DISARMAMENT.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XXI, Issue 15, 1 November 1931, Page 6

DISARMAMENT.

The subject of World Peace was brought forward by Archdeacon MacLean in so thoughtful and eloquent a speech that one felt a little sorry for Dean Brocklehurst when he rose to second the motion in what must have been largely an impromptu effort. But never have we heard the Dean speak more fluently or more brilliantly; and so stirred was Synod by the two speakers that after prolonged applause it accorded the speakers the compliment of its complete silence. As one Vicar wittily put it, the speakers did not practice what they preached, for they had advocated peace by bringing all their big guns into action. We give the gist of Archdeacon Maclean's speech as nearly as possible in his own words. Last July there was a wonderful meeting at the Albert Hall in London in support of world disarmament. We had fairly full and impressive accounts of it at the time, but it is difficult at this distance to appreciate the full force and significance of it. The meeting was organised to strengthen the hands of those who should go as Great Britain's representatives to the long-prepared-for world Disarmament Conference which, is to meet at Geneva on February 2nd next year. It was a wonderful meeting in the united front it presented. The chairman was Field-Marshal Sir William Robertson; the speakers', the Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Lloyd George. Dr. Maude Hoyden proposed the vote of thanks to the speakers and the motion was seconded by Lord Cecil, who has done more for the League of Nations and for world peace than any living. man. The huge hall was packed with

10,000 people; many thousands more in two huge open air meetings listened to the speeches relayed by loud speakers, and all over the country and in Europe and America other meetings and private people listened in. I believe it has been said with truth that no one in the world's history has ever addressed such an audience as that which listened to the speakers on that Saturday afternoon. The purpose of the meeting was to stir up Public Opinion in support of World Disarmament. The whole subject of Disarmament and all that is involved is so great that one cannot attempt to deal with the subject as a whole, neither is this the time or place to attempt it, so I will not try to do more than direct your attention to three points. 1. The speakers were unanimous and had no difficulty in proving their case, that Disarmament is our only hope for the future. They do not suggest the immediate abolition of all armies and navies, for the practical difficulties and dangers in the way are so great that no government in any country would dare to do it, but they plead that the Disarmament Conference next February, should result in some quite definite move such as the immediate reduction of all armies and navies by one quarter. All kinds of Covenants and Pacts renouncing war as an instrument of policy have been adopted by the nations, but no nations have reduced their armaments 1 except Great Britain, which has made great reductions, and Germany who has been forced to disarm by the Treaty of Versailles. All other great nations have increased their armed forces since the War> so it comes to this: "Unless the Conference results in something definite being done and not only promised towards Disarmament, we can have no real hope of Peace for the future." Peace is not just an absence of war; it is a definite thing, a change of mind and heart and outlook which has to be made, and unless we can make it, civilisation is doomed. So far as our responsible chosen leaders can see, the future of civilisation depends on the coming Conference accomplishing something real in action. 2. The next point is this. The only power in international politics which can accomplish this is public opinion. The political leaders cannot travel far ahead of the public

opinion which they represent, they can only carry out the definite action. that their people demand. Nothing but the conviction and determination of millions of ordinary people like ourselves can achieve any real measure of disarmament through our representatives at the Conference. We need not regret that. No army is as strong as an ideal. If the ideal, of world peace is held clearly enough: and passionately enough by peopleenough then Disarmament will become an accomplished fact. Just as; a future war will involve not only th& uniformed fighting forces,, but noncombatants, women and children anywhere in the countries at war, so the business of making peace is not a. matter we can leave to politicians.. They cannot do it without us, it rests with us, not with them. It cannot beaccomplished through any official: machinery of Government, it can be done only by Public Opinion acting 1 through Government. 3. The third point brings us to theheart of it. Public Opinion has to bemade by something or it will not. exist. The handiest thing to make it with is fear, to cry "Nothing but Disarmament can save us." Fear is a. very powerful maker of Public Opinion, and a sensible fear based on a. real reason is not disgraceful; on thecontrary it is' right and wise as far as; it goes. All the same by itself it is. not enough. The greatest human, achievements are not built on fear; they are built on courage used tocarry through a high ideal. The truest ideal men can hold in> their hearts in the crusade to makeDisarmament real is the ideal of theKingdom of God. To be a peacemaker is to be worthy of one's destiny as a child of God. To make world peace, with all that it implies of mutual trust and understanding, and. forbearance, all that it involves of a. spirit of neighbourliness among nations, that is to help forward materially the cause of the Kingdom of God. it is, in the truest aspect of it, an. effort to do God's will on earth. The consciousness of this was behind every speech made at the Albert. Hall meeting. Every speaker at that, meeting is a convinced and declared. Christian; not with that very private religion which says "My religion is my own business," but with that open, unashamed religion which declares itself publicly in no uncertain terms..

We are fortunate in having such people as» our leaders. The greatest reason for making peace is that it is God's will for men. .Naturally it means human happiness and well being, for God's will always does. Let us seek it and follow it that we may help God's will to its .accomplishment. There will be peace on earth to men of good will, if we back good will with courage, determination and patience. Dean Brocklehurst said that we might be termed idealists. We should be thankful for the name. The average man to-day was seeking peace, and to abolish for ever, not by force of arms but by spiritual powers, the fear and the horrors of war. General Smuts recently described the next war, and no one could dare to let such a terror descend again upon mankind. It was. usual to say that war could not be abolished because of human nature. The fighting instinct was "born in men, but we believed that Jesus Christ came to transform human nature and to change all evil instincts. Faith in the power of God to change men, to transmute the primitive barbaric instincts info Christlike ideals must be exercised and cultivated. War was not an inevitability, but could and would be outlawed by the power of God in the souls of men. The President, Archdeacon Chatterton, expressing his sympathy with the motion, said that it was a pity that members of the Synod had not more notice of the coming up of a subject of such importance that they might •contribute something to the debate. He instanced the need of the formation of right public opinion in our schools, especially in our high schools. No other work of propaganda was more important than this. If the Disarmament Conference failed it would be one of the most disastrous things that could happen. He believed it was not going to fail. As •a contribution to that great end the influence of the members of the Synod was but a part of the work everyone should be doing to bring about the Kingdom of God.