A four-day gathering of rabbis and laymen for the purpose of drawing up basic peace principles will open here at the Hebrew Union College on December 21, it was announced today in an Armistice Day message issued by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
The message which calls upon the Jews of American to pledge themselves to work for the achievement of a “just and enduring peace” emphasizes that “in order to make future wars difficult, if not impossible,” the following seven principles must serve as basis for the forthcoming peace:
1.-The universal recognition of the sovereignty of God, the Father and Creator of all, and the duty of all men to obey His will.
2.-The application of the Bill of Rights of the American Constitution to all men, thus making democracy universal, ending all colonial empires, asserting the equality of all races and of all individuals, and abolishing all racial and class distinctions. These rights come from God and are, therefore, the inalienable possessions of every person, regardless of race, color, creed, or station.
3.-The creation of an international organization through which all nations would cooperate and to which they would yield some of their national sovereignty.
4.-Gradual universal disarmament, and the establishment of an international police force which, subject to international laws, could restrain outlaw nations.
5.-Placing at the disposal of all men the natural resources of the world, created by God, thus making possible the removal of economic injustices, the full utilization of technological inventions to create the abundant life, and the abolition of poverty, slums, and insecurity.
6.-The institution of a world court where nations, races, or individuals with grievances could plead their causes and receive justice.
7.-Universal, international, and unselfish cooperation in rebuilding the war-torn areas, and in the post-war adjustment of peoples in all lands.
“Victory for the Allied nations will not, by itself, achieve peace and justice. Victory on the battlefield must be supplemented with moral victory in every soul, expressing itself in the treaty that follows the war and in the subsequent years. To such a peace we dedicate ourselves now. We urge all of the family of Israel and all of the family of mankind to join us in the pledge to are ?a just and enduring peace,” the message concludes.
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