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Women's Action Committee for Lasting Peace, March 1947
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Women's Action Committee for Lasting Peace, March 1947
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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Peace movements
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The original documents are located in Box D13, folder "Women's Action Committee for
Lasting Peace, March 1947" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech
File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Spech by York R. Ford Jr before Women's
action committee for tasting Peace -March 1947
The
Gerald R, Ford, f Jr,
Corrected
s VETERAN 'S BASIS FOR WORLD PEACE
women's get i'on Comer
for Lasting Peace
Practically every reasonably intelligent man or woman these days knows
that War has been and always will be an expensive and devastating experience.
However, I would like to present to you a few facts and figures to show
that this world has not, in the past, been immunised from War, and that
the cost of waging war has reached sky high altitudes. "The Society for
International Law of London reports that in the last four thousand years
there have been only 268 years of world peace: that in spite of more than
eight thousand peace treaties." War suspends all consideration of thrift
and solvency. " It is said that using the same method of purchasing
power, in the time of Julius Caesar the cost for each man dead upon
the battlefield was .75% That expense rose through succeeding wars until
fimally in the 30 Years War of the seventeenth century the sost was $50 for
every battlefield fatality. Again the cost increased until our Civil War
when each dead participant in battle represented an expenditure of $5,000.
In World War I the cost with the same element of purchasing power reached
the high of $25,000. In this war the cost of each dead soldier on the field
of battle represents the unbelievable expense of nearly $ 200,00. This one
nation has spent nearly three hundred billion dollars in our prosecution
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
Digitized from Box D13 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
world
of the 1, a sum as great or greater than all our accumulated per-
sonal and real property.
It cannot be denied that the continuation of such trends will bankrupt the
world morally as well as materially. The Veteran of World War II has,
right motand will have for years to come, a greater stake in the future
well being of this world, than any other group.
In the U. S. alone approximately 20 million mon & women served in the
Armed Forces between 1939 and 1947. 20 million out of 130 million is
a sizeable blook however you look at it. Because the personnel of
our Army and Navy were a heterogenious group, unanimity on any subject
was well nigh out of the question with one exception. In our citizens
Army, where men of all races, creeds and religions fought side by
overall
side, there was but objective WORLD PEACE. Our fighting mon
wanted PEACE before the global conflagration started in 1939, they
prayed for PEACE during the horrible days that mon on both sides
were falling in battle; and those that have returned fervently hope that
the PEACE they struggled to attain will continue overlastingly.
Unfortunately the Veterans of this country have not and will not not
in unison in attempting to achieve the objective. If the ex-service mon
of the United States would only think and not as a unit, our own country's
FORD d LIBRARY GENALD
foreign policy would be more effective and powerful for theother
peoples of the world would then know that the majority of the citizens
of this country were behind whatever our foreign policy might be. All
their own little May
waterans espouse and champion the cause of reason but unfortunately be-
cause of a total lack of any common denordmator as to how it should
in The years to come
be attained, this country's leadership at the World's Peace table 15
be
will
not as influential as it might be. The patency that our diplomats
now wield during the international negotiations is more dependent upon
our present possession of the atomic bomb secret rather than upon any
accord among our citizens as to how Peace should be achieved.
I say this in spite of our present bi-partisan foreign policy and in
so doing I am not eriticising this step which has at least unified our
foreign policy on the top level, but at the same time down on our
level there is not as much unision of thought or equality of information
Maybrann
there should be.
Viterah way as
time
how did the men who fought in World War II feel towards War and
trumby to
Peace in the years before December 7. 1941? Most of the 20 million
who served because of age during the 1930's when the debate and the
particanship between iselationism or pacifician and internationalism or
GERALD LIBERTY A. FORD
interventionism grow in intensity, and most of the 20 million know they
service if war came
the east majority would have
were insvitably faced with the prospect of warr and probAbly combat service.
The horrors and futility of World War I had been indelibly impressed upon
them by their education and by the passing events as they matured. Cer-
tainly the nation as a whole during the aftermath of World War I during
but
the 20's wanted Peace and by not joining the League of Nations we adopted
to advin it
the isolutionist tack, During the 1930's the trend began to turn the other
way, slowly yes, but gradually certainly people came to the realization that the
events in Europe proved we, as a nation, should be exerting our influence
in world affacts.
more directlyn However all during the "30's" the various anti war
organisations flourished on the eampuses of our colleges and among
youth groups throughout the country. Perhaps this attitude existed bem
cause their parents as a whole felt the same way, although less demonstratively
the students
so, I will admit. Perhaps they felt this way because in their schooling
som
they learned that wars only resulted in temporary truces. that, ended
withoutwithout any concern about the sanetity of peace treaties. Perhaps
the they felt that way because the veterans of the last was, as represent
ed by the American Logion, were uniformly inclationists. Perhaps we, who
later fought, did not like the thought of dying in an apparently futile
struggle before our day.
Whatever the basis for this anti-war sentiment, it existed among the "to
GERALD R FORD LIBRAST
be G. I's and as a result the deplomats handling our foreign policy had
little or no support from a large segment of the public on behalf of an
interventionist or world participation policy. The "to-be G. I." seemed
to hope that time alone would cure the Worlds problems and he hope that
slowly by giving in to those who made territorial demands, perhaps a
solution might be evolved.
The
We all know that such a policy utterly failed with horrible olimax coming
December 7th 1941. From that date, the attitude of those already serving
in the Armed Forees and those about to be industed, abruptly changed. It
was no longer a question of how Peace could be maintained for War was
?
upon us; it was simply and quite directly a. question of how we could
some
hold and preserve our America as we know it. Undoubtedly many G. I's
during the war thought they were fighting for a New World, but from
my contacts with those who fought in the Pacific, I sincerely believe
majority of nearly they the fighting
that
the serviceman, was principally interested in winning the war, and that
alone, The winning of the Peace hardly occupied his thoughts, that was
a chore or a question beyond his immediate job and present capabilities.
With the capitulation of Germany in the spring of 1945, the more thoughtful
G. I began to wonder what we, as a nation, were going to do about the
tremendous responsibility now thrust upon our shoulders I recall quite
distinctly the days of the United Nations organization conference in
FORD i LIBRARY
San Francisco and the interest evidenced in those meetings by the mon who
were serving with mo. The fall of Japan meant the sheeting war was over;
no longer was our country's survival the principal consideration. In
most if not all were
fact the average G. Igwas thereafter interested primarily in getting home,
and once home they her/heems generally emeshed in a multitude of local and
personal problems.
How does the G. I. feel now since he is a. Veteran? The vast majority of
veterans follow and live up to the eatch phrase held by the A. V. C.,
"Citisens First, Veterans Second".
However the toteran dees have a few ideas of his own on what our country's
foreign policy should be and how it should be attained. Some of these
thoughts are expressed personally in small get-togethers or in letters be
twoen friends, In some instances the various public opinion pells test
the veterans and publish the result. Another medium for the publication
of veteran opinion are the platforms and policies of the various veterans
organizations.
The A. v. C., an all World War II organisation, adopted in July of 1946
the following as the Preamble to its International Affairs platform.
I quote in part "We support a strong United Nations as the basis for
world understanding. further urge, as a means of enfereing this
GERALD LIBERTY FORD
authority, the creation of a world armed Force recruited from individuals
of the United Nations who will owe exclusive allegiance to the United
Nations." To my knowledge this is the most straightforward and forthright
appreach by any veterans group, whether any of us agree with the various
particulars or not. At this time lot me state that I am not a member
of the A. v. C. but I do admire the stand they have taken on a great
many issues.
The other veterans organisations have not gone on record as favoring
any particular foreign policy. Astudy of their varãous platforms
indicates that they all favor an "adequate preparedness program" In
other words the Veterans organisations as a whole feel that our nation
should maintain a substantial Army and Havy. I astually feel that the
individual veteran sincerely believes in such a program.
Just how the beterans would vote on the proposed budget allocation for
the Army and Navy might be and interesting question. Ifear that the
veterans would demand a out in the Armed Forces proposed budget, not
because they were against military preparedness, but simply because
their own experiences have taught them that the military system could
be more efficiently handled. All G. I is believe that the same job
could be done by the Army and Havy for less money if a halfhearted
attempt were made by the "hrass hats" to institute certain obvious
GERALD LIBRARY * FORD
economies.
What is the Veterans attitude toward the United Nations? Acording to the
Gallup Poll the United Nations has been becoming of late more popular
with our citizens as a whole. I give you the results as tabulated by the
American Institute of Public Opinion They gsked of the general public
on for different occasions this question "Are you satisfied or dis-
satisfied with the progress that the United Nations has made to date
Satisfied
Missatisfied
No Opinion
May 1946
37%
37%
26%
July 1946
26%
49%
25%
Nov. 1946
27%
43%
30%
Jan. 1947
39%
33%
28%
This same Gallup Poll found that the Tets of World War II in early 1946
were one of the most outspohen groups in expressing disentisfaction
with the progress made by the United Nations They felt largely "there is
to much biokering and arguing" and that the worlds statemen were not
keeping faith with the soldiers who had given their lives on the battle
fronts to make world peace possible. In January of 1947, the veteran's
attitude had changed, at least it is more in line with the view of the
general public. The comparative figures are as follows:
In July of 1946 the general public were 26% satisfied with the progress
of the United Nations, 49% dismatisfied and 25% holding no opinion
BERALD FORD LIBRARY
When a group of Vetwuns were asked the same questions in July
27% were satisfied;60% were dissatisfied; and 13% held no opinion. In Jan-
usry of this year figures more elemely parallel one another. The general
public was 59% satisfied;33% disactisfied and 28 x held no spinion. The veteran
was 41% satisfied; 38% disentisfied and 21% hold no opinion. Mr. Gallup
in his analysis of the results states that the public believes in a pest
war world organization and not a return to iselationism. The Veterans,
as well asother citizens, merely feel that the diplomats representing
the various countries should talk less and accomplish more.
Does the veteran believe in the Truman- Vandenburg, bipartisan foreign
policy, or the Henry A. Wallace approach? The Wallace policy is definately
one of appeasement to Russia or an emphasis on a"Compromise peace".
The present Republican-Democratic bipartisan foreign policy is one of
firmness and cander with a de-emphasis on vacilation.
Fertune Magazine in a recent edition questioned veterans as to what man
they would faver for our next president. I believe the results of the
pell indicate to a large degree just which of the above two foreign policies
the veteran does favor. Unfortunately Senator Vandenberg's name was not
interjected into the list of possible candidates, but the foreign pelicy
stand of the other men are well enough known so that we can come to
FORD s LIBRARY SERALD
some fairly sound conclusions.
The pell showed that Deway, Stassen, Truman, Wallace and Taft in that order
would get the vote of the veteran. There was little difference in the
vote for Termy and Stasson. It should be noted that Wallace who
believes in compremising and Taft who is perhaps the most iselationist of
all of our national figures bring up the rear. Stassens views are well
known, he is a firm believer in the United Nations and follows the
Vandenberg policy elesely. In the poll he was on of the leaders. Pres-
ident Truman likewise paced the other two.
I believe that TO can rightfully assume from this that the
veterans favor a man or mon for President who believe in a firm, non
Fever like
vacilatings foreign policy. Shay-den's Henry Wallace and he
epitemises the opposite point of view to that of Senator VandenBerg. It
is quite interesting to note that the man least favored is Senater Taft
WorldWan II
and he represents the "old school iselationism." The Sew Veterans attitude
check.,
parallet
in this regard 19 a wontened that exhibited by the veterans of
World War I in the days following their service except the world wan V
veterans wanted principally while it appears the recent who meterano
In conclusion let me quote from a letter which states perhaps ******** foughter was
global a
vanto
idealistielly what one soldier fought for in his post war world. He Warms global peaces
Every time someone says league, or democracy or freedom or international
organization, don't think of a definition but think of hundreds of millions
FORDO i LIBRARY GERALD
of Africans, Indians, Chinese, Tibetans & South Americans who cannot read
or write, who have no conception of their world. They have never seen
or heard of radies, streetears, vitamins, books but they are people and
I an fighting for them and for their development.
World / met served relatively a short
War Y he supported melitary III Apparedness
W time in caterin It vet between who served I The a horrons much longer ~
only time Was a better become proctions closer to to evaluate cost itc.
in
E1-C 108
FORDO i LIBRARY