DEFENCE MEASURES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22887, 16 November 1937, Page 12

DEFENCE MEASURES

Sir, —Your correspondent "Straight Bat" is amused by Mr. C. B. Howell's exposition of the pacifist outlook. I hardly think Mr. Howell would regard his short letter as an exposition. Such could not be contained within the scope of the longest letter to the press. But this doesn't mean that full statements of the attitude are not available. Anyone who will make an honest effort to ascertain the real grounds of pacifism is likely to learn a lot. Hut be will probably be a sadder as well as a wiser man, because some of the expositions he will need to study are decidedly not amusing. For instance lie will learn facts that will make it quite impossible to conceive of the Great War as originating in an attack by a predatory Power on well-disposed nations weakened by peaceful sentiment. Probahlv the whole truth about the matter will never be known, but sufficient data is available for us to realise that Lord Cecil of Chelwood was on the solid ground of truth when he said, "No one could deny that the state of mind produced by armament competitions prepared the soil on which grew up the terrible plant which ultimately fruited in tlie Great War." Is it to be supposed that tlie present armaments race will produce fruit of sweeter flavour? If so the burden of proof is on the advocate of armaments. P. D. Cri'mp. 11 Disraeli Street, Mount Eden, S.l.