ECONOMIC INFLUENCES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4016, 23 February 1938, Page 3

ECONOMIC INFLUENCES

DISCUSSION WITH DICTATORS. - “All Europe, including France, is suffering from economic causes produced largely because of intense nationalism mainly created by war settlements, the imposition of tariffs and quotas, plus enormous expenditure on armaments which no nation can afford,” said Mr George Lansbury, M.P., in a speech reported in Reconciliation. “I do not accept the view that discussion with dictators is impossible and useless, or that we must wait until. these men disappear because peace is impossible while they continue to exist. It is impossible for Europe to maintain itself without either war, revolution or peaceful change through co-operation between all peoples. This is admitted by all who know the facts. It is equally impossible to prevent an economic and financial crash unless there is speedy co-operation between the great States in an unselfish endeavour to help each other and at the same time assist all smaller Powers. All true things are simple. What is obvious is that we must either make war or peace with the dictators. If we are satisfied that war means universal ruin, then we must make serious efforts toward peace, however difficult we may find the task. We must be prepared to sacrific something for peace or, to put it more truthfully, be willing to share with each other.”