The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1939. The Warnings Pass Unheeded

Southland Times, Issue 23773, 22 March 1939, Page 4

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1939. The Warnings Pass Unheeded

JIURING the past week there L has been convincing proof that the peace of Europe rests on precarious foundations. The Munich Agreement, which was to have opened a way towards a general pacification, has been made ineffective by the seizure of Bohemia, and troop movements on the eastern frontiers are keeping the outside world in a state of nervous tension. Even if calmness returns, the brutal attack on the independence of a free people has demonstrated that the danger of war must continue to overshadow the peace-loving countries. In the circumstances it is not surprising that recruiting was stimulated in Britain by the Prime Minister’s Birmingham speech. A great many persons have been unwilling-to believe that the danger was as real as former events seemed to indicate. But the warnings are now written too plainly to be ignored: even the victims of an ostrich optimism are at last lifting their heads from the sand. Young men who liked to think that the Munich Agreement had miraculously cured the political disease of Europe and that defence talk was being overdone are enlisting for national service in Britain. It was reported yesterday that compulsory service is being advocated by a large section of the Press, and that important supporters of the Government are urging action of this kind. Nor is the greater part of the Empire ignoring the weather signs. From Canada, where the existence of a strong isolationist sentiment has been indicated by the tone of recent, statements in Parliament, has come an assurance of support for Britain and an announcement by the Prime Minister that the Dominion is ready “for the fullest consultation with Britain and the Empire.” South Africa, whose domestic problems bring Nazi intervention nearer home than in other parts of the Commonwealth, is taking precautionary measures. The Australian Prime Minister has deprecated any tendency towards panic, but his speeches and statements show that his Government is aware of the position and is ready to accelerate the drive for national security. Only in New Zealand is there the stillness of a fathomless apathy.

Need For Leadership

We cannot understand why the Government of this country, which has recognized the existence of world unrest and claims to be making adequate defence preparations, should become strangely quiet whenever the danger seems to approach an explosive moment. Surely these are times when some effort should be made to underline the responsibility which rests on all the Dominions and to appeal to young men to accept voluntary training in the territorial army. This does not mean that panic should be encouraged at every sign of a cloud over Europe. But when the cloud is unmistakably there, and showing the darkness of approaching storm, it is essential that there should be some voice of leadership in New Zealand. The Government knows that thousands of men are needed for the territorial forces if they are to be developed beyond peace-time strength (at present they are not even at that stage); yet it makes no effort to place the urgency of the situation before the people or to offer even the most timid suggestion that a time has come when, in the words of the French Prime Minister, it must be recognized that “the country’s salvation preceded its citizens’ convenience.” While official silence remains unbroken in days of looming crisis it is merely futile to expect that there will be sufficient recruits. If the Government prefers the voluntary system it should make some attempt to provide a proper stimulus. There is no lack of radio eloquence when it is a question of party propaganda. Why should there be so complete a silence over the fundamental question of national survival? The alternative to voluntary service is conscription, a method which the Government seems to think is 'justifiable for industrial and social regimentation but which apparently becomes a kind of fascism as soon as it is invoked for the protection of the country. This illogical viewpoint would not matter so much if it could be claimed that the volunteer system is being given a fair trial and an unqualified support. Unfortunately the evidence suggests that the Government attitude towards defence is merely the toleration of a necessary evil, and that if anything is to be done to encourage a national spirit of preparedness it will have to be done by the people themselves.