Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)

1968-06-01 / 2. szám

HOP Vol XX Special Number

1968 No 2- 14&'(07926)

highly irrational, decisions of dire consequences« On the other hand, even the most carefully and expertly construed technical installation might develop incalculable faults« If such a case occurs then the instruments of observation and control yield false data which might activate, without nan’s will, the most powerful nuclear devices©

All this does not mean that the balance of forces — in its proper place - is without significance« let it would bo possible to ensure the balance of farces not only in the course of their "escalation" but also in the course of their "de-escalation"« There can be no doubt that the elabora tion, gradual implementation and control cf such measures would constitute a big task, yet it ought to be in the interests of this task that those ex— ertions be made which today are made in the interests of arniarEnts.^i At the bamc time the military stockpiles not only pose the threat of their eventual employment but they are causing immense moral and spiritual damages. In the shadow of the atomic weapons men and. society live under an awful pressure and the effects of this will sooner or later appear0

And, at last, also from the viewpoint of Christian theology, it would be a venture without any moral Justification if we tried to build up the peace of mankind upon the instruments of murder,!-^)

It is also necessary to compare the idea of disarmament with the opinion that war is not caused by armaments but by the unsuitable international structures which not only fail to obviate but, under given conditions, might even spark off war« It is the roots, that is, these structures that are to be changed in order that war disappear from the life of mankind«

This idea is worthy of the most serious consideration« It is absolutely true that a superficial treatment will not ensure the peaceful future of mankind: the task is a very ccinplcx one which calls for conprehensive, differentiated exertions which go to the depth of the problems. It is necessary, among other things,that conflicts be resolved by negotiations. Then the task also includes the struggle “within individual countries and societies and also in the international sphere for social and economic justice, Also that oommerce, culture, industry and technology establish ever closer and stronger relations between the countries and peoples of the world. Also that mankind develop a life pattern based on peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and justice. At the same time, while we dedicate ourselves to these tasks, we are not to belittle the significance of disarmament. The fact that peace calls for ve y thoroughgoing, complex exertions should not be pitted against the need for disarmament. To be sure, disarmament itself is one of the changes which become desirable and are rendered necessary by the peaceful order of affairs. Then disarmament would also facilitate the accomoplishment of the other ends. How easier it would be to work on the further ta.sks of a peaceful future in a world without arms or in one gradually approaching this goal than under the shadow of nuclear weapons!