APPREHENSIONS OF WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22398, 20 October 1934, Page 12

APPREHENSIONS OF WAR

The expression by General Smutsj in the coui’sc of a speech at St. Andrew’s University, of his disagreement with the view that the world is on the verge of another great war, will be widely welcomed as testimony on the reassuring side. It is hardly necessary to seek to identify with anybody in particular the view which it controverts and which has been promulgated in a great deal of what is generally called “ war talk,” reflected in numerous directions, not least of course in the commentaries on the national policies of certain countries, and in the outlook upon sensational happenings in Europe. This talk has been encouraged rather than otherwise in the latter-day history of the League of Nations, and in the failure of the Disarmament Conference, the development of nationalism, and the trend towards rearmament. Writers discoursing on the aspects which the next war would be likely to assume. have strengthened an impression that another struggle must 'be unavoidable. Uncertainty and 'distrust inevitably breed apprehension,, and, the international horizon is far from clear. Civilisation has shown itself capable of strange reactions. Another great war, it has been freely predicted, would spell the end of it. But is such a doom impending? General Smuts refuses to think so. “In spite of scaremongers and the'present lamentable failure of disarmament,” he has stated, “ in spite of the vogue of silly drilling and strutting about in uniform and in shirts of various colours, I do not, find a real war temper anywhere.” As an antidote against pessimism in such a relation the opinion of one person may not be very effectual, but the mgin consideration is whether General, bmuts, who should be a shrewd observer of the international situation, is right, or wrong. If we leave out, of .account the pacts and agreements to which the Powers are party there are other discouragements to the spirit of. aggression. It cannot be explicitly asserted of any nation to-day that it wants war and is prepared to provoke it. It would certainly be imagined that after their experience of the Great War the nations would be anything but anxious to be embroiled in another conflict. “ Nobody in Europe wants war,” Signor Mussolini was recently reported as saying, “ but war is in the air, and might break put at any moment.” He may have been concerned to emphasise more the possibility than the probability of war as a reason for the cult of militarism in Italy and as an argument for armed preparedness. Interviewed by a Paris journal some weeks ago, Mr Lloyd George expressed the view that the nations need not fear another major war for ten years. The psychological conditions necessary for war were present, he said, but the material, facts must also be taken into consideration. And this latter point is one that fortunately is not to, be ignored. In any case it is devoutly to be hoped that the danger of war is less grave than is frequently suggested. But amid the uncertainties of the times it is natural that the nations should think of their security. Great Britain has striven hard to remove the causes of war, and will continue such efforts. But she cannot afford any more than other nations to neglect precautions to defend herself. Not on her weakness, but on her strength, depends the value of her influence for peace.