As we all want the same thing, we must condemn
the methods recommended by the Pacifists, not their spirit. Obviously the right course is to defend ourselves soberly and reasonably, while leaving no stone unturned to bring about a universal reduction of armaments, and replace the armaments by an apparatus of legal justice which everyone would honour and make use of as it is already honoured and made use of inside the borders of civilized States.. The scheme for regional Pacts of Guarantee which the League of Nations has been working at might, in our opinion, be very helpful. Mr. Ayles's reference to Germany was peculiarly unfortunate, for, as Colonel John Ward pointed out, if nobody had been armed Germany would undoubtedly have overrun the whole world. However, it is satisfactory that the national idealism, which undoubtedly exists, is not at present going to be defeated by mere folly. Mr. Ayles's amend- ment was rejected by a majority of 334, only thirteen Members voting for it.
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