THE SINGAPORE BASE.
TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —J. M. Bertes disagrees with the action of the Government in agreeing to pay one million pounds towards the cost cf the Singapore base. I believe that most of our thinking people will approve of the decision. The idea that preparation for war will provoke war is a shallow one. The fact that we keep a police force to protect us against murderers, thieves, and other vagabonds, does not produce them. Anti-militarists and pacifists would probably be the first to protest if the police were withdrawn—l think most people desire world peace, but we must recognise facte, and one is that no one can guarantee there will bo no more war. Therefore, it is only exercising ordinary prudence and commonsense 0 to be prepared. Even if all armaments were done away with, that would not prevent war. Men would fight with other things, as they did before guns were invented. The real cause of war is not preparation for it, but man’s selfishness. We must eliminate that bad quality first, and the other will follow as a matter of course. Christianity is the best means to attain that good objective. —I am, etc., Britisher. April 27.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 20087, 2 May 1927, Page 12
Word Count
203THE SINGAPORE BASE. Otago Daily Times, Issue 20087, 2 May 1927, Page 12
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