March 23, 1934, Pages 1, 3

DISSCUSS REASONS AND APOLOGIES FOR WAR;
    DR. WOLFSON EXPLAINS ECONOMIC ASPECTS;
        DR. SLOCHOWER STRESSES SOCIAL CAUSES

Faculty at Soph Chap Say
     War Can Be Avoided;
              Urge Action

              That war is not inevitable, and that public opinion and the opinion of college students must be aroused to the issues which mean life or death to civilization, was emphasized by Dr. Theresa Wolfson-Goldston of the Economics Department and Dr. Harry A. Slochower of the German Department in their respective addresses on Economic Factors to Be Considered in Averting War and Cultural Apologies for War at the middle class chapel Wednesday.

            Dean Adele Bildersee first pointed out that hatred of war and love of peace are not enough–we must have an understanding of the factors involved in war; to accomplish this enlightenment, she said, the assembly program had been planned.

            Dr. Wolfson, discussing the economic factors that cause war, said, "One of the first factors responsible for war is the economic structure of a society. In an industrial society the economic structure depends upon mass production, markets and profits. The need for markets, for the sinews of industrialism: coal, iron, steel, may be responsible for war." Dr. Wolfson explained that since the economic needs of our society make for internationalism, the political needs make for disunion. The economic interests of all employers and capitalists are not alike: some have much to lose by war, others much to gain; it is to the interest of some to foster political loyalties, for others to foster international loyalties.

            By means of illustration, Dr. Wolfson discussed the International Steel Entente. This, one of the most powerful steel cartels in the world, is so organized that in the event of war it will stand to gain, no matter where the war occurs.

            She quoted information brought to light in the March issue of the Fortune Magazine, stating that it costs $25,000 to kill a man in wartime. Germany at present has an $80,000,000 armament bill, though Germany is not supposed to arm. The Krupp people, leading munitions manufacturers of Germany, are powerful in the International Steel Entente.

            The United States' annual armament hill is $200,000,000, that of England is $100,000,000, and that of France is $300,000,000. All these firms have direct negotiations with the Entente. Since the International Steel Entente gains as a result of war regardless of the political lineups, it makes

Continued on page 3

it its business too so officiate that seeds of distrust and a state of nerves are created at peace meetings.

            In Germany, the Nazi's regime and the Hitler election were brought about by an alliance between the armament groups of Germany, France and Czechoslovakia; they contributed to the election funds of Hitler because they were concerned with the economic and political crises that might result from the creation of a state of nerves about war. Such a state of nerves is being deliberately created by; newspaper propaganda.

           Dr. Wolfson concluded: "If you can control your economic structure you will perhaps be able to avert war. If you make industries that profit from war unprofitable, you are in a position to avert war."

            Dr. Slochower emphasized the inapplicability of physical and metaphysical reasons to causes of war. "Causes of war lie in the social and economic conditions about us," he said. He mocked the new racial theory that war is good because it eliminates the inferior race in the struggle for existence, saying, "If war is good, whom is it good for? For those who are killed, for those who are maimed and wounded? Does the bullet say, ‘I must not kill a man who is healthy and of a good race?' The reverse is true, for the young and healthy are killed, while those who return are brutalized and morally debased."

            Dr. Slochower said in conclusion, "The opinion of college students has at last been awakened to a thinking about problems confronting them, to a thinking about the vital present-day issues, which usually mean nothing less than life and death to all of us."

.

Return to Spotlight Page || Home Page

May 20, 2004