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Page 4 THE MAROON TIGER DISARMAMENT OR WAR? By H. J. Battle Every alert citizen of the world is awaiting with anxiety the Conference on Universal Disarmament to he held at Geneva in February. Since 1898, there has been a series of such conferences. However, very little has been definitely accomplished. Before the Great War. the Hague Conference sought to maintain peace through universal disarmament, but Germany prohibited its suc cess. After the war, the nations involved embodied the disarmament question in the Treaty of Versailles. By this Treaty Germany was compelled to reduce her arm aments with the understanding that a general reduc tion and limitation of armaments would follow as one of the most fruitful preventives of war. The only defi nite step that has been taken in accord with the provi sion of that Treaty is seen in the London Treaty. The latter Treaty is in mutual agreement among the LInited States, England, and Japan to limit their naval forces. T’he League of Nations, probably because of its desire to execute the provision of the Treaty of Versailles, has planned a conference to be held at Geneva in February, 1932, in which universal disarmament will be considered. What the results of this conference will be, no one knows. To me, it seems that the only sensible thing for the nations of the world to do is to make drastic reduction in armaments. The greatest handicap to such action seems to be the fear of individual nations that they will lose their national security by disarmament. Many seem to think that lasting peace is to be had by national defense. Even in our country, many still cling to Washington’s belief that preparation for defense is one of the best guarantees of peace. France and other nations have a similar belief. On the other hand, it seems to me, that no nation can maintain peace by con tinually increasing its armaments. When one nation in creases its defense the other nation, in order to maintain security, must increase hers also. The only security that national defense can offer is necessarily based on fear. The nation which has the greatest security is the one that has the greatest army and of which other na tions are most afraid. Then to offset this fear and to gain for themselves more security, the other nations in crease their armies. Thus, there is a vicious circle— armies, fear, suspicion; more armies, more fears, and more suspicion. Each time the circle revolves more arma ments, more fear, and more suspicion accumulate. If one nation gets too far ahead of another nation alliances are formed against it. The process continues until war becomes inevitable. Furthermore, during this process an increasing amount of the wealth of the world is be ing converted into armaments, which have utility only in war. This adds to the condition, the factor of social unrest, which is only another stimulus to encourage the war spirit. It, therefore, seems to me that the question of whether or not the nations of the world want to dis arm is synonymous to that of whether or not they want poverty and war. Let us hope that the conference will take the sensible course in February. Military training in American Land Grant Colleges and Universities should be continued as a defense against the open antagonism of radicalism to democratic govern ment, in the opinion of Dr. Raymond G. Bressler who has recently assumed his duties as president of the Rhode Island State College at Kingston.—N. S. F. A. SAMPLE BALLOT Date . I. If all nations join in similar reductions in mili tary and naval establishments intended for use against each other, how much disarmament would you favor? (Check the approximate fig ure desired) None 25%-— 50%__„ 75%.- 100% — II. Do you favor the American delegation to the General Disarmament Conference taking the in itiative in calling upon all nations to join us in reducing armaments? None 25%... .. 50%.. . 75%-. 100%-. III. Do you favor our setting an example for other nations by reducting our expenditure upon arm aments? None 25%-- 50%... 75% — 100% — IV. Do you favor American adherence to the World Court upon the basis of the Root Protocols? Yes No V. Do you favor colleges? compulsory military training in \ es No VI. Do you favor dropping military training en- tirely from the college curriculum? Yes No VII. Have you had military training? How long?.. Where?. (Mr., Mrs., Miss) (Class) Department or School Institution THE SUPREME PRAYER OF MY HEART (From A Scrap Book) “The supreme prayer of my heart is not to lie learned, rich, famous, powerful or even good, but simply to be radiant. I desire to radiate health, cheerfulness, calm courage and good-will. “I wish to live without hate, whim, jealousy, envy, fear. I wish to be simple, honest, frank, natural, clean in mind and clean in body, unaffected—to say ‘I do not know’, if it be so, and to meet all men on an absolute equality, to face any obstacle and meet every difficulty unabashed and unafraid. “I wish others to live their lives, too, up to their high est, fullest, and best. To that end I pray that I may never meddle, interfere, dictate, give advice that is not wanted, or assist when my services are not needed. If I can help people, I II do it by giving them a chance to help themselves; and if I can uplift or inspire, let it be by example, inference, and suggestion, rather than by injunction and dictation. That is to say, I desire to be radiant, to Radiate Life."’ Theodore R. Gay, ’32. Howard Thurman, ’23, Religious Adviser for More house and Spelman, has been invited by a joint com mittee representing the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A. of California to speak at several student conferences and important churches during the latter part of December and the first part of January. Mr. Thurman will also speak in the following schools: University of Redlands. University of California at Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Whittier College, Stanford Univer sity, San Jose State College, University of California, Colelge of the Pacific, Occidental College, Pomona Col lege, University of Arizona and the Pasedena Junior College.