THE Wairarapa Age WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1936. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

Wairarapa Age, 29 July 1936, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1936. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

At an immediate view it may appear that the British. Foreign Secretary (Mr. Anthony Eden) was speculating very vaguely when he said, in the speech in the House of Commons reported to-day, that it would clearly remain the duty of the Government to seize any opportunity for limitation of armaments. No doubt, Mr. Eden had something to go upon in his further observations on this point:— It was posrible that an opportunity might come sooner than some people thought, for the pressure on the economies of nations was extremely severe and that might come to be appreciated even in mtfny quarters where it would be ridiculed at the present time. They would not, however, in the present troubled state of the world aid the cause of disarmament by a blank refusal to take note of events. The strain on the economies of nations to which Mr. Eden referred of course brings the danger of war into plain sight. More than one European dictatorship is under suspicion of being prepared to seek escape from internal embarrassments in 'external conflict. If war can be averted, however—and Britain, France and Belgium appear now to be working earnestly to that end—it is possible that Britain, committed as she now is to a programme of rearmament, may be able to exercise a greater and more powerful influence in favour of disarmament than in the lengthy post-war period in which there was no response worth speaking about to her individual lead in the limitation of armaments.- The position is paradoxical, but understandable. There can be no doubt that Britain’s unsupported lead in disarmament was ascribed in many quarters to weakness. On the other hand, even cynical observers in foreign countries may be expected to perceive and accept the truth of Mr. Eden’s statement to Opposition critics in the House of Commons that the arBritain is now building up would never be used for a purpose inconsistent with the League Covenant or the Pact of Paris. They might, if occasion arose, be used in self-defence. They might be used in coming to the help- of a victim of Aggression. But they would never be used in a war of aggression. Wars are not to be averted by buildftig up armaments, but even those who refuse to concede her any higher motive are bound to recognise that Britain has as great an interest as ever in the maintenance of peace, and that the part she is now playing in the armaments race is reluctant, though resolute. It is possible that/ as a nation strongly armed but genuinely intent on peace she may be able to work more effectively than in recent years for the pacification of Europe.