DETERRENT TO WAR

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

Mr. Schnur and Mr. Cowan are very naive in their thinking when they assume that an arms reduction would be an excellent beginning to solve world problems. The purpose of armaments and war is to decide an issue by force. The decision of course is rendered in favor of the disputant who has the greater force at his command. War is an emotional and expensive method for solving world problems, expensive not only in financial terms but also in rivers of human blood. War, now as always, has its purpose in human society--the battlefield is the final and supreme court in the international dispute. In the old days the battlefield was more or less confined to certain areas, but modern technology has brought all parts of our planet within its perimeter. The question today is, will the nations of the earth reject war as the final judge in their conflict of opinions? If they wish to do so, the first and logical step is not an arms reduction, but: (1) the establishment of an international code of ethics including the right of self-determination (2) an international court with jurisdiction over all nations (3) a strong international police force armed with modern weapons and capable of enforcing international law anywhere on earth. Once something like this is achieved, not just a reduction, but complete disarmament on every national level, can follow. It is unreasonable to expect a man to discard his weapons until he has some other means for protecting his rights. To establish a basis for the operation of international law is indeed a difficult job. There are many road-blocks to be removed--the right of self-determination (in cases of revolution) to be accepted by the Communist world, repeal of the Connelly amendment by the United States, recognition of Red China, etc. Adjustments must be made by both the East and the West. Throughout his turbulent existence, man has lived by the sword. War, today is not considered a very serious undertaking when we openly pledge to sacrifice our youth in holding two small islands, for one dictator, against another. ("Freedom what crimes are committed in thy name") Man has reached a point in his evolution, where he must choose one of two roads--sanity or suicide--and his mistakes of the past plus the dictates of common sense, should be sufficient to guide him towards the creation of a more intelligent and orderly world.--He must chart his course for the years that lie ahead. Dan Gannon.