The producers news., 1927-12-23

its enemies? He is again insincere in thus chal-
longing the nations because he knows that what
he suggests is a counsel of perfection, an imprac
tical, visionary proposal which one would or
could accept-he would be the first to have his
withers wrung if it were accepted. 1t was skill
full dialectcians trick to put other nations in the
wrong. 1t was superbly clever piece of propa-
ganda to put Russia into the forefront at Geneva
and it was at the same moment an incredibly stu
pid act because it Immediately united against her
once more all the nations around the Council. 1t
was idle gesture and, having made it. Litvinov
might now be expected to get down to business
and join in the task of looping off battleship
here and a regiment there
Thus runs the commensurate so they would
run if in any other field of action the Russians or
anyone else should produce a plan which really
meant something, which really struck seriously at
vested interests. That this is what the armies and
navies have become was stated clearly by Lord
Robert Cecil-we quoted him last week saying
that "every month we delay, the old vested inter
ests material and moral, strengthen their hold. ="
Of course they do. Each month the great econ
omic interests encourage the upbuilding of arma-
ments and carry on the trade rivalries that lead
directly to war. They are the great propagandists
against disarmament; they fan the flames of ma
trusts and consortiums; they demand large stand
ing armise in order to maintain the social anc
economic status quo; they want to be armed
against any domestic uprising They want armies
to protect themselves-as if arms would hell
against the Russian economic doctrines If Rus
sa diarmed by herself, large part of our pres.
would still be picturing the Soviets as planning
some night to murder our women and children il
then beds. Why not? The press is largely il
the hands of the masters of capital whom Wood
row Wilson termed the masters of America
i Why should it not have greeted Litvinovs propos
ais precisely as it did?
Exactly the same would its reaction have bee
if Jesus Christ himself had appeared at Genev
to read this radical peace proposal to the confer
ence. He, too, would have been portrayed as
designing long-haired Jew, or at best as a wild
eyed fanatic, dangerous to the world because
preached the impossible. Do not all who dcmm
the ideal make far more difficult the paths of tn
practical" statesmen who, with their feet on tn
ground seek to approach each goal By one "latior
al" step after another not, as the cant runs, "gC
ing too far and too fast for public opinion? Wei
for ourselves, care little for these critical con
ments, and care at this hour very little for tt
motives Of M. Litvinov. 1t may all have been
clever trick. 1t was clever maneuver, but
deem it very great service to humanity. 1t is a
! ways dangerous to let loose new idea in Il
Z. world, and there millions of people, many
them bearing upon their bodies the scars Of Il
I last conflict, who will never forget that one gre
government has made this proposal of compile
and absolute abolition of the obscene institution
q war. They will continue to ask themselves W
/ this ideal is not attainable. They will find
~ other answers to their question but the stubbo
ness of those vester interests, the army and ma
as and the munitionmakers, and the other prolific,
ly by war, and the masses of compromisers and ca.
OF lists who year in and year out throw cold wa
d, upon any proposal which would advance the int
a ests of the masses of mankind
n Litvinov has shot one of those arrows into
SIS air that fall no man knows where. The Disar
en- ament Conference can never meet again witht
N, having the ultimate goal plainly in view. tt
no may trim and compromise and shilly-shally
ey they please but whether they like or not the
an al objective will be there before them and Il
de cannot gainsay it. 1t is, of course, too much
", hope that in this Christian America there will
ne an articuate body of opinion to support so radi
lst demand From all sides we hear that the wi