PACIFISTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22240, 15 October 1935, Page 13

PACIFISTS

Sir, —In discussing m.y letter over the signature "Ready Again," Mr. Len Hill accuses me of inferring that all pacifists are cowards. That, sir, I never did. Tho only true pacifists I have ever personally known aro my comrades of the late war, who hate war not because it is the fashion, or "modern" or intellectual to do so, but because war has hurt them savagely and they know it for the wild beast it is. With all that knowledge, none the less, the majority of us would obey the call again. For the peace-at-any-price form of pacifist, of course, I cannot answer. The fact which Mr. Hill and his fellowpacifists will not allow themselves to admit is that you cannot quell a wild beast either with fair words or by pretending it isn't there. You've got to get a gun and kill it. Mr. Hill sayß that to prefer war itself to dishonour is "a queer test of manhood." Perhaps so, but it is a queerer test of manhood to learn unmoved, of women and children murdered from the air and wounded men sprayed with poison gas and say, "What of it? It does no harm to me I" Mr. Hill also says he removes his hat to pneifists. There is also a type of man who removes his coat to non-pacifists—tho deliberate makers of war. Which of tho two, think you, does more to ensure peace? Had not his strength boon sapped and his sword blunted, by tho pacifist withm his gates, honest John Bull would have been able (as he honestly tried) to say to the aggressor in the present trouble: "This war shall not be! You know you cannot fight me, so stop while you're unhurt." And there would have been no war 1 Trooper W. Laing.

Sir,—As Mr. J. Morris credits me with mistaken knowledge as to Lord Beaconsfield'B policy during tho time lie had the British Empire under his care, may I say that I have taken an intelligent interest in Britain's foreign policy for quite 60 years now, and well remember, without following Mr. J. Morris' advice to read the life of Beaconsfiold, that ho always put tho welfare of the Empire first, and to do anything to overthrow the then "Sultan of Turkey" would have been disastrous, as Russia, who had to be feared at that time, was a great deal too anxious to reach Constantinople. When Mr. W. E. Gladstone acted foolishly over tho Bulgarian atrocities, he was only trying to do what Britain did after the late war, and that was Get mixed up in European affairs. If the Leaguo of Nations docs not end up in another world war shortly, many of us will be agreeably surprised. Wars will never cease on this earth, even if idealists think otherwise. The common sense standard of conduct Mr. Morris speaks of is as far off now as ever it was. The only way to live in peace for any length of time is to arm, so as to bo feared. Keep clear of other countries' quarrols, but as far as possiblo help others to live in peace. One gets tired of hearing that the last war was a war to end war; are we to keep on hearing it until tho guns begin to bark again? But when they do. I feel sure that wo have patriots left with red blood in their veins who will save the Empire, so that for generations to come it may continue to be, under the blessing of God, the power for good it has been in the past. "R. G. Hughes. Brown'* Hay.