'Muddled thinking on the issue of! peace-construction Is" not. the sole privilege of fanatical pacificsis, Judg-Ing from the cabled summary' of Sir Philip Chetwode's speech to the United Service Corps, distinguished Fleld~ Marshals are liable to be omitted with the complaint, Sir Philip, of course, is right In advocating the participation fof the Empire's manhood in the Getenee of the Empire and, within certain limitations, "he is tight in affirming that a strong British Empire is a potent factor in preservation of the World's peace. Yet history is against any pellet that mere reliance fon armaments Is a permanent profection against war, Tt must be companied, as the present Government Tecognizes; by constructive measures for removing the fundamental causes of international suspicion and jealousy. The fact that a. nation is armed to the teeth will deter its neighbours from.making war upon it until they, in tar, have go developed thet, own fighting capacity that they think the time has come when the balance of advantage once more lies with them and justifes armed action. Reeruitment to the Army Is a special care of the British military authorities among whom Sir Philip must be numbered, for although he is no longer In employment, his distinguished career Raving terminated last year with the completion of his Commander-in-Chiefship of the Army in India, he is till death on the active list by virtue of his Field Marshal's baton, In this effort at recruitment the Army has to rely on the good offices and favour of the nation as a whole. Tt has to take note of and secure the goodwill of the majority of the people. 'There is no veal fear hat it will fail, but it is Gesirable that there should be a Feasoned exposition of national policy. Mr, Baldwin, Sir Samuel Hoare, Mr. Duit Cooper' and Mr, Anthony Eden have all affirmed the Government' support of the collective system but! emphasized the necessity for strength-fening that support by adequate attention to. the national defences, Sir Philip Chetwode admirably reinforces one part of this polley but describes the other part "as "nonsense." Mr. Baldwin and his colleagues perceive what Sir Philip appears. to. forget: that national support, of a considered polley of national defence can be: 'Secured on the broadest basis only pledging unceasing assiduity in build Tog up. the bulwarks of peace as a guarantee of international amity, Tt necessary for Great Britain to' set fan example of self-sacrifice and to] consolidate her Imperial defences, but] fu' #0 doing she must eschew' the trong of unadulterated olitaiem fand the egressive nationalism whicn Htengenders, for she is convinced that the ultimate end, if civilization is foxist, will exprets itself In terms of Interdependence among the nations. Untese this view be steadily kept in mind the Government will discover rear dimeulties In withstanding the despairing folly of the peace-at-all-costs opponents of armament in any form, Nor should it be forgotten that the present administration can bes succeed by enforcing a defence policy Which will readily adapt itself to the polloies of its successor when the time
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.