Calendar: 1927-1928 Page 491

vi OX THE USES OF THE STUDY OF WAR you broadly and boldly that within these last ten years we English have as knightly nation lost our spurs we have fought when we should not have fought for gain and we have been passive when we should not have been passive from fear tell you that the principle of non-intervention as now preached among us is as selfish and cruel as the worst fury of conquest and differs from it only by being not only malignant but dastardly The policy of splendid isolation is neither politically practicable nor morally right It is not our policy to-day And this brings me to my reply to those who consider that the danger of repetition of such another world conflict as that through which we have passed is as remote as many in this country conceived it to be say in June 1914 hope and trust that this is so but we have as signatories of the Covenant of the League of Nations entered into certain commitments we have in the pacts of Locarno entered into other commitments more definite and precise We may again be called to honour our signature in the future as in the past and the fact that it is known that we shall so honour it is one of the guarantees of peace The League of Nations has succeeded already in maintaining peace in circumstances which without its intervention would almost cer- tainly have resulted in war believe that in the future if its members approach its problems in practical and not in an emotional spirit and with understanding of its possibilities it will be able to do much more believe that general limitation of armaments is even more in the interests of this country than of most others believe that an unintelligent application of the Roman slogan si pacem vis para bellum was one of the main causes of the Great War But believe also that to reduce our armaments without consideration of the armaments of others or of our obligations is to repeat folly which has cost us dear in the past and that unless we as nation are ready amongst nations to play the part of the good citizen within the State and to stand forth when called upon on the side of law and order we shall promote war and not peace The League of Nations does not as our own civil Government does not contemplate the abandonment of force in support of law Apart from these major considerations we have to remember that we of the British Empire have obligations and responsibilities which as yet the League of Nations does not touch We have to remember that we as citizens are employers of our soldiers sailors and airmen and that the responsibility is ours even if in the smallest of small wars life is sacrificed through ignorance or neglect on our part maintain then that the true uses of the study of war are to-day as they have always been that we may Beware Of entrance to quarrel but being in Bear that the opposed may beware 1854 1864 י Ruskin The Crown of Wild Olives-War י Hamlet Act Scene