Evening star., 1948-11-02
Gen. Brad|ey's speech
To AIIay War Hysteria
Is Highly Significant
Sees Tension Over Long
Period; Urges Restraint
As Aid in Negotiations
By David Laurence

As Aid in Negotiations
By David Laurence
Amid all the speechmaking of the
last few weeks, there was one ad-
dress which was not made by q
political leader or candidate but
which ranks as possibly one of the
finest public utterances Of the year.
It was delivered last Thursday In
Chicago by the Chief of Staff of the
United States Army, Gen. Omar N.
Bradley. It was on the subject Of
war and peace.
Coming as they do from a military
man, the words are all the more
significant. For Gen. Bradley has
described the present era Of tension
In relations with Russia In a manner
calculated to allay hysteria and the
passions Or irritations that some
times bring on war.
cit is not my business" he said, ito
speculate either on the possibility Of
peace or war. Peace Is always pos
sible while we have recourse to dis
cussion, compromise and agreement
within O council chamber of nations.
And there have already been too
many morbid predictions Of war be-
tween the East and the West. These
predictions can do nothing but excite
suspicion, fear and distrust. They
succeed only In making the difficult
task of negotiation a more elusive
one. And they magnify the danger
Of war"
No Easy Way Out.
After describing the need for a
stable, long-range military policy in
America as q measure Of prevention,
Gen. Bradley went on to decry these
who really feel war must come and
had better come soon. He said:
"since the development Of new
air weapons, enthusiasts have over
simplified the task of fighting q war.
Convinced by their own illusions
that O war might be won in days, at
q safe and comfortable bomber
range, they give reckless courage to
those fools who would say, If war is
to come, then let 1t come now.
"When we contemplate the terri
ble prospect of another conflict in
our time, we who survived this last
one in well-fed comfort, warmth,
and wealth, must face the bitter
prospect of deprivation, fear, and
death. War Is no longer a foreign
affair; its weapons have invaded
our homes. A struggle between two
great powers might readily last for
many years and leave each OF them
stricken to death. II we are de-
ceived into taking war lightly and
We thus lightly juggle its risks, the
American people will f1irt with dis
aster.
More than anything else, we shall
need patience in this era Of tension.
For 1t is unlikely we shall find a
quick or easy way out. We dare not
minimize the seriousness of this con-
test nor dare we exaggerate 1t and
give way to frenzy.
THAT 1t is serious, no sober person
would dare deny. Yet while We
speculate on the probabilities of war.
we must not lose sight Of the posi-
hilities for peace. We in the Army
are concerned; but certainly we are
not alarmed. The draft is part of
our effort to prevent war; 1t is not
mobilization to fight. tr-- -.
Like many of you, I have hope
for agreement-not necessarily in
days, weeks, or months. But per-
haps in years, or even in decades.
Therefore, while this tension is
disagreeable and trying to those
who clamor for peace. 1t Is vastly
preferable TO war. For 1t leaves
open a door to the hope that we
may somehow. sometime, find a
solution"
Words Of Diplomat.
These words do not sound like
those OF a soldier-they sound as
If they had come from a civilian In
the field of diplomacy. For here is
q tactful utterance and one that at
the same time carries conviction.
Il may not persuade all the hot
heads who are carelessly predicting
certain war or who are rejecting
every form Of negotiation as COM
promise" or "appeasement" and
gradually narrowing the area of
agreement 50 that war becomes more
and more their theory Of q logical
solution.
A period of tension, as Gen.
Bradley says, is far preferable to
war. The art of negotiation calls
for restraint and patience but
mostly 1t calls for common sense
and objectivity. The controversy
over the Berlin blockade has become
clouded with technicalities and mar
row points Of pride. 1t can be re-
solved, but it never will be as long
as there is superficiality and care
less statements by public officials on
both sides.
Negotiation with Russia has its
drawbacks, and there are many
people who are arguing that agree
ment is impossible-which is but
another way Of saying that only war
can settle the issue. The broader
point of view requires a painstaking
examination Of the points In dispute
In an unremitting effort to find a
basis for settlement. Nobody has
stated better than Gen. Bradley the
case for self-restraint and patience
and for continued negotiation.
(RAproduction RishtS RaaervedN