12 JANUARY 1934, Page 17

[To the Editor of TILE SpEcr,tion.]

Sin,—Mr. Heath, as a pacifist, prefers to seek peace by the " steady education of mankind and the spread of the peaceable spirit " rather than attempt to organize a world Constabulary

which would entail, amongst other things, the internationaliza- tion of poison gas and " all the resources of military science." The question arises whether Mr. Heath and his -friends can infuse this peaceable spirit in sufficient proportion throughout Europe to ensure us of reasonable safety before our various Nationalist leaders, armed with " all the resources of military science," can encompass our mutual destruction.

As Europe, nominally Christian, and thus professing to have followed a teacher of undoubtedly pacific principles for nearly two thousand years, has succeeded in massacring a record number of her inhabitants during the twentieth century, one may perhaps be excused a feeling of pessimism about Mr. Heath's methods of seeking peace.

Until individual citizens surrendered the right to carry arms in favour of an organized police force there was little security. Unless sovereign States make the same sacrifice there is little hope for our civilization.

Given the will to do so, the organization of an International Force is by no means impossible, as shown in your article by Mr. Martin.—I am, Sir, &c.,