Susan Rhind S.C.M. and Socialist Club

Why a Peace Council?

Mr. Hartley gave a brief resume of the work of the Peace Council, pointing out that In 1949 a petition was launched calling for a ban on the Atom Bomb. This gained 600 million signatures and at least partly because of it the U.N. did not use the bomb in Korea. Similarly, later, a petition calling for a Five Power Peace Pact was initiated. This gained 650 million signatures and so showed an increase in support for the aims of the peace council. Partly as a result of this there was the Berlin Conference and from that the Geneva Conference. Thus Mr. Hartley showed the meeting that the Peace Council is having effect in the world today, because it is getting the support of all peoples. Irrespective of social system, race or religion, who want the world to live in peace and so become the sixth great Power in the world today.

A question was put regarding his standpoint on co-operation with Communists in the Peace Council did he as a Christian feel free to work with Communists who are opposed to Christianity? Firstly he pointed out that Lenin had not written in an active general opposition to Christianity but he had written against the type of Christianity prevailing in Russia before the Revolution. Mr Hartley also added that he himself was also opposed to it himself—it was not in fact Christianity at all!

In reply to the question, Mr. Hartley stated that as a Christian he was prepared, and, in fact, was bound, to work with anyone as ready to work for his beliefs as a Communist. He pointed out that as for the domination of the Peace Council by the Communist Party, it was a slander used by the people wanting to discredit the Peace Council. He pointed out that in Australia the Party had a strict policy on the matter, designed to do away with any basis for such an accusation by having a restricted number active in the Peace Council and an even tighter reign on those holding official or executive positions on any branch of the Council.

Mr. Hartley expressed disgust at the suggestion that a Christian should have nothing to do with a Communist. "It is poor, purdy Christianity which cannot be discussed with some one of differing beliefs." and hardly the attitude designed to win converts and influence people! The attitude is too prevalent, he claimed, that regards discussion and work with a Communist as somehow sullying the beliefs of Christianity. It amounts to a fear for the truth and basis of those beliefs and a fear that if a Christian does discuss them he runs the risk of being converted (or subverted). A Christain should be ashamed to stand aloof from anyone else who is working for the some objective. Only by getting in and working with others will there be a reasonable basis for Judging the rights and wrongs of communism and Christianity. If not, the Christian is beaten from the start and people look to Communist [unclear: (elc)] who is doing some concrete good in which the Christain should be participating also.

Finally, Mr Hartley asserted that it is every Christian's duty to do all he can. co-operate with anyone, for the furtherance of international peace.