The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1937 THE RULE OF LAW OR THE RULE OF FORCE?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20673, 11 March 1937, Page 8

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1937 THE RULE OF LAW OR THE RULE OF FORCE?

Mr Anthony Eden’s enunciation of the principles of British foreign policy, ought to remind the peoples of Europe that the great Commonwealth ol British Nations rejects with all the emphasis at its disposal, the fatalism that presupposes the inevitability of war: “We are all agreed,” says Mr Eden, “that the main object of the Brtiish foreign policy is the pursuit of peace, and, while avoiding anything in the nature of provocation, we should not hesitate to speak our minds when we think it right. But in spite of this lofty idealism, British statesmanship dare not close its eyes to the world condition in which Britain lives. It will be recalled that when Germany moved her legions info the Rhineland, in spite of the solemn obligations of peace treaties, and when Herr Hitler determined on the rearming of Germany up to the strength of neighbouring countries, the peoples of Europe awaited with breathless expectancy the next move! This came from Italy. In spite of acceptance of the principle of the outlawry of war as an instrument of national policy; in spite of Italian promises to assist in safeguarding the sovereignty of Abyssinia, and in spite of Italy’s undertaking to co-operate with the leading European Powers in preserving the integrity of the country of a fellow Member of the League of Nations, a ruthless war of aggression was waged against the last piece of free Africa. Regardless of the rules of war or -lie obligations of treaties, the Italians reduced the conflict to a struggle of a well-armed European against a defenceless black nation, that was no match for the “civilising” force of Italian militarism. It is because Britain has been compelled to witness the triumph of force over the cause of right, that the most comprehensive plan of defence has been decided upon. Britain’s important place in the world demands not only co-operation with every country that is willing to subscribe to the principles of right before might, but that the attitude taken by Mr Anthony Eden in enunciating British policy should be scrupulously correct. He has merely claimed what ought to be obvious to all intelligent citizens, that in the rearming of the world, Great Britain should have armaments commensurate with her national, imperial and international responsibilities. In a word, Britain must be strong if her statesmen are to have a voice in the councils of Europe. Moreover, it. is generally agreed that the weapons of defence that British statesmanship is fashioning so vigorously are in safe hands, because the fundamental principle of British international policy is that peace will only finally be secured by the establishment of international order which shall substitute th'e rule of law for the rule of force.