Evening star., 1946-10-22
Peuce and Russiu

The Federal Council of Churches
of Christ In America is to be con-
graduated for It's thoughtful and
trenchant statement on our rela-
tions with Russia. Although open to
debate at some points, it is docu-
ment full of such overall value that
it merits the respectful attention
not only of our own country. but OF
every power-particularly the Soviet
Union-now gathered in New York
for the General Assembly of the
United Nations.
In many respects the statement
is detailed enlargement OF several
of the points made last Friday by
Secretary of State Byrnes. Without
Understanding the serious threat
implicit in present international
contentiousness, 1t begins by saying
that "War with Russia can be
avoided and must be avoided with
out compromise of basic convic-
tions," and it goes on from there to
suggest ways of coping with the
forces that make an armed conflict
conceivable.
The first of these forces are what
the Council calls unavoidable ten
sions"-the basic differences be-
tween America and Russia in ideolog-
ical matters. These are differences
that can never be removed by
compromise or surrender of faith
by Christians" but they do not make
war inevitable. They can exist, and
we can still have peace. If three re-
quirements are met: (D II all parties
concerned recognize that conflicting
beliefs are normal in world society;
90 If the different powers-here the
emphasis is on the Russians-stop
trying to promote their way of life
abroad by means of intolerance,
such as purge. coercion. deceitful
infiltration and false propaganda
shielded by secrecy" and 81 If the
United States assumes primary re-
sponsibility for persistently advo-
eating and obtaining international
acceptance of the method of toler-
ance."
The second of the forces that
make for war are the "avoidable
tensions" - unnecessary clashes of
interest aggravated by misconcep-
tions, unreasoning prejudices or OBJ
solete habits OF thought. Holding
that such differences can be elimi-
mated without appeasing Russia at
the expense of the moral order, the
Council makes these suggestive
points: Q Since change is not of
itself evil, Americans must under
stand that peace is not identical
with the perpetuation of the status
quo: (2) not less than the Russians,
we must give thought to the fact
that security is no longer geographic.
and we must renounce military
bases excessively distant from our
own land. and 60 together with
other powers. the United States
should make every effort-promptly
to head OF the deadly armaments
race now in the making. Moreover,
although we should continue vigor-
ously to oppose dictatorship, our
opposition should be more than
mere holier- -than-thou. Sterile de-
nunciation," but should rather take
the form of making our own way
of life so successful that men every
where will seek to emulate 1t.
To say these things, of course,
does not really solve anything. But
the Councils statement, whatever
it's shortcomings, is q highly intelli-
gent attempt to analyze the causes
of discord, and to that extent at
least 1t serves to lend perspective to
the perilous bewilderment of the
times. Beyond that, it is sane
Christian effort to promote better
frame of mind and more whole
some spirit in our world. Were they
to govern their actions by something
like 1t, the Russians, as well as our
selves, would find the problem of
peace making much less formidable.
.......@..
An1