THE SCIENCE OF PEACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 657, 8 May 1929, Page 8

THE SCIENCE OF PEACE

Sir, — I have read with interest your leading article, “The Price of Peace," which appeared in your valuable issue of the Ist inst. You say that “human nature has not changed very much since the days of Cain and Abel." Quite true. And likewise the laws of nature do not seem to have changed since then, and probably never have changed and never will change. Probably, if men had only known how to do it, they could have flown as easily, communicated by wireless, utilised the powers of steam in every direction, etc.. Just, as easily in Abel s day as we are

doing. What, then, is behind all modern inventions and progress? Not a change in human nature (of itself), not a change or improvement in the laws of nature and the universe, but science! Science, or systematised knowledge of the laws of nature, slowly and painfully acquired through the ages, often in face of the bitterest opposition and persecution, is the real force behind all progress and human inventions. But the greatest of all sciences—the science of society, or sociology, as Mr. Herbert Spencer named it—has not yet been fully mastered. When it is mastered, then all mankind will recognise that, under certain conditions, human beings will always light, but under certain other conditions they will never fight. A. knowledge of these laws may be regarded as the science of peace. When they are understood, and all nations abide by them, then—but not till then—we may look for perpetual peace on earth. I will endeavour briefly to outline tbe laws of peace and war. They are three in number: 1—

men, or nations, will always fight or be liable to go to war, so long as they remain separate or sovereign units, each jealous of the other; 2—men and nations wiN fight, or be liable to fight, so long as one class oppresses another class; 3—men and nations will always be liable to fight when they are in want, and know that other people or nations have abundance. One of the most fruitful sources of want among peaceful nations is the tendency to multiply beyond the means of subsistence. Admitting the soundness of the above three laws, if we are desirous of establishing perpetual peace on earth, we must first persuade all nations to unite under one government and become as one nation, though each State (or nation) would have complete autonomy regarding internal affairs, save that no government would be permitted to arm or prepare for war in any way whatever, and the World Parliament would require to have the power to police the whole world so that no nation would be permitted to break this law. The science of peace is a subject which, it seems to me, might well be taught in all State schools throughout the world. And, also, money should be provided to educate the adult population of every nation to these ideals. An anonymous donor has lately provided our good King George with a large sum, to be used in such direction as his Majesty may see fit, as a thanksgiving fund for his recovery, and it is proposed to use this gift as the nucleus for the King Edward Hospital Fund. Though hospitals are necessary, nothing causes hospitals to be necessary more than war. Our good King would have figured in history as the King of Peace had he donated this fund to the education of all nations to the science of peace on the lines proposed above. , „ . <P* p - W. LOXGDILL. Author of The Federation of the World/' etc.