THE DISARMAMENT QUESTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8832, 19 January 1907, Page 4

THE DISARMAMENT QUESTION.

The attitude of the Powers towards ' •the disarmament question has under- . gone a change. Until quite recently J Great Britain stood almost alone in her 'advocaoy of disarmament. Now at , least three other nations profess to be favourable to discussing the question at the Hague Conf erencei These are France, the United States and Japan, and although it may be taken for granted that none of them is favourable to disarmament, peace advocates will [ be delighted at their willingness to j discuss the matter. The discussion .will, of course, be a purely academic ' one; indeed, the question is likely to' remain indefinitely in an academic ; stage. Universal ■ dimsarmament is, j no doubt, excellent in theory-,- i and) if it could be carried out j under certain conditions, we dare j ■ay that it would be found to work ad- \ ■drably. But the international feeling will have to undergo radical change be- ; fore it will be possible to con- ' fiaoe all the Powers of the efficacy of disarming. And as long as one Power stands out, every nation will have to remain in arms. Moreover, there is the question of protection against alien races to be considered. Supposing all the civilised nations agreed to convert their swords into' plough-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks, what guarantee of protection would they possess against . savage races ? Japan, of course, is not a savage race, but no soheme of universal disarmament would be workable if it did not include Japan. And with Japan incapable of upholding civilisation in the Far East, and the European nations defenceless, what would prevent hordes of Asiatics from sweeping Europe? Admirable as it is theoretically, finiversal disarmament will have no 4)laimto practical recognition until it ban be shown that it woiild not endanger the existence if civilisation. .When all the savage races of the world become civilised, and not before, will it come within the range of practical joolitw**"