LOVEDAY. Nora, you _are_ a tease! It's nothing of the sort, Mr. Varlie. Gordon's idea is to have an international parliament, a super-parliament, and for that to have complete control of an international army, and also--what is very important--complete control of all armament making.
GORDON. Then any nation would have all the rest of the world against it directly it tried to do anything aggressive.
LOVEDAY. Yes. That's where it will get Germany so splendidly. Germany _pretends_ she goes in for her militarism only for self-preservation. Now this international scheme will secure her self-preservation, but will entirely destroy her militarism and make her aggression impossible!
VARLIE. Donnerwetter! (_Confused, trying to cover his mistake._) Sake's alive--
VARLIE. What do you take me for? I'm Amurrican. But I've travelled in Germany, like most travellers.
NORA. It would be a joke if you were a German, wouldn't it?
VARLIE. (_Cheerfully._) I'd be taking risks, wouldn't I? But let's hear more of this idea. It's a great idea if it'll kill German militarism! Why (_looking at GORDON_), I'd no idea you were such a top hole genius.
LOVEDAY. Now you're laughing, too. None of you seem to think war _can_ be made impossible.
ROTO. That it can't, Missy. Not while men are men.
1ST SHEP. (_Agreeing._) That's so, that's so!
LOVEDAY. How can _you_ think that, Roto? Why, there used to be war in this very land between you and the English, and now there is none.
ROTO. That's because the Pakeha are strong. They make laws we have to obey. If a Maori kill a Pakeha or a Maori now, the Maori is hung by the law. So Maori and Pakeha live without killing.
LOVEDAY. But that's just it! If the International Parliament was strong and it made laws, the nations would have to obey and if one nation went to war and tried to kill another, that nation would suffer. So the nations would live without war.
1ST SHEP. (_Shaking his head._) He, he, he! That's likely! (_Whistles to the collie and goes off._)
GORDON. Then she would openly proclaim that her militarism is aggressive and not for self-defence. It would have to be one of the terms of peace that she did come in.
LOVEDAY. Then all the more need for Gordon's scheme. It is the only way to destroy militarism.