Letters to the Editor
[Correspondents are requested to keep their letters as brief as is reasonably possible. The most suitable length is that of one of our ". News of the Week 7 paragraphs. Signed letters are given a preference over those bearing a pseudonym.—Ed. THE SrEcevroa.]
• A BRITISH PEACE LEAD
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] Sia,—It is refreshing to read such an excellent article as that by Sir E. Grigg in your last issue. Lord Howard and he are quite right. It is doubtless true that force is no remedy. Wars never settle anything. But it is equally true that without force in the background order can never be established and maintained nationally or internationally. He is no less right when he says that the first step must lie taken by the British Government. 'In the present condition of Europe no other country can take our place. It was the want of a British lead that brought the League to grief in the Far East. Only a clear and vigorous British lead can now save the Disarmament Conference from disaster. As yon, Sir, point out elsewhere, a British policy is essential ; and that Polici must include some such jiIan as that advocated by Lord Howard 11-,nd Sir Edward Grigg. "
, There is, however, one difficulty. After all, Lord Howard's proposal is not much more than an elaboration and extension of Article 16 of the Covenant. It is none the worse for that. But is it not exposed to the same difficulty that prevented the, operation of. Article 16 in the Sino-Japanese dispute ? When it came to the point the Powers in that case were not ready to "run the risk" of carrying out their obligations. Would not the Powers have taken the same course even if Sir Edward Grigg's machinery had been embodied in a Treaty ? I do not forget that the ambiguities of Sino-Japanese relations—they were never technically at war—made it easy to avoid action. But will not excuses for irresolution always be at hand ? The truth is that unless Governments are prepared to use it, peace machinery, however well constructed, will be of no avail. - President Roosevelt in his recent very striking and encouraging message states that on these peace issues the peoples of the world are very much in advance of their Governments. That is emphatically true in this country. Our people are not lacking _in courage. and determination. What is wanted is the means by which they can ensure that their will is carried out before it is too late. It is because declarations by men like Lord Howard and Sir Edward. Grigg may bring home to our Government what the people desire that I venture very cordially to welcome Sir Edward. Grigg's
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