The Washington times., 1915-06-26
SOCIALIST AUTHOR IS
AGAINST PEACE NOW
Charles Edward Russell De-
cIares It Would Mean Armed
Truce for Ten Years.

That peace at present in Europe
would be a far greater disaster than
the war, is the statement OF Charles
Edward Russell. magazine writer ana
Socialist, who refused an offer today
to become n member OF the Washing
ton Peace Committee OF One Hundred
on the grounds that the committees
aims did not coincide with his views
OF the situation.
In his letter OF refusal, addressed
to William v. Mahoney. temporary
secretary of the peace body, Mr.. Rus
sell says:
II am in receipt Of your courteous
letter of June 10, inviting me to be-
come a member Of your committee and
Informing me that the committee pur-
poses to holi "a large peace demon
stration next Sunday" looking toward
an immediate ending OF the war now
raging in Europe.
Would Mean Armed Truce.
with great respect for the excel
lent motives that have prompted the
gentlemen engaged in this movement.
am obliged to say that II is i'm
possible for me to give to II any
lcountenance or support. Ny two visits
to Europe and the war zone since the
present war began have convinced me
that peace at present in Europe would
be far greater disaster than the
war. The fact seems to be strangely
! overlooked in this country. but Is still
a fact, that peace at this time would
mean nothing but an armed truce Of
eight or ten years in which every
nation, including our own. would be
| wholly absorbed in preparing for the
next war, much greater and more ter
rible than this"
IF any man thinks that with peace
declared now II would be possible to
make such appeals to the Kings and
Kaisers tEat they would refrain from
another war. he but deceives himself
All such appeals have been tried a
thousand times in every conceiva BILE
form and with every variety OF accent
and the only net result Is this war
Here in America we seem not to have
considered that II peace Is declared
now these principles will have beer
firmly impressed upon the world &c
become its guides and standards fol
another generation, perhaps for a half
dozen.
Right On Side of Force.
Il. Nothing is of any validity o,
power in the world but brute force
Right is on the side of the stronges
army and the biggest guns.
''2 The only aim of national exist
| ence is to grab and hold.
IS. Treaties. conventions. interna
| tional agreements. and promises are ap
solutely worthless. No nation is bounc
to observe anything except its owr
selfish interests.
| - Democracy disappears from tn.
earth and Kaiserism and absolutisn
are approved as the enduring form.
| OF government.
| g No nation is under the slightes,
! obligation to aroitrate any OF its DIFF
ferences with another nation. Every
4, difference is to be settled In blood.
| For my part. I am not quite ready
| to see these principles become the
foundation OF society. nor to see my
country plunged into the armamen,
| race or accept the fate OF Alsace and
Lorraine. There Is no way to peace
| except to proceed with this war until
! the government that caused II is pu,
out OF business. Anything else means
! not peace, but continued and more
| horrible wars. AS believe in peace
| such movements as that announced by
| your committee seem to me worse thar
| futile. ! do not think any American
should be engaged in them