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The Spike or Victoria University College Review 1934

Anti-War Movement

page 138

Anti-War Movement

It is significant that just twenty years after the outbreak of the Great War an Anti-War Movement should spring into being at Victoria College. The protest against militarism and militant imperialism has suddenly become organised and vocal, instead of scattered and muffled. Perhaps something of this is due to the fact that the generation of 1914 is now within the doors of every university; but more powerful than this personal factor is undoubtedly the force of events of each and every day in this world of 1934. If, as Mussolini has said, the re-armament conference has begun, its remits have not only been passed unanimously but universally acted on. Never since 1918 has such activity been recorded in the arming not only of Europe but also of the United States and the East. At the same time, within every industrial country stand thousands for whom "defence" means little more than the protection of their unemployment dole. Further, the revolt against this business of murder by bomb and tank and gas has grown step by step with the advance" in the scientific technique of destruction—a matter of direct concern to youth in the centres of learning everywhere.

It is thus little surprising that a V.U.C. Anti-War Committee elected in the Second Term has been strenuously active and has now successfully organised a new Club to carry on the anti-war campaign in the university.

At the meetings so far held, two members of the staff have spoken—Mr. A. D. Monro and Professor T. A. Hunter—and many students have participated. Indeed, although the Movement aims at combatting militarism and all forms of war propaganda, it has an equally vital function in providing a forum for the interchange of ideas between pacifists and communists and all other shades of opinion within the anti-war movement itself. Incidentally, it is to be regretted that the Official Opposition at our meetings seems scarcely to have heard of any such expression as "interchange of ideas," and is able to offer little else than good old-fashioned backbench abuse.

The Movement is indebted to Mr. R. Semple, M.P., who made available for one of its meetings his fine collection of lantern slides of scenes from the Great War.

Arising from a press report of our first gathering, at which speakers from the Labour Club, the Debating Society, the Free Discussions Club, and the Student Christian Movement addressed the meeting, the Committee became involved in lengthy controversy in the correspondence columns of the Press. In addition, the Committee published a Manifesto calling upon students to join with them in the furthering of anti-war activity.

During the vacation the work of the Movement will, of course, go on, and students interested should make enquiries from the Secretary as to proposed activities. In the meantime the Committee have the following books which they will be glad to lend to V.U.C. Students, whether they be members of the Movement or not:—

Cry Havoc (Beverley Nichols).

Young Oxford and War (A Symposium).

War on War (Collection of photographs).

The Bloody Traffic (Fenner Brockway).

The Secret International.

Patriotism Limited.