AFTER THE WAR.
(To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR:1 Suan—A good deal is being written upon the conditions of the expected peace, upon a League of Nations, and upon disermament. Surely we should by now be wise enough to distrust any " League" that relies for its existence upon paper, red-tape, and sealing- wax. What but the "strong man armed" can protect lice world from a repetition of the calculated madness of July, 1911? Nevertheless upon the enchanted ground of " peace " I fear that our politicians will go to sleep, and that the glorious dream of " disarmament " will prove too much for them. Human nature will not enter into the account, nor the fact that nations, unless born anew by the breath of the Almighty, nre subjeet to fickle change before the winds of greed and •' policy." Religion, too, is ever on element of danger, becaese the prayer, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," is so diversely considered and so differently understo,d. If tine notions do dis- arm, will that disarmament be, in any shape or form, a guarantes of peace? Even if they ceased to build battleships and to manu- facture guns, no mach guarantee could be said to exist : for in an incredibly short apace of time armies could spring into being. with sword and spear, with how and arrow, as their weapons. Geographical position and numbers would be the chief factors in successful aggression. We do not want to lend a hand in making a paradise of fools; nor do we went to make such a spot oar dwelling. Therefore let no prepare ourselves for the task of repressing all oppression, and may those who share our great ideal join bands with us and protect the house of our civilisation by our preparedness to repel the intrusion of any aggressor.—I
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