BURDEN OF ARMAMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8609, 20 December 1913, Page 4

BURDEN OF ARMAMENTS

■While those members of the British. House of Commons who waited upon, the Prime Minister and asked him to refuse a further increase of arma-. ments were no doubt actuated byi worthy motives, wc fail to see how they could reasonably have expected an acquiescent reply. Mr Asquith himself would, we may be sure, have been, most ready to comply with the request of tho deputation if ho had not, to be guided by tho head rather than, tho heart. The growing amount of money spent upon warlike forces and equipment, not only by Britain but throughout the world, is certainly appalling, both in magnitude and in its. rapid expansion. It is unnecessary to produce figures in support of this statement. Tho broad facts are welli enough known, and they are deplored by all sober-minded men and women, who reflect At all upon tho situation.. “The amount spent on tho navy and army is a mutter of grave concern to. the Government, which is aware how it affects our future social legislation,”said Mr AsqAith. But how is the expenditure to be avoided while other, great nations are bent upon surpassing each other and Britain in this mad race for supremacy? Britain may bo unwilling enough to take part in, this highly expensive competition, but that she should lag behind in the race is simply unthinkable. Tho obvious, remedy, the dream of peace-loving, citizens and societies, as well as ofthose who may be actuated by economic considerations, is for tho os-i tablishraent of an adequate system of international arbitration which shall, take the place, of hideous war as a. means of settling differences that arise, between nations. Happily, it may be. said that this is even a little more tangible than a dream. Large and. important steps have been taken, some, progress has been made, in the direction of arbitration, and Britain has never been found lukewarm or in any. way unresponsive. But the difficulties are extremely formidable. Chief among, these is the weakness of international morality. There may bo a good time, ■onrng when reason shall prevail instead of ironclads —or airships—and. when swords may be turned into, ploughshares, but in the meantime tho fearful competition will go on, and. the least aggressive or jingoistic of. British Governments must imperatively see to it that whatever countries may become eclipsed or exhausted in. the grim and burdensome financial, struggle, _ Britain shall always stand, first, in power and prestige, among the nations of the world.