Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

co-existence"quo.".movement."crusader."Current EventsCOURAGEOUS WORDSBy David LawrenceCourageous words have come from the President of theUnited States to dispel the fog left after the Geneva Conference by the ambiguityof Soviet utterances. For thespeeches of Moscow's officials have implied that "peacefulmeans an indefinite prolongation of the slavery imposed behind the Iron Curtainthings as they are.an acceptance ofMr. Eisenhower's address last week before the American Bar Association meeting reminds the Soviet Union'srulers that, while the leaders of our country can be polite, friendly and congenial in international conferences,this doesn't mean that the United States is ready to abandonits ideals or to compromise its principles. For, as the President sees it, appeasement does not mean peacewar.it assuresMr. Eisenhower has given dramatic encouragement tothe oppressed peoples in Soviet Russia as well as in thesatellite states.For many weeks these peoplestheir views reflectedby refugees who once occupied posts of importance in theirgovernments have been increasingly apprehensive lestGreat Britain, France and the United States accept the"statusThis would mean a ratification of the Sovietgrab of territory and its continued domination of hundreds ofmillions of people. Certainly America does not intend toabandon their cause, even though not intending any morethan before to initiate in their behalf a war of liberation.A MERICA represents the moral force of the world. Herspokesman would be faithless to a great tradition if theyfailed to reaffirm a deep interest in the future of oppressedpeoples everywhere. The President said:"There can be no true peace which involves acceptanceof a status quo in which we find injustice to many nations,repressions of human beings on a gigantic scale, and withconstructive effort paralyzed in many areas by fear."The spirit of Geneva, if it is to provide a healthy atmosphere for the pursuit of peace, if it is to be genuineand not spurious,tices,must inspire all to a correction of injusan observance of human rights and an end to subversion organized on a world-wide scale . ."Geneva spells for America, not stagnation, then, butopportunityopportunity for our own people and for peopleeverywhere to realize their just aspirations."Eagerness to avoid warif we think no deeper thanthis single desire can produce outright or implicit agreement that injustices and wrongs of the present shall beperpetuated in the future. We must not participate in anysuch false agreement. Thereby,we would outrage our ownconscience. In the eyes of those who suffer injustice, wewould become partners with their oppressors. In the judgment of history, we would have sold out the freedom ofmen for the pottage of a false peace. Moreover, we wouldassure future conflict!"The division of Germany cannot be supported by anyargument based on boundaries or language or racial origin.162"The dominion of captive countries cannot longer bejustified by anysecurity.claim that this is needed for purposes of"An international political machine, operating withinthe borders of sovereign nations for their political and ideological subversion, cannot be explained awayas a culturalTJERE is a plain-spoken definition of American aims andgoalsour outline of a basis for world peace, as it wasexpresed frequently before the Geneva Conference. Butbeingproclaimed again now after Geneva, it carries a special significance. The President does not advocate violence butrecognizes that peoples living in tyranny will inevitably invoke force if they are driven to it. He makes that pointas he says:"We must not think of peace as a static condition inworld affairs. That is not true peace, nor in fact can anykind of a peace be preserved that way. Change is a law oflife, and unless there is peaceful change, there is bound to beviolent change."The President takes his position unflinchingly for thesupport of American principles longago written into ourrecord in world affairs. He speaks for the whole nation,as he issues to the Soviet Union this piece of timely advice:"Peace and security for all can be establishedfor thefearful, for the oppressed, for the weak, for the strong. Butthis can be done only if we stand uncompromisingly forprinciple, for great issues . . . with the zeal of theWhen principle is forsaken, war comes. When men selltheir souls in craven submission at international conferences,war comes. When statesmen stand steadfastly together forthe right eschewing surrender and appeasement theirfaith and their moral strength can warn an enemy againstthe fatal miscalculations that bring on war. For a sincerespirit of conciliation must not be mistaken againat Munich in 1938peace.for a willingness to pay anyas it wasprice forU. S. Neivs and World ReportLuke 14:20 is the reason Prof. William Russell offeredfor asking leave of absence from his Current Events Columnthis week. So he is not AWOL just busy. Expect him backnext with a new secretary.The person of Christ and our vital relations toHim are oft lost sight of, Brethren, you are to findthe stability of your peace, the foundation of yourstrength and joy, the assurance of your present andeverlasting security, not in something that has beendone by you, or which may be accomplished in you,but in the death and resurrection of Christ. But understand that all is to be enjoyed in Him in suchactualrelationship to Him that He is your life,His destiny is andyours in vital union with a livingloving andperson, and not merely holding an abstracttruth. That union brings with it all needed provisionfor the day of your pilgrimage and conflict. Sel.COVENANTER WITNESS