The Waikato Times THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1939 TEST OF VOLUNTARY SYSTEM

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20714, 26 January 1939, Page 8

The Waikato Times THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1939 TEST OF VOLUNTARY SYSTEM

tpon the re.'punsc to Mr Neville Chamberlains call to national *erwee, Britain will base its judgment on tile efficacy of the voluntary 'stem and the ability of the British conception of democracy to efend itself against the threat of foreign aggression. The Governincnt has so far turned its face against conscription as a violation ot democratic principle, and now it is putting its theory to the test. , Vhamberlain expresses confidence that the response will be adequate for all the nation’s needs. It was obvious immediately alter the Munich agreement that there was a widespread desire in Britain to give national service in some form, and it is questionable whether rile Government in delaying action so long ha, not missed the psychological moment.

It cannot be said that in view of the urgency of the Government's appeal in the past few years the response of volunteers has been wholly satisfactory. It must be remembered, however, that resort to war has appeared to Englishmen to be so unnecessary and so obviously against the dictates of common sense that they have hesitated to alter the course of their lives by joining the Army, Xa 'T, -Ar Force or other defence organisation. There is no doubt that if they realised that war was inevitable in defence of their homeland they would flock to the colours as they always have done m the past. The mentalities of the dictatorships and of the demo-

cracies are entirely different. The one looks upon war, or the threat of war, as the chief instrument of its salvation and progress; the other regards war as a loathsome pestilence from which men should keep clear as long as is humanly possible. While the British policy is based on the concept that war is entirely unnecessary and an affront to civilised opinion, that does not alter the fact that the dictatorships are building their military strength to the limit with the object of gaming territorial expansion and world domination. So Britain has been forced to arm in defence. She is attempting to build under the voluntary system a military force that wall make her secure from attack. The testing time is now. If the response of volunteers is inadequate, will it be safe longer to delay the conscription of a defence force that will meet the needs of the hour 7

One of the most tolling arguments against conscription is that the sudden mobilisation of a powerful army by Britain in the present state of tension in Europe would immediately precipitate a crisis (hat would make war difficult to avoid. Against that it may 1)0 argued that fn any case the dictatorial Powers are pushing on and refusing to listen to peace overtures. It is possible that by the raising of a huge army, navy and air force they would be made to realise that Britain means business and would alter their tactics accordingly. However, in the meantime Britain is pursuing gentler methods in the hope of making herself secure against attack without vitiating an already tense atmosphere by resorting to conscription. Tf. is an appeal to the best that is in democracy and a trial of the resiliency of democratic rule.