PEACE BALLOT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22177, 2 August 1935, Page 17

PEACE BALLOT

THE UNOFFICIAL POLL OVER 11,000,000 VOTES QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS [KKOM OUlt OWN COIIRKSI'ONDKNT] LONDON. July G The results of tlie Peace Ballot wen announced by Lord Cecil of Chelwoot nt a great meeting at the Albert Hall The audience of about 10,000 was pre dominantlv middle-aged, with aboui two women to every man. It was i quiet, matter-of-fact meeting, but th< audience, mainly those who had assistec in the organisation of the ballot, wen manifestly delighted with tho result o their work. The grand total of vote: cast in the ballot was 11,627,765. When the scheme was started eminent Conservatives advised tho public t< have nothing to do with it. Other Con servatives advised their constituents tc fill in the papers. The assumption thai it was a "Peace"' ballot was challenged The promoters were accused of usin< the undeniable desire of the nation foi peace for tho purpose of supporting a policy which was controversial. The fifth question included a vot< on military measures against aggressoi nations, and for that reason the schemi was pronounced by some people to b< the "ballot of blood." A number o eminent officials of tho Leaguo o Nations Union announced that thei would have nothing to do with thi ballot. A " Wonderful Result " Addressing bis' audience, Lord Ceci said that when the plan was startec fifteen months ago many of their mosl prudent counsellors thought it woulc be a "fizzle." He hoped for about fiv< millions. In fact, they had got nearly twelve millions. This wonderful resuli had been due to several causes. First there were the attacks of Lord Beaver brook and his friends—joined in by al who disliked or distrusted the Leagu< of ISations. Ihen there was the verj foolish talk about the unfairness ol the questions and the suggestion thai the citizens of this educated countrj could not understand a few simple sentences. But on this subject very manj of the common people knew more thar some of the richer classes. Lord Cecil, in the course of furthei remarks, said:—"The people want from their Government a full support of the , . a £! ,e a^'ons - They are sick of the old Power diplomacy—the jackboot anc the mailed fist and the shining armour !o them all talk of that kind is th< vapouring of an international bullv J hey insist that international quarrel; shall be treated like those between in dividuals. Every effort should be made to reach a settlement by discussior twT h ? a l a ~ n ? half-clever diplomats nnJ fl\ + P * i n a ? d °P en discussion l * ,*!' nan appeal must be made to world opinion and war musl be prevented by the joint action of the whole civilised community." Views of the Primate The Archbishop of Canterbury ob sened that the, result was "a- greal and timely declaration bv the Britisl N*°r ° i aith in the League ol Nations. He went on to sav: "Crabbing the League has been a fashionable pursuit for some time. It has beer open in certain sections of the press It has been very common on platforms to S h t V VGiled the lip servS to the League. It has been only to( common in private conversations' nn r ticularly m club rooms, and the opmio, mZ kSwtr, t must admit there were grounds for dis be ie that° U^ the v. Le ¥ ue " U can "eve; tt« + i ox s ho Ped as lone as th United States stands outside. There hn been hope only temporal —detection of Germany, and most sin stei when we consider the problems o the defection of Japan Hiese things make difficulties a£/fi V' op ° tl,,s declaration will encour ago the Government to maintain no ih/t- 1? word, but constantly in deed that the League is to be the kevston, ot its policy and if it should b tempted to depart from that policy then there are twelve millions of peopl in this country who will demand t know the reason why." " Why is it," asked Dr. F. W. Nor wood, " that when 11J million peopl have expressed their deliberate desir for peace nobody feels quite sure tha anything will happen ? It is because w< are living in a world of fear, and fea breeds fear." On the motion of Lord Cecil the meet ing passed a resolution affirming a de sire for peace and disarmament througl the League of Nations and callinj upon tho Government to carry out i definite and constructive policy on thes lines., Results o! the Ballot The five questions on which th public were asked to vote and the re suits were: 1. Should Great Britain remain a raembe of tho Leaeruc of Nations? Yes 11.157,(W0; no, 857,460; abstentions am doubtful, 113,205. 2. Are you in favour of un all-round re duction of armaments by internationa agreement? Yes, 10,533,82G; no, 807,227 abstentions and doubtful, 226,712. 3 Are you in favour of all-round abolitioi of national military and naval aircraf by international agreement? Yes 9.592,573; no. 1,097,977; abstentions nn< doubtful, 337,215. 4. Should the manufacture and sale o armaments for private profit be pro hibited by international ncreement? Yes 10.4S0.002; no, 779,613; abstentions am doubtful, 208,250 5. Do you consider that, if a nation insisti on attacking another. the other nationi should combine to compel it to stop by (a) Economic and non-military measures! Yes, 10,088,312; no, 638,211; abstentioni findt doubtfjl, 901,242. ffc) If necessary military measures? Yes, 0,827,699; no 2,364,279; abstentions and doubtful 2,435,787. , The total number of people over If able to vote —for everyone over If being of "military age," was entitlec to vote —was approximately 30J million. The votes recorded represent 38 per cent of this number. That the ballot was not altogether i peace ballot is evident from the results of question five. It will be seen thai 6,827,699 people voted for military measures against a nation that insist; on attacking another nation. This means they would be willing for Grcal Britain to hnvo sent an army to Chinr against Japan, or they would be willing that Great Britain should join ir a campaign in Africa if a certain natior should attack another small nation anc be judged the aggressor.