WAR AIMS
Sm,—We have now been at war nearly a year, but not one of us knows exactly what are our war aims. It is true we have been told that the object of the war is to stamp out Hitlerism, but as nobody has told us exactly what Hitlerism is, we are not very much wiser. One of the most unpleasant features of this war has been the bullying of neutrals by the Great Powers. Bullying is a form of cowardice as well as one of the worst vices. It is much better from every possible point of view to go to war against neutrals and small Powers than to bully them. Because we happen to be at war with Germany this should not prevent small nations from having the use of the High Seas on what are—to them—lawful occasions. Our war aim should be " Peace with Justice." One of the very worst features of the Peace Treaties of the 1914-18 war was that millions of people in Europe, Asia and Africa were forced to change their nationality and allegiance against their will. There should be no repetition of this, indeed we shall not go far wrong if we settle the peoples, as far as possible, on a linguistic and historical basis.
For example, all the people who habitually speak Hungarian and wish to be Hungarian should be placed under the jurisdiction of Hun- gary, and so on. Small alien enclaves must, of course, respect the law, otherwise they can leave the country. We must also go back to origins so that history cannot be disregarded. Indeed, to disregard history would be fatal to the prospects of a lasting peace. It has often been said that Hitlerism was 'engendered and created by the Peace Treaties of 1914-18. If this is correct, is it not possible that a re- versal of these treaties may overthrow Hitlerism?—Yours faithfully,
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