The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1919. REDUCTION OF ARMAMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1919. REDUCTION OF ARMAMENTS.

"If," said Mr. Asquith recently, "the world is to be habitable, there must be a reduction of armaments." This declaration is both timely and appropriate in view of the great work that is now being done at Paris by the Peace Congress. Without armaments there would be no war, but if a glance is taken at what is now transpiring in various countries in Europe it will be seen that the warlike spirit is far from being quenched. War, pestilence and famine have been three great scourges of the human race anditwouldbe unwise to count on the elimination of this trio either as a whole or in any part. The most we dare hope is that the best means that intelligence, foresight, and skill will be utilised to minimise each and all of these foes of humanity. Much has already been accomplished in the fight against pestilence and famine, but occasionally we are reminded of the limitations of mankind in coping with these terrible forces that decimate whole nations. Famine is preventible only by the accumulation of vast stores of food in readiness for an emergency, but pestilence is a hidden foe that stalks by stealth night and day taking a heavy toll of life and running its course until conquered. War, however, is in a different category, being the outcome of human agency and the survival of primeval instincts which thousands of years of civilisation have not uprooted. On the contrary, the greater the advance of a country in intellectual attainments, the more persistent has been the endeavor to devote science to the development of na>tional power by the creation of large standing armies and navies equipped with the most destructive weapons that can be devised. To such a terrible pitch of perfection has the art of constructing high explosives and other engines of war been brought, as evidenced in the late war, that a deep conviction is forcing itself on the peoples of the world tha't this wanton killing and maiming must, if possible, be ended, but at least minimised to the utmost extent. There has never been such an opportunity as now presents itself for taking the first step towards preventing warfare, first by inflicting adequate punishment on Germany, and then by compelling the nations to reduce their armaments to a minimum consistent with the maintenance of law and order in each country. It is one of the great blots on civilisation that armed forces should have to be employed as a final resource in dealing with riotous lawbreakers, and, as with the separate nation, so is it internationally, force has to be employed to meet force. War, after all, is a trial of strength, not mere brute force, but organised and trained strength. It is evident that the Peace Congress has no hope of abolishing war, but all thinking people must inevitably be anxious concerning the burdens that the future may put upon our world-wide community of peoples, and can only look to the Peace Congress to take such steps for helping to keep the peace, as will free the nations from the peril of having to endure the crushing weight of armaments. One of the factors that should tend to bring about a universal reduction of armed force is the elimination of military despotism by the Allies. That the great aim of the war on their part and its achievement has pav* ed the way for democratic rule, which in itself is a potent force on the side of peace—or should be so when the transition period has passed and the new order has taken permanent shape. One of the great lessons of the war was the demonstration of the supreme importance of sea power, which, more than anything else, enabled Britain to be victorious. The Peace Congress should not allow itself to be swayed by fanciful ideals, but by the lessons of the past. It is not unreasonable to contend that with Britain policing the seas and retaining her supremacy thereon, coupled with a compulsory reduction of armaments by all the nations, that we may hope to secure a permanent peace. Much, however, depends on the action of the Congress in the matter of meting out punishment to Germany, for unless it is clearly demonstrated that authors and supporters of unjust war are made to suffer for their crimes the Congress will fail in its duty, while its moral influence will be immensely weakened. In this connection the depriving of Germany of her colonies is matter for deep gratification, not only as removing a probable menace in the future, but in the best interests of the natives. 1 ffhjeae jt schooling

ground for developing German cruelty and brutality. Men, women and children were killed outr.ght or forced to die of starvation in the desert. The civilised world has had more than enough of armed brute force and now cries a halt for all time. This merciless extermination of natives was a phase of militarism, and by crushing it out of existence there is a reasonable prospect of the world being at peace. To have suffered und endured all the agonies of the late war, with its onerous burdens and sacrifices, and not to take effective steps to reduce armaments sufficiently to minimise further outbreaks of hostilities would be to only half fulfil the task which the Allies undertook. The vital problems of reconstruction are now pressing for solution, but until the foundations of peace are well and truly laid by reducing the means for making war there v-ill be an ever increasing ferment among the popls of th world. Firm and courageous action by the Congress is needful to bring its work to satisfactory fruition, and we look to the delegates to exercise these qualities, nor should we look in vain.