COPS OR CORPSES,
by Channing L. Bete'29. Newell Pond Press, Greenfield, Mass.1948. Unpaged. $1.
The author, a public relations counsel, read Cord Meyer's Peace or Anarchy and decided to do something about it. He sketched (the book is full of drawings with captions) a red-hot plan for World Peace. I must confess that I think the problem is more complicated than Mr. Bete is willing to admit. Government: Law: Police: Courts do not equal Peace. However, it may be true that if we have World Law backed by a World Government capable of enforcing its laws we may get peace.
The purpose of this world law and world government is simply this: "To outlaw war as a means of settling disputes between nations by a complete control of the weapons of war.... and that's all." We all as nations must give up a small piece of national sovereignty. What about that thorn in the flesh, Russia? Or in fact the United States of America? Alas and alack, it is a devilishly difficult problem especially in an election year, and every year seems to be an election year.
Mr. Bete does not think the United Nations can prevent war as it has "no international law, no police force, no courts."
I am inclined to think that if all of us were as anxious not to have war as is Mr. Bete, we would not have war. However, many do love war, which is the main reason perhaps we have it. When wars get too costly—and we are so stupid we may have to endure another to learn how costly an atomic war can bewe may have no more. Mr. Bete deserves an A for effort.
