THE PEACE MOVEMENT

New Zealand Tablet, 11 May 1911, Page 877

THE PEACE MOVEMENT

VIEWS OF CARDINAL LO3UE AND OTHERS Cardinal Logue on Facts to be Reckoned With. His Eminence Cardinal Logue and other well known Catholics have given to the Westminster Gazette, their views on the _ Peace Movement. The Cardinal writes:—Though no one could desire universal peace more earnestly, or abhor the evils of war more heartily than I do, _ I can have no confidence in a peace movement while millions are being screwed out of the misery of the people to build Dreadnoughts. I have not the least hope that President Taft and Sir Edward Grey shall be able to conclude an arbitration treaty till a more friendly and cordial feeling is established with Germany and till the Irish question is satisfactorily settled. There is an immense German population in America, holding a very leading and influential position; and those men are as enthusiastic for the honor and glory of the Fatherland as Germans remaining at home. Then there is a large Irish population, yielding neither in numbers nor influence to the Germans, and I know their feelings, for I have been among them. These are the men who have a very large part in making and unmaking Presidents and in influencing legislation. I mention these matters not to depreciate in the least your praiseworthy efforts; but they are facts which must be reckoned with. For the rest, I wish your movement in favor of peace every success. Bishop Brindle Sure Difficulties will be Overcome. The Bishop of Nottingham says; —It is of good omen for the world when such ‘ bold and courageous words’ come to us from overseas, outlining what may be called ‘ a league of peace ’ ; and it is of good omen for the world when such words are answered by the measured approval of such a statesman as Sir Edward Grey. Difficulties there may be;

risks may have to be takenthere must be a dawn before the sun shines at midday but difficulties will be overcome, and risks will be taken by men of goodwill for the sake; of the greater good, the lasting peace, which shall come as a result upon the world. To us, servants of the Prince of Peace, it would be the greatest of blessings; that it may come shall be our constant prayer; for then may once again be heard the song of Christmas night: ‘ Glory to God in the highest; on earth Peace!’ 7 Dr. Casartelli Regards the Prospect With Joy. The Bishop of Salford observes: The Catholic Church, by the very, fact of her patent and unique character as an absolutely international organisation, cannot but be profoundly interested in and desirous'of international peace, and therefore the substitution, as far as may be possible, of international arbitration for the arbitrament of war. For this reason a great paid of the energies of Roman Pontiffs during the Middle Ages was devoted to long-and- persistent efforts in the cause of friendly arbitration between the various nations, as may be gathered from the pages of history. Hence, in common, as I feel sure, with every Catholic Bishop, I should hail with joy the hope of such a substitution of arbitration for war as foreshadowed in the recent significant utterances of President Taft and Sir Edward Grey. Father Vaughan’s Prayer. Father Bernard Vaughan says;The mere possibility of a Treaty of Arbitration between the United Kingdom and the United States, .which will remove all excuses for our ever again desiring or attempting to put our disputes to the bloody arbitrament of war, rises before the vision of every right-minded English-speaking man ‘ like the shining of a star of a new dawn.’ In conclusion Father Vaughan echoes the words of three English-speaking Cardinals, uttered on Easter Sunday, 1896, in their celebrated plea in favor of a Permanent Tribunal of Arbitration, and adds May England and the States unite, clasping the hands of brotherhood across the dividing sea till the voice of all the peoples of earth acclaim them as the peace-makers, of whom is the Kingdom of Heaven. ; Lord Clifford of Chudleigh would Welcome Arbitration. Lord Clifford of Chudleigh holds that we cannot hope to see any Arbitration Court a real substitute for the crude arbitrament of war till it has behind it the power of every civilised country, and has established the conviction that they all will and can uphold its decrees. He does not thinls anyone living could say he expects to see such a state of things; but an International Court, so far as it goes, stands for Peace rather than War, and as such his lordship welcomes it. Mr. Belloc on the Church’s Attitude. Mr. Hilaire Belloc thus expresses his view: lam no theologian, and I have no right to speak for the attitude of the Church in such a matter, but I confess I do not see where the interest of the Church can arise. The Church condemns unjust warfare but approves, if I am not greatly mistaken, the defence by arms of national strength and honor. Catholic morality does indeed disapprove the plunder of weak or small States by strong ones, and I fancy that when any proposal is made for the safeguarding of minor communities from aggression, Catholic opinion throughout the world will generally be found to favor it. That aggression, as we all know, is undertaken by the armed force of great nations, directed by the interests of cosmopolitan financiers. It has been recently singularly unsuccessful, for crude greed is a poor basis of soldiering'; but that is by ’the way. But I would beg your readers to remember that the Transvaal, with its gold mines, was, and Mexico, with its American and English ‘ interests,’ is, a case in point. Nor, I trust, have your readers forgotten the nasty business of the Republic of Panama. If you print this letter you will express my opinion, which you have asked for, but I repeat it is only a personal opinion, though a Catholic one.