DISARMAMENT PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22122, 28 November 1933, Page 9

DISARMAMENT PROBLEM

BRITAIN’S NEW LEAD WELCOMED BY THE PRESS (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, November 25. Britain’s new lead in the disarmament negotiations, which was announced by Sir John Simon in the House of Commons, is welcomed by the British press. The speech was fully reported abroad, and the immediate response in France, Germany, and Italy was favourable. Sir Johu Simon, in a further reference to the disarmament problem, said the central fact of the problem was the question of French and German relations. There must be a fuller understanding of that question, “ The influence of Britain in this tremendous issue is immensely increased by the knowledge that our own united nation is devoted lo peace,” he said, WAR NOWADAYS A MASSACRE. TERRIBLE TO CONTEMPLATE. LONDON, November 26. “ War nowadays would be a massacre,” declared Brigadier-general F. P. Crozier. He added that a general strike should immediately follow threat of war. “If we must suffer let us suffer for peace and justice. Women, instead of encouraging men to become tailors’ dummies, might discourage war by pointing to khaki-clad men and exclaiming; ‘ What silly asses you look.’ Poison gas has abolished chivalry, yet the Government has more dangerous gas even than that which another great country possesses. Scientists are unable to devise masks to exclude our own gas. War is a put-up job. If we had an understanding witii Germany and Italy regarding peace with honour it would be the greatest benefit to Europe. Brigadier-general Crozier served in the South African War and in the Great War, and with the Lithuanian Army against the Germans in the Baltic in 1919, against the Bolshevists in 1919-20, and on the Polish front in 1919-20. He is the author of "A Brass Hat in No Man’s Land,” “Five Years’ Hard,” and “Angels On Horseback.” BISHOP OF FULHAM’S VIEWS. LONDON, November 26. The Bishop of Fulham, speaking at a war memorial service, urged all to resolve to do their utmost to prevent a recurrence of war. He believed that the necessity of armed force to which nations must sometimes resort in fulfilment of their obligations towards Europe for years to come would menace peace. Therefore he was not fanatically in favour of such disarmament as would leave Britain powerless to defend her heritage and fulfil her obligations; but Englishmen must end wars of aggression. 1 ■ : PREVENTION OF WAR. STRIKE AS A WEAPON. LONDON, November 26. «If this country declares war contrary to international pacts, I advise the workers to begin a general strike,” said Sir Stafford Cripps at a meeting at Sutton, which passed a resolution demanding that the executive of the Labour Party should immediately aet to stop the production and transportation of munitions without waiting for war to break out. ANTI-GAS MEASURES. INTRODUCTION IN ENGLAND, LONDON, November 26. Colonel Coates, Deputy Director of Medical Services in the Northern Command, in distributing the prizes to voluntary aid detachments at Leeds, said that instruction in anti-gas measures and the treatment of gas bombing casualties would in future form a part of competitive training. The War Office was preparing a manual, and all detachments were expected to reach efficiency.

ENSURING EUROPEAN PEACE. BRITAIN AND FRANCE. LONDON, November 27. (Received Nov. 27, at 9 p.m.) The Paris correspondent of the Daily Mail says that at a dinner given by the Paris branch of the British Legion, General Weygand said that neither France nor Britain alone could stop war in Europe. Together they could, thus guaranteeing European peace and abolishing war. The only obstacle was the difficulty of mutual understanding, and more points of contact were requisite.