Evening star., 1945-11-29
Letters to The Star
DR.. Brown Sees All People
Responsible for Peace


Responsible for Peace
To the Editor of The Star:
recently have attended several con-
ferences Of scientists on the subject of
the atomic bomb. They seem to be In
substantial agreement on the following
points: ... ....
That the principle OF atomic energy
is no secret
That the mechanics of bomb con-
struction cannot long remain secret.
That there is no known defense
against the bomb.
That international control of the use
of atomic power should be established
by the United Nations Organization.
That the only real hope for protec-
ton lies in the prevention OF war;
The scientists obviously are greatly
alarmed. Their fears are helping to
create a general state of mind border
ing on hysteria.
Fear is poor counsellor. There are
those whose fears lead them to assert
that man has become Obsolete" Their
only answer to the bomb Is to appeal to
world government.
II man has become the victim of his
own inventions and really is obsolete,
the only course left open to him would
seem to be to abdicate abjectly to those
forces which now or soon will possess
the power to make the world uninhabit-
able.
Without minimizing the destructive
possibilities of this weapon OF the gods,
we must face this crisis of civilization
with calm reason and faith. We should
be willing to acknowledge all its implica-
tions.
The deepest implication is that the
scientists are pointing the way back to
the primal source of power in the uni
verse. They are reinforcing religion
William James long ago described the
inexhaustible energies at mans dis
posal. And DR.. Arthur H. Compton, the
distinguished physicist who helped split
the atom, asserted In his lectures at Yale
few years ago that man has now at
tanned that stage of development in the
process Of evolution where he must ac-
cept his full responsibility as a partner
of God.
This responsibility has been brought
home to us in a most dramatic and in
escapable manner. The ultimate answer
to the bomb Is not to be found by shift
ing responsibilities on world govern
ment, but in great moral and spiritual
revolution. If the millions of believers of
many creeds throughout the world who
acknowledge the sovereign authority of
the Creator and Ruler of the universe
will ignore their differences they can
find the way to avert world disaster.
1t Is not enough to place this burden
on the United Nations The obligation
Is moral and spiritual one that con-
Germs every member of the human FAM
lily. The use Of power is always a moral
and spiritual responsibility. Are we fit
to WELD cosmic power? Do we deserve
security. happiness, prosperity and
peace?
PHILIP MARSHAL BROWN,
President, American Peace Society.
Each Branch to Be Independent?
To the Editor Of The Star:
Your issue Of November "a carried q
letter arguing that unif1cation of the
Army and Navy must be defeated to
maintain the morale, traditions and
pride Of the two services.
The writer of this letter apparently
has been misled by the use of the word
merger" to describe the proposal for
unification. It should be emphasized
that the three Services-the Army, the
Navy and the air force-will retain
their identity and individuality under
any unif1cation measure that has been
put forward. Each will retain its own
staff and its own chief of staff and
will conduct Its own operations All
three chiefs of staff will report to a
secretary of the armed forces and a
chief of staff of the armed forces, in
stead of directly to the President as
at present.
1t is somewhat surprising to find
the same point as to tradition and
pride being raised by Navy witnesses
before Congress.
Will any one deny that the Marine
Corps and the Army Air Corps have
high morale, distinctive traditions and
strong pride of service2 Yet neither
has ever had as much independence as
the Navy would have under the pro-
posed uniflcation plan. The Marine
Corps is part of the Navy and the
Army Air Corps still is a part of the
Army.
Is it really the position of the Navy
that its morale. traditions and pride
could not survive under similar con-
dtions?
COL. w. BARTON LEACH, A. c.
War in Dutch Indies IlleSalp
To the Editor Of The Star:
On November 81, The Star published
a partial text of Justice Jackson's ad-
dress before the international military
tribunal at Nuremberg.
The Justice said: Inherently crimi-
nal acts cannot be defended by showing
that those who committed them were
engaged in war, when war itself is
| Illegal"
But, II war itself is Illegal, what are
the British and Dutch troops doing to
the Indonesians in Java? Indonesian
patriots are fighting and dying for lib
erty. II seems that thew u,opt Golf