Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15
Noted Briton Asks
Will World Disarm

Continued From Third Page)
caused it.
/ am not discussing the rights or
wrongs Of these forces. I am con-
cerned only to point out that they
have to no small extent gripped the
political results. And nobody could
hold that international Cancellation was
among their main objects.
believe that the same can be done
for peace. l believe 1t to be wholly
false to pretend that peace is so dis
tant and theoretical that it cannot be
related to the real human needs Of
men and women in every country.
would for instance, defend the propo-
sition that to secure in 1882 a general
disarmament treaty involving real re-
duction of the numbers and cost Of
armies. nayies and air forces Is far
more likely to bring security, prosperity
and employment to the average man
in Germany, France, italy or the
British Empire than a blind policy of
re-arming in Germany-or of economic
nationalism in Rritain-or of extensive
frontier Notifications in France-or of
sacred" egotism in Italy.
Peace Up TO the People.
I would say the same of a policy of
securing from our governments the
signature Of sound all-embracing
treaties of arbitration; or agreements
TO coordinate international credit; or
OF Whole-hearted determination to
improve the standards of labor through
the international Labor Organization.
Now, our ediflce of peace will be as
fragile as glass house If it Is built by
handful of politicians and specialists
unable TO carry through measures Of re-
form imposed by the logic of interna-
tional debate, simply because of the In
difference and ignorance Of their peo-
Piles. It must be broad-it must be
based upon the peoples will
Success in the organization Of peace
depends upon appealing not to the elite,
but to the ordinary citizen; upon Civ
ing the ordinary citizen something to
hear and to do at his own doorstep;
upon the moral preparation of religious
teaching and sound political theory;
upon puTging the schools of the false
nationalism which distorts history; and,
on the intellectual basis thus cleared of
membranes, the framing of a con-
structive program which proposes the
attainment, of certain quite specific OBJ
lects. treaties, conventions or laws, one
at time. would add in democratic
countries, the persistent action in the
localities upon their representatives in
Parliament.
Suggests Citizens Act.
have already suggested what be-
lieVe TO be the first and obvious objee-
tive which such organized bodies of
opinion should pursue in 1891; 1t is to
make sure that their governments will
write the lowest possible figures into
the draft treaty Of disarmament recent
ly drawn up at Geneva. Here is some
thing which the people can make or
mar
If the treaty, when finally adopted in
years time. visibly and considerably
reduces the ornaments of nations, we
shall have struck the greatest blow in
history at international suspicion and
the war spirit If the treaty merely re-
cords the existing inequalities Of ma
tional forces and stabilizes them at
their present fantastic level, I tremble
tor the future Of the whole structure of
international peace. Let the cause be
referred to the peoples. 1t is for them