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Ottawa, Feb. 24, 1927Dear Friends: \'97The work of the Session is moving along rapidly, [sic] It begins to look as though we would be out of here at Easter or shortly after. The general tone of the House is much more peaceful than last Session. The Liberals have pretty much stepped back to their "Do as little as possible" policy of 1921-5. It is a very excellent argument in favour of independent groups in the House, large enough to effect Government policy.The Supplementary Estimates of last year went through in a day. The main estimates for 1927 have been brought down and while substantial reductions have been made in some things, the estimate covering national defence is increased by $3,300,000. [sic] mostly for Air Force, but some increases for cadets. When we remember that none of the war debt is yet paid, and according to the world's best authority, war is a warn out method of settling International disputes, surely our government in this peace-able country should pause before increasing taxation for military purposes. Forty cents out of every dollar of taxes in Canada goes to pay for war, past, present, and future; one cent out of every dollar for social service to relieve suffering and increase health, etc. If the thing were turned around- money spent for human betterment, and the truth told about war, defence by armaments would be unnecessary. The Right Hon. Arthur Ponsonby [Note: Baron Ponsonby (1871-1946)] has written a notable book called \'93Now is the Time\'94 [Note: Now is the Time; an appeal for peace. (1925). By Arthur Ponsonby, a.k.a. Baron Ponsonby]. I quoted from it in my speech the other day as follows:\'97As to the settlement of grave international disputes, war is obviously the very worst method. Agreement, not force, is the [...] possible method of settling any dispute.And again-That the causes declared by the government for the declaration of any war are, and must be based on lies, and; Second, that war however fiercely waged and however successfully terminated, can accomplish nothing at all.I maintain that by far the most tragic thing about war, is not its immorality, nor its cruelty, but its manifest and colossal futility and imbecility. I maintain that war achieves no single object of advantage in the high sense to anyone, nor does it attain any of the supposed aims for which it is waged.The sight of the Allied Powers first making a supreme physical effort to destroy and annihilate their foe, and then making a far more prolonged, yet still unsuccessful effort to that selfsame foe on his feet, in their own interest, is in itself a striking epitome [...] the inanity [sic] of war.}