BRITAIN’S APPEAL TO EUROPE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19682, 27 December 1933, Page 12

BRITAIN’S APPEAL TO EUROPE

MANUFACTURE OF ARMS. VISCOUNT CECIL DEPLORES INCREASE. LONDON, November 20. ‘•Armaments mean unrest between countries and unrest increases armaments,” said Viscount Cecil, of Chelwood, at a crowded gathering in the Oxford Union Society’s Hall. ‘‘lt is only too true that those who supply armaments are only too ready to increase unrest. The profits of armament firms are rapidly rising. “I believe it to be one of the most essential parts of any plan for the peace of the world that we should take away the element of profit from the manufacture of armaments. ‘‘lt is not the immediate threat of war that causes us an&lety to-day. It is the fact that there has occurred the first great attack since the war that has been made on organised peace. “When we look round Europe we must admit the international situation is not favourable to our ideas. “We see the establishment of systems of government different from our own—systems of dictatorship which rely on the force of nationalism. “Not Unpatriotic.” “I am not against patriotism,” he said, “but it is a different thing to carry patriotism so far that you not only love your own country but begin to hate other countries. “Some of the same modes of thought are appearing in our own country. We see a revival of the same kind of nationalism, a recrudescence of the old conception of relying on your own way to preserve peace is to prepare for war.

“The growth of that feeling even in this country is a great danger. It is modes seem to be almost entirely confined to certain sections of political opinion—the political opinion of the Right. “I think that is a very menacing sign. It is important that the question of international relations, and particularly of the League, should not become part of the policy of any party.” Old Four-Power Pact. Lord Cecil said it had been suggested that the old Four-Power Pact would be better than the League of Nations, but if they had that Pact w r ould the United States co-operate in the same way as they were doing in the League? Would the Colonies cooperate? “The British Commonwealth is valuable,” he said, “and I believe it can only co-operate efficiently for the peace of the world through the League or something equivalent. “How can you say that the British Empire, with its immense interests throughout the world, can cut itself off from relationship with other nations? “During the war the United States, in its splendid isolation, found that it cofild not keep out of the warm after two or three years. How could this country expect to do anything different?”