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Page:America in the Struggle for Czechoslovak Independence (1926).pdf/100

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CZECHOSLOVAK INDEPENDENCE

than ever, a complete program for terms of permanent peace cannot be formulated.

“I am not a militarist, and yet I believe in universal military training and universal military service. Most of the social democracies of the various nations have this demand in their platforms. Militarism is domination by a military caste; preparation for defense is not necessarily militarism. If a nation defends itself against aggression, it does not become militaristic any more than a man who defends himself against burglary becomes a burglar.

“I am utterly opposed to any separate peace on the part of this country, just as I would view as a calamity to the cause of real democracy a separate peace of Russia with Germany. This world can be made a tolerable place to live in only by a concert of the democratic peoples of the world. Separate peace on the part of any of the allied countries would preclude such a concert, and would be a fatal blow to the hopes for such an organization of the world's democracies as would insure permanent peace.

“It is to be very much regretted that the several demands that can be approved by those of us who believe themselves democratic, and yet are not for peace at any price, you have so interwoven

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