Evening star., 1925-05-29
Pacifsm Defended.
Reader Objects to Many Epithet'
Cast at Pacifists.

To the Editor OF The Star:
In The Star for Saturday, May %,
report is given as follows: THE
executive committee Of the National
Patriotic Council, which has been
keeping a close check on the activi-
ties of pacifists, advocates of disarm'
ament and others Of their ilk, opened
fire at it's meeting last night on Fred
erick J. Libby and his National Coun-
Gil for Prevention of War.
Libby's chief critic was II. z. West
of the Washington bureau OF the
American Defense Society
In The Star for Thursday, May Ia,
Mrs. Potts has the following statement
ascribed to her: Mrs. Potts charged
that such avowedly pacifist organiza-
tions as the National Council for Pre-
vention Of War. of which Frederick j.
Libby is executive secretary, are mem
bers Of the National Counch Uefer,
ring to the Woman's international
Council. recently in session in this
city,
pacif1sts appear to be the targets Tor
much of the oratory OF Few SELF
proclaimed patriots. Webster's die
tionary defines pacific" as tending
toward peace or to restoring peace;
not warlike, not quarrelsome," rather
a healthy category in which to be
classed. But as an epithet 'pacifist"
is used with the worst possible insinu-
ations by the current epithet hurlers.
One might believe that surely all paci-
fists necessarily urged abolition Of the
Army and Navy, If one could believe
what Is said by those urging that
peace could be obtained only by mill
tary expansion. Apparently some
speakers cannot distinguish between
pacifist, communist and red, judging
from their flow of language. 1t is not
known whether the speakers are mis-
informed or merely underfnformed.
1t would be interesting il Mrs. Potts
or Mr.. West or their respective or
ganizations could attempt to show a
single instance in which the National
Council for the Prevention of War has
advocated disarmament, and could
present a clear-cut statement with full
context and without equivocation.
Mrs. Potts and Mr.. West are clear
ly wrong. One Of the planks Of the
Council for Prevention Of War pro-
vfdes for gradual reduction OF military
forces by international agreement, not
even by example, and then only to po-
lice status. Such is not paciflcism. de-
spite the slurs above quoted. There is
nothing in such policy which could
aim at leaving our country to the
mercy Of other nations. To accuse
the National Council for Prevention Of
War of advocating disarmament is
simply incorrect. Accuracy is akin to
truthfulness.
Indeed, it appears that the only logi-
cal source Of objection to the policy Of
the National Council for the Proven.
tion Of War must be from those who,
disregarding the spirit Of peace, vilify
all who now object to increasing mill
tary expansion and bombastic military
gestures, and believe that competitive
expansion in armaments render it in
creasingly difficult to stabilize peace
conditions.
Does patriotic" necessarily call for
constant increase in things military?
It is to be trusted not. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that the expression. when used
as a slogan for the promotion Of mill
tary measures, has resulted in 80
much harsh language against those
who are working for peace and who
are accused untruly, unjustly as advo-
eating straight disarmament without
regard to similar moves by other ma
lions. Tor the sake Of clarity is 1t not
possible 70 attack ones foes without
Jumblng together. apparently for the
sake of creating confusion, the charges
and epithets daily published. The Ian
guage reporting Mr.. Vests comments
is typical.
J. AUSTIN STONE.