Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-20

!, OUTLAWING WAR.
The Federal Council of the Churches of Christ
Am America has devoted a great deal of thought to-
the subject of the preservation of peace and the
methods by which this end shall be attained. A
circular just issued by the executive committee Of
the council sets forth at considerable length the
spurposes Of the organization with reference to this
silbject and its beliefs as to the manner in which
the United States may promote the preservation Of
peace The declaration sets forth, among other
things, that it is not for the churches to define in
detail the political methods and institutions BY
which the scourge of war shall be banished. These
"details, it is declared, must be left to statesmen,
~Fjurists, and Legislators. The churches, it is pointed
out. must conhne themselves to constructive work
along other lines, particularly in the development
tofi sentiment antagonistic to war and constructive
IN other directions.
Commentator is given to the work Of the con-
terence on limitation of armament and there is an
expression Of satisfaction in the prospect for radical
reductions in navies and of agreements which have
been reached with reference to international rela-
tons, especially in the Pacific. These, it is held,
are important steps in the right direction. Other
steps, equally important, it is held, remain to be
taken. Emphasis is placed upon the declaration
that war itself must be outlawed, this being the one
Ultimately effective method of disposing of the sub
N;ject.
There will be very general concurrence i'll the
view that war must be outlawed. There is a diff
ference Of opinion, however, as to just what the
%putlawing of war really means. There are those
who maintain that warfare, undertaken by any ma
ton for any purpose is wicked, and that the nation
Nhich maintains an armed force is placing itself in
an attitude Of readiness to violate the worlds peace.
There are few who will subscribe to this doctrine
when the doctrine itself is understood. We outlaw
physical violence within Our national jurisdictions.
We insist that those who have differences shall
submit them to the adjudication of competent
courts, but nowhere is there a denial of the right of
the individual, when attacked, to defend himself.
Every court endorses the opinion that the individ-
1Ia1 has a riCht to defend hs Derson ,nd hc Dro1er-
ny, to remain in the place where he has a lawful
Eight to be against any violence which may be at
tempted against him, and in making such defense
10 USE all the physical means at his command which
may be necessary for that purpose. According to
the nature OF the attack, and the imrninence of the
peril, he may strike, stab, shoot, or do anything
else to protect the right which no constitution and
no statute can ever take away from him. The
right of the nation to defend itself against attack is
Usually conceded as we'll as the similar right of the
individual. No system of international law will
ever be formulated which will impose upon any
patton the obligation to remain passive under the
assaults of an enemy within or without. This be-
Ing true, we have presented a question which bris-
fes with complications as to just what is defensive
warfare. That the nation whose territory is about
to be invaded by a foreign enemy must be at liberty
under all circumstances to marshal its utmost
physical force to repel the invasion will be granted
without argument, but the situation which compli-
safes matters arises from the fact that nations have
vital interests extending beyond the limits of their
own physical boundaries, especially upon the open
sea. A nation whose merchant ship is attacked at
sea, whose citizens are killed, together with the
seizure Of or destruction of their property, has not
been technically invaded. No foreign soldier has
landed on its shores. There may be no danger that
such an invasion will take place. Nevertheless, the
rights of its people have as surely been endangered
and attacked as if-there had been an invasion OF this
Kind, and when the element of naval warfare en-
tiers into the case there is thrown open the whole
subject of naval armament and of the character OF
assault which may properly be made a warrant for
misunderstanding of defensive measures.
Obviously, much of the danger of serious in
fraction of the peace may be avoided by. a general
tagrecnlent by the nations for rules governing the
fbeEIaviof of each and by the spread Of the knowl-
Y edge that even if attractions of the international
code are not followed by immediate and direct
physical punishment, they will be followed by III
kefeetive- This will ultimately place the maintenance
tOf international peace on a basis analogous to that
sl which exists within each nation concerning the at
stltudr of individuals toward each other. Warfare
fwif be outlawed just as physical combats between
individuals are outlawed, but just as suclAindividual
eoMbatss occasionally occur in which one person
IA fxercises his right to defend himself, so in the in
hernational field we must expect that there viii, be
occasional violations of the international code, and
IaNhatever agreements are made must be made with
81 tliatsfact IN view, and provision must be made IN
sSSeosne way for dealing with it. There must be re-
a st4ined by the nations sufficient force to provide Tor
s8 sasdden and unexpected emergencies, and there
xpeare law at least the possibility of international
A~npflitary action. The outlawing of war, excellent
SYf1nugl 81 will be and necessary to the ultimate
fspSKsety4EipnSo peace, will never be completely eff
n 335ffdSSesan therefore will never remove entirely the
sesilty for some kind Of armed force.