WAR-MONGERS AT WORK.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18655, 26 August 1930, Page 2

WAR-MONGERS AT WORK.

To the Editor of the “ Timaru Herald.” Sir,—Workers for world peace will be delighted to know that, in the United States, if not in England, an earnest endeavour is being made to live up to the anti-war spirit of our time. Many things, in recent American history indicate that such is the case; but the latest is the fact that, the Glenn L. Martin Company, of Baltimore, declined a two million dollar order from Russia, for twenty bombing aeroplanes and other war craft, merely because the Foreign Office and the Navy Department expressed disapproval, on the ground that the acceptance of such an order might be construed as a contravention of the 1925 Arms Traffic Convention,” which aims at discouraging foreign trading in war material, wit.i the view of cutting at its roots, one of the most prolific causes of war, namely, the arming of nations. But, as this Convention has not been ratified, and, as the American Government has no power to veto such trading, the Glenn L. Martin Company could quite easily have accepted this Russian order, in spite of anything the American Government could do, to prevent it. When a wealthy and politically powerful company like the Glenn L. Martin Company, refuses to undertake work of a highly remunerative character, which it could have executed in perfect harmony with existing law, we are forced to the conclusion that, a strong peace sentiment prevails in the United States; and, that any act of the Government, or of armament manufacturers, which, threatened to arouse suspicion or distrust in outside nations, would be viewed with disfavour by a majority of the people. We must take it then, that, the Russian order for bombing planes was declined, purely out of respect for American public opinion, which is overwhelmingly in favour of world peace. What a sorry spectacle England presents, when compared with America, as a peace-worker England certainly talks loudly about peace and disarmament, and leads the world to believe that she is genuinely desirous of" helping to abolish war forever; but, her works sadly belie her words; for, she loses no opportunity of doing what she can to perpetuate war, and the causes of war, if only there is profit attached to what she does. During the vear ending May 31st, 1930, she exported 374 consignments of war material, to 37 foreign countries, including Russia; and, in doing so, she did more than all the other nations put together to offset the good work of the League of Nations and the League of Nations Union. - Is it any wonder that she is being ridiculed as a hypocritical shopkeeper who thinks more of personal gain than of the peace of the world? It has to be pointed out, however, that, the British people, as a whole, are not directly to blame for this sacrifice of a great principle, which means so much to humanity. Those who are responsible are a few Dukes and Lords and Earls, whose Immense annual incomes are derived from the sale of war material to all who can be induced to purchase it. Peace or disarmament would mean ruin to those mighty ones; and, to defend themselves against such an untoward eventuality, they have strongly entrenched themselves in the House of Lords, in the House of Commons and in the League of Nations. They are among those who really manage England and frame her foreign and domestic policies. And, although a Labour Govern-

ment is at present in office, it is powerless to stay the treacherous hands of the masters of the Empire. But, should Labour, by any chance, And some way of successfully attaching them, then a letter forged m Russia, Italy or India would, quickly send Labour about its business, as such a letter did on a previous occasion, for, in England, a majority of the people can always be trusted -0 let themselves be cheated time ana time again, by titled wealth in high places. But, fortunately, the success of the world’s peace crusade does not depend on England etc..