Evening star., 1945-01-31
Letters to The Star
Mr.. La Roe Reviews Record
of Church Peace Conference

MIR. La Roe Reviews Record
of Church Peace Conference
To the Editor Of The star:
The outstanding characteristic Of the
recent Cleveland Conference on a just
and Durable Peace was the deep spir-
itual atmosphere which pervaded the
meeting. One almost could feel the
presence of God. One could not view
the assembly and listen to the high
quality debates without feeling that at
long last Professionalism has united
front and highly skilled leaders.
Never did Christian leadership in
America reach higher plane. Here was
the church at its best, with men in
tensely serious and with the courage
and vision to look through the chaos
of today and plan fearlessly for better
tomorrow. The Christian faith has a
quality that demonstrates its strength
in adversely.
Quite naturally Dumbarton Oaks re-
ceived first attention. The conclusion
was that 1t represents a notable step
In advance, but that from Christian
viewpoint 1t needs much strengthening
1t is to be commended as providing a
basis for continuing collaboration and
machinery for facilitating the solution
of economic and social problems and
for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Among its weaknesses are the absence
of anything like a bill of rights, nom
incorporation of the Atlantic Charter,
the disproportionate power lodged in
of the latter to block sanctions, the
complete absence of any plan for dis
armament or for reduction of arma-
ments absence of protection for CO.
lonial and dependent peoples against
exploitation and the requirement for
unanimous vote of the Security Council
to amend.
Example of Christian Statesmanship.
With clear voice the conference
called upon our Government to adopt
and proclaim its long range goals" and
instead of merely talking about ideals
to get down into the arena and fear
lessly and skillfully battle for them
even under conditions such that
temporary defeat is inevitable" Here is
Christian craftsmanship at its best!
Equally courageous was the attack
on poverty and upon the economic sys-
tenn which tolerates 1t. No longer is
poverty to be dealt with by charity.
erty impossible.
Very severe was the attack on selfish
nationalism. Tariffs and other re-
strictions on world trade have be-
come doubtful props of national well
fare A world point of view must be
developed in economics. The whole
of Europe, including Germany, must
be rebuilt, and care must be taken to
see to it that the treatment accorded
Germany and Japan shall be such as
to strengthen the forces within those
countries which are committed to lib
eral policies and to International CO.
operation. The time is at hand when
the governments of the Allied nations
should make a more explicit statement
as to the status of both Germany
and Japan after the war. Such
statement is needed to satisfy Chris
tian concern and prevent needless sacri-
fee of life upon the battlefield"
Selfshness and Principle.
Race prejudice was condemned by
the conference as "a primary obstacle
to world Brotherhood This should
provide food for thought in the Ma
tons Capital where In numerous ways
Negroes are subjected to cruel discrimi-
nation. Shame on us that we should
deny them the right to jobs as platform
men on our streetcars and buses and that
we should bar even highly skilled Negro
physicians from Galinger Municipal
Hospital where nearly 10 per cent of
the patients are colored. If only the
FEPC could hear the voice of the
great Cleveland assembly, with its en-
phasis on service to mankind and its
condemnation of selfishness, 1t would
pay but little attention to the threats
made by certain Capital Transit en-
ployes in the pending case. Such selfish
ness must yield to principle, If We are
to move forward toward the goal of
true democracy.
The delegates did not hesitate to
turn the light of Christian criticism
upon Professionalism itself. They frankly
acknowledged that "the present struc-
ture of denominational Professionalism is
not adequate to deal with the issues of
our time" We hardly can demand
that the nations get together when we
cannot get together ourselves! We must
use the ballot as a weapon, for political
action is to be an essential part Of
the program.
We closed as we began, with spirit
ual emphasis Basic to all else are
greater depth of Christian faith, greater
endurance in Christian fortitude and
courage, more /whole-hearted devotion
to Christ and a more universal ex-
perience of His forgiving and creative
grace" WILBUR LA ROE, Jr.
Advocates Reform for Victory
To the Editor of The STAR
While our boys are overseas fighting
our battles in frozen foxholes would
it not be good time to take stock
of ourselves at home TO see If we are