PREPARATION FOR WAR
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Many correspondents have expressed their views in your columns on the above question : some for, some against such preparation. If only we could all bring the same straight- forward ideas to bear on such a question as we do on our domestic affairs, we would surely arrive at a just conclusion.
Our domestic affairs are based on security, i.e., a security ensuring the rights and welfare of the community. We punish crime against life, or property, we protect the weak with a firm hand. At the same time we try by social service and legislation to improve the standard of living for all, to eradicate crime by improving character and by raising the morale of all our citizens. We often fail and then force in the shape of the police and law courts has to play its part. The very men and women who condemn all defence and all preparation for war would not hesitate to perform their duties on a jury even in the case of a capital charge.
Surely we should apply the same ideas and system to inter- national affairs, work unselfishly for peace and be ready to any system, whether the League of Nations cr other, which promises success. We cannot hope to be successful all at once but it is un-English to despair.
At the same time we should face facts and recognise that the world is not wholly civilised and that we may be called upon to protect such civilisation as we have attained. Above all, we should be just to those who so willingly protect our trade and welfare throughout the world. It is not just to leave our Defence Forces short of the means for their task, to call on them to make useless sacrifices. If men such as Canon Sheppard studied the scriptures thoughtfully they would find that the highest praise our Lord bestowed on any one individual was on the Centurion, a man charged with the task of maintaining law and order by the use, when necessary, of farce : but a man of deep faith. Our Lord condemned the aggressor who took to the sword : but never the defender of others.
The people of this country are;.as a rule, inconsistent on this question of Preparation for War, e.g., (i) Shortly before the War, in a northern seaside town a resolution condemning expenditure on the :Navy was passed by a large majority.
later the town. was shelled by German ships and the town Made strong protests because naval protection was not
adequate !
(ii) The League of Nations Union, having for years made National Defence, and service for that end appear an un-
necessary and wrongful act, would have drawn us into war with Italy. The Navy was some 8,000 men short of require- ments : to deal with the situation as it stood, pensioners of considerable age had to be re-engaged. Our war material was deficient, our Army practically non-existent. We had been
taught for years that it was very naughty to be prepared for war or to resist an, aggressor. We had been guided by
theorists and intellectuals. Because Societies such as the Salvation Army, Church Army, &c., &c., exist, we do not entrust our domestic and commercial protection to a Police Force consisting of half a dozen able-bodied men and half a dozen aged pensioners, nor do we rely entirely on Conferences and propaganda to deal with breaches of law and order in this country. I am not aware of any society which exists to advocate the decrease of our Police Forces and the deprivation of their truncheons. Such a society may exist as there are many cranks in this country ! _ Too many
H. LETHBRIDGE ALEXANDER
(Major-General, R.P.).
Aldermoor, Beaulieu, Hants.
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