Evening star., 1933-10-31
E SOIR, Brussels.-The "obiec-

large and distinguished coterie.
~ Sometimes, We regret to say,
their objections are not exactly
sincere, but rather an excuse for putting
on a little moral drama in order to re-
move from participation in an otherwise
united venture which suggests or threat
ems ingredients of travail and chance.
There have been manifold and no
torious instances Of such conscientious
demurS There were-and are-the
Flemish separatists, who refuse to serve
their mother country, Belgium; the an
archists, who wish to obliterate the
state: the vulgar impostors, who wish
to evoke public SYMPATHY for them
selves by appearing to be the devotees
of some new and mild conservatism by
which they obtain benefits OF special
privilege or exemption.
There are, moreover-and mere Is the
real drama in conscientious objection
any number of young people who cher
ish the pure ideal Of universal peace,
and who hope, by their example, to
diffuse. as it were, a sort OF interna-
tional contagion by refusing to serve,
directly or indirectly, in any military
capacity. In their cognitionS they
would thus render war henceforward
impossible. These differ from the other
classes Of objectors in the respect thaI
their motives are worthy, ana noV eh-
clusively self-seeking. They are selfish
only that in the general abolition OF
martial possibilities their own safety
will be secured along with that OF the
total population.
It would be fatuous to assume that
most people are not in accord with
this natural aspiration. There Is, now
ever, Just as preponderant and cate-
gorical a disapproval OF the method TO-
ward attainment. Refusal to serve ones
native land in time Of dire necessity IS
manifestations than to abate them.
And herein lies the whole error OF pa
cificism. for in the long chronicles OF
human history it has been demonstrate
ed again and again that no guaranty OF
peace Is more assured than perpetual
provision in both the personnel and
panoply of war.
| Czechoslovakia Feels
| Effects Of Slump.
Central European Observer, Prague
The effect Of the crisis on Czechoslo-
vakia is best illustrated by the decrease
of her foreign trade. The volume OF
her foreign trade in merchandise with
out gold or silver. which in 1929
amounted to Kc 40,428 million (s1,197
million at par), diminished to Kc 14,800
million (444 million at par), i. e., about
SO per cent The decrease was not due
| to the decline in prices alone, for in
quantity, too, the foreign trade in 1882
was hardly one-half of that in 1929.
The volume of the foreign trade OF
Czechoslovakia is relatively high, her
| imports being as a rule as high as those
of Jugoslavia, Rumania and Hungary
together, and her exports being twice
as high as those Of Austria, three times
| as high as those of Rumania, four times
those of Hungary and five times those
of Yugoslavia. This high turnover is
again due to the fact that many Czech.
oslovak industries are highly specialized
| (malt, sugar, glass, china, machinery
etc.. and therefore to q large extent
dependent on expectation for the sale
| of their products.
Czechoslovakia is therefore more SEN
sitive to crises in other countries than
other nations, and her own crisis Il
largely due to her inability to sell hel
products In view Of the depreciation OF
tas, exchange restrictions and other OBJ
stacles placed in the way OF her exports
by other countries and of the world de-
preston in general. On the other hand
the internal consolidation and stability
of Czechoslovakia and her compare
lively small Indebtedness are q sufl.
cient explanation why the crisis In
CzechosloYakda broke out Later than y