[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR]
Sta,—When Mr. Chamberlain pressed the Anglo-French plan in Prague, throughout the country a feeling arose that we had rather shamefully deserted the Czechs. In fact, almost a pro-war spirit arose in that rather realistic myth, " the average man." Even the professed pacifist was shaken. In church last Sunday I was surprised to hear a service and sermon which combined a prayer for peace with a moral preparation for war in the assurance that God would support the cause of justice against the forces of evil (i.e., Hitler). Already we have forgotten our declarations of five; six, seven and eight years ago. The Anglo-French plan has arisen in timely fashion like an invasion of Belgium to rally public opinion to war. But we must not deceive ourselves. We are not going to fight because we do not want to let the small fellow down ; we are going to fight because it is in our own very material interests to maintain the Czech State. Senti- mentality and " honour " must not be brought in to cloud the issue ; we have shown little enough honour in the last few years and a regard for honour has little to do with govern- ments, as Machiavelli pointed out long ago, though a reputation for such has much.
The pacifist, in realising this, will be strengthened. He has been instructed to love his enemies, and to be humble —not for his own material gain—the humble and meek have little enough of material things in all conscience. Christ said, " Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's " and " you cannot serve God and Mammon." The individual may give his property to Caesar, but himself he must give to God. Let him pay his taxes, but he must not hate and kill on command. First he must give to God what God asks, his thoughts and actions. The rest he may give to the State after he has decided his duty to God, in this case love of enemies and humility (even to the bearing of humiliations) then he can decide what he ha; left to give to the State. No government has the right to say, " Hate this man (or this people) and kill him." It may be argued that we do not hate the Germans and yet may have to kill them. I can understand a man killing another whom he hates (that at least is human), but to kill a man you do not hate is above all things unforgivable. Nationalism is only another form of pride. Christ Himself did not set out to struggle in battle against " force," and who are we that we should pretend that right and justice are on our side, or that we have given in enough (" Shall I forgive my brother seven times ? ") or that we should fight for " God," using a medium which God Himself declined ? No man who loves Christ can take part in war. Let us not confuse things by saying " dying " for " killing." We all go to war hoping very sincerely that we won't die, but we can hardly expect not to kill, or to share responsibility for am, Sir,
your obedient servant, N. S. CAREY JoNES. 8 Norton Road, West Cross, Swansea.
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