NontH-Cua Darcy News."
Sin,—I want to write a long letter an what possibly will prove to be controversial subject, and I want every thoughtful person, of whatever nationality, to honour me by reading My subject is Armistice Day and the ceremonies that go with the observance of that Day in Shanghai Tam purposely writing now, in the middle of the summer, in order that, if what T have to say merits consideration, that consideration will be entered into before the arrangements for November 11 of this year are decided on.
T would like to emphasise at the beginning that T am one of the People who hold the view that were better, far better, that the Great War and all it entailed and entails be forgotten, so far as for getfulness will allow, as soon possible (whatever we may desire, the politicians and the novelists and the dramatists and the moving-picture-makers will not let us fo get); and in writing thus Iam not endeavouring to resuscitate past and urled hates and prejudices and tagonisms, show that there is a common union, Passed, though not irrevocably My point is this: In the Great] War there were two sides fighting one against the other. It is ir-Relevant to my purpose what any single nation or what any group of nations fought for. The essential factor is that, regardless of nationality, millions of men and women served and suffered and died, and that in serving and suffering and ying they did so for one of th noblest causes and ideals that pei Monte the mind of civilized humanity—the Gause and Ideal of Patriotism and Love of Country. On November 11, 1918, the holocaust that was called the Great War came to an end, and the millions of men and women who had served were Gradually absorbed again, or absorbed themselves, into mence-time lif many of them wondering then, as many wonder even now, what it had all been about, but all of them having a perfectly right and and justifiable fecting that their nation had been in the right an they thenselven had nerved ari That is one of the fundamental facts of post-War exis hat politicians or star gnllitarists or nations as may say or do or think, The War was fought by individuals, and every Individual on each side, Was niterly and completely in the tight, Now, in Shanghai, probably the most international city in the world, are subjects of every nation that was engaged in the War. In the same Shanghai (I would emphasise, probably the most international city in the world) Armistice Day has Tbeon celebrated, yenr. after ince 1919, by representatives of one of the International groups that fought the Great War, In, these later years, the "celebration" hi undergone a gradual transformation will it almost merits the description of "observances" but the spirit of celebration still persists, greatly diminished itis true, overtly Some instances, covertly in. others, Regardless of what the Great War was fought about and what was its] outcome, there is not the remotest justification for any "celebration, either side, of Armistice Day; but every vance."
Jnstifcation for its ober.
The question natural arises equally natural answer "We what do we observe?" The observe, or pay tribute to, the memory of, those who served and and died for their Country's Cause." But it must. not be lost sight of that on both sides men and those on one side with no more an tremen served and guffered and died, no less individual truth, individual feeling, individual sincerity, individual patriotism, than those on ie other side Yet, Shangha, this Grates," or "obsewves,* from rear international city, "ele-
one side only—publicly at least. Why? 'There is something very wrong somewhere. I would make 80 Bold as to attempt an expression of the opinions and feelings of others, and say that it would be difficult to find, in Shanghai as anywhere els, any' individual who was concerned in ithe Great War who has the slightest Antagonism to any other individual whom fate and birth decreed should have served on the other side, for the reason that the other individual did serve on the other side. I woul sven go farther, and male so bold to say that between people who, Fin the War, were active enemies and who, in the War, would cheerfully, another did the occasion and opportunity arise, there is now an inexpressible, an indefinable bond, a bond that transcends considerations of nationality and belittles (now "the Politicians.
War is no more) the speciousness of
We publicly "celebrate," or "observe," every Armistice Day, from the viewpoint of one side only.' That those who are here and who represent "the other side" are as sincere 'a8 we are in their memory of the vice and patriotism and sacrifice of those of their side own who crossed the Great Divide is undoubted; and to my mind it is amazing that a condition of affairs should not only exist and persist, but be possible at all, where a public tribute to sacrifice should be paid by and to one side only. I hope I shall not be accused of cynicism in laying what may appear to be unnecessary stress on one fact—the War is Over.
As far as Armistice Day public celebrations or observances go in Shanghai, the stage is held mainly, as it has been held for more than. 'a decade, by a few national and. specific organisations whose activies are basically to do with the Welfare of ex-Service men and women who formerly served on one side in the War; and I suggest to. those organisations (I do more, I appeal: to them) that quite apart from the excellent work they di the sphere which is peculiarly they could do nothing more noble, more honourable, more patriotic, more justifying the reasons which brought them into being, than by Joining hands one with another and with all of the ex-Service men and women and their organiza any) from "the other sid then for one and all to make Armistice Day in Shanghai, this year and every y brating and rejoicing, but of a general solemn observance, of a nation-lea tribute to the many of all'
ho, serving their respective gauntries, crossed the Rubicon during those four years of world mad-may be argued from the view-of the ing that "the other side," hai ug been ignored all these years may, in an understandable spirit of pride and feeling, decline to I readily concede the poi the probability; for I really believe (without having mentioned the mat.
to anyone at all) if those of mne side" were to say, in effect werely, to those of "the other side "Look here: there is no question of our conceding anything, oF of offering you something you haven't got or something you we think "you might like to have, or of our laeting sentimentally condescending; but don't you think this mutual aloofness, has gone far enough? You, as individuals, were no more responsible for our for mer antagonism than we were, as individuals. It is true that your people fought against our people in the War; but then, as now, there was no i al feeling. We owe it and you owe it, not as a gesture of goodwill, but'as a mutual duty, to pay sincere
dead on Armistice Day of all days; tribute, together, to each other's 'a tribute not so much to ex-enemy dead as to those who served and died for their country, regardless of what that country may have been. There is no question of fegeninn oe of Sepia, oot uch considerations do. not "even thing bygones egoness, for
remotely arise, on your side oF on ours. What about it?" that the response would be prompt and whole-hearted. Put it to them honestly and sincerely, with complete absence of rancour mental reservation, and T feel tuitively that there would be honest and sincere acceptance, and also with a complete absence of rancour and mental reservation. After- all, why should there be any? Only a Yew weeks ago war vessels of one nation that was concerned the War visited a. Naval port of another nation which Was an enemy motion in the War. The welcome accorded the visitors was complete, sincere and genuine, and the visit is to be returned in August. If the. living can honour, publicly, the ex-enemy living, surely, the living. can, equally publicly, honour the ex-enethy dead. And what place more fitting to accord such' honour than Shanghai, a city of all nations? again appeal to the organizations I have referred to, and I appeal further, to -those wielding abler pens than mine and to those possessing more influence than is mine 1d (again, on both sides) to help to bring shout, in Shanghai on Armistice Day inthe year 1921, a nationless, solemn tribute to the memory of all of our War dead.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.