being drawn into another great war?" only 37.26 pet cent voted "yes." The "College Peace Roll," as it was called, was extended to one university in Canada to serve as a test vote of Canadian opinion, the questions, of course, being altered to fit the Canadian case. Only on the question of entry to the League of Nations did the Canadian percentages vary appreciably from the American, 97.14 per cent of the votera advocating that Canada should remain in the League.