ARMS LIMITATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 32, 30 April 1927, Page 7

ARMS LIMITATION

ABOLITION OF WAR “NO COMPELLING SENTIMENT” By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright WASHINGTON, Thursday. The former Secretary of State, Mr. C. E. Hughes, addressed the American Society of International Law, of which he is president. Mr. Hughes said it would be idle to expect a more favourable time for a limitation of armaments than the present. Yet, paradoxically, difficulties had mounted so high as to appear to be well-nigh insuperable. There were several contradictory reasons for this. It would appear that fundamentally no compelling sentiment existed. First there were those who were so intent upon abolishing war that they had no patience with schemes to regulate war. Then there were others who were satisfied that nothing could prevent war. Again, there were those who, in their desire to abolish war, wished to make it as horrible as possible. It would seem to be clear that declarations, resolutions and documents could not be relied upon to prevent war unless at the back of all these was a triumph of the spirit of reasonableness among people who had ceased to think in terms of war. This was a habit of peace, but it would not be found while the causes of strife still existed or while dreams of successful, appeals to force for the vindication of injuries or for the extension of power continued to fasNor would that spirit be found while the nations were so intent upon preparing for fighting that they found it impossible to agree to any measures for a reduction or a limitation of the burdensome expenditure on arma ments. —A. and N.Z.