Disarmament.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19052, 16 September 1933, Page 7

Disarmament.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—The Daily Herald in London, the official organ- of the Socialist Party, recently gave prominence to a Brisbane message under the heading, "Australian Punitive Expedition to Please Japan.” it was reporting a decision of the Commonwealth Government to send a party of armed police to punish the native murderers of some Japanese pearlers in Arnheim Land. The Daily Herald twi.s Australia with not having ‘the courage to tell Japan it can ohly proteot Japanese who observe the law. This sneer at the 4 courage of Australia does not come well from a paper representing a party Nvhloh has consistently advocated disarmament by the Empire as an example to other nations.' Indeed the Socialist Par-y went so far in this direction that the Empire’s naval, military and air foroes have been reduced to a dangerous extent. Even one of the Socialist Ministers admitted in 1931 that disarmament as an example to others was a “beautiful theory which did not work in practice. If the Commonwealth Government exhibited “the coubagte” suggested by the Daily Herald and refused to punish the murderers ' the probable result would be a landing of a Japanese armed party on Australian soil. What could Australia do? She could pass resolutions of protest or she oould appeal to the League of Nations, both of whloh would be use\Vo cannot have it both ways. We must either be armed sufficiently to proteot our rights or we must knuokle down and eat humble pie when a better-armed nation makes a demand. To disarm at the behest of the Sooiallst Party and then be twitted by Its paper as having “no courage” is a bit thick. —We are, eto., N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE, Wellington, September 13, 1933.