MR. KEIR HARDIE AND NATIONAL DEFENCE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The National Service League and the Navy League have good reason to feel grateful to the Independent Labour Party for the services which Mr. Keir Hardie has recently rendered their cause by his public support of a supreme Navy, and his public advocacy of a citizen army. On November 24th, 1913, at Clydebank, in Scotland, Mr. Keir Hardie, in answer to questions, stated : (1) "If the Navy were beaten at sea the country would be starved into surrender." As his worst enemies would not accuse Mr. Hardie of wishing to starve the women and children of this country, surely we can correctly infer that he wishes the Navy to be so strong that it will not be defeated. Later be said: (2) " The Swiss is certainly a democratic nation. I should advocate the substitution of a citizen army for the present system." As Lord Roberts' proposals for a citizen army in Great Britain are in almost every detail on the same demo- cratic lines as the national army of Switzerland, it seems to follow from Mr. Keir Hardie's statement that, although he in as much opposed to war and autocratic militarism as most right-thinking people are, he is yet in favour of every lad being trained for home defence.—I am, Sir, &e., Newton-le-Willows. Editor, National Service League Notes.
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