ARMING FOR PEACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22540, 3 October 1936, Page 17

ARMING FOR PEACE

Sir, —Are "Active Pacifist" and his supporters really trying to delude themselves into thinking that they can control a world-wide peace? Abyssinia no more wanted war than New Zealand docs, but notwithstanding the fact that she was only armed with a few primitive and obsolete weapons, she was-in-vaded, conquered, and subjected to all the latest horrors of war science. Had she been provided with gas masks and some anti-aircraft guns, many lives and much suffering might have been saved. Daily one reads in the papers of the atrocities taking place in Spain, women and children murdered, persons burnt alive, priests crucified, etc. If this can happen in civilised Europe, does "Active Pacifist" think this country would receive any different treatment from a victorious invading army, and yet he says under no circumstances will he fight! In other words, lie and others of his ilk will be prepared to see homes destroyed, women and children murdered without lifting a finger to defend them,_ and that is the great Christian attitude they ask all young men to take up! "Active Pacifist" says he will be shot rather than take up arms. If the ever increasing horrors of war arc ever forced on unprepared New Zealand (which God forbid), I.venture to think that "Active Pacifist" may consider himself very lucky and grateful if he meets a gentlemanly end bv shooting, rather than by any of the other methods lately dealt out to unfortunate conquered and unarmed victims. Britisher.