ENDS AND MEANS
far as the socialization of a single nation creates truly
national monopolies in the exports of that nation, so the
power of the government increases and the national
character of economic conflicts becomes intensified. Thus
the socialization of a single nation, even though the rulers
of that nation be most peaceably minded, is likely to
intensify the fears of other nations in proportion as the
control of the socialist government over its country's
economic life is increased. . . . Unless they are supported
,by a strong conscious peace sentiment, they (the socialist
regimes of individual nations) may be turned to purposes
of war just as effectively—and indeed probably more
effectively—than capitalist societies/ (Pp. aV.)
It will thus be seen that individual war resisters acting
alone or in association have a very important part to play
in the immediate future. That changes in the present
economic and monetary systems must be made is evident;
and it is also clear that, in the > long run, these changes
will make for the establishment of the conditions of per-
manent peace. But meanwhile, so long as nationalistic
sentiment persists, reforms of the economic and monetary
system may temporarily increase international ill-feeling
and the probability of war. The function of associations
of individual war resisters is to prevent, if possible, necessary
and intrinsically desirable changes in the economic and
monetary systems from resulting in international discord
and war.
In some countries the missionaries of n/on-violence can
still preach their gospel without interference. In most of
the world, however, they can only labour, if at all, in
secret. Men of good will have always had to combine
the virtues of the serpent with those of the dove. This
serpentine wisdom is more than ever necessary to-day,
twhen the official resistance to men of good will is greater
and better organized than at any previous period. Progress
154