New Delhi, India, Dec. 26, 1950 (AP)—Prime Minister Nehru said today the struggle between communism and democracy will be decided, not on the field of battle. Nehru declared that in the final analysis the people might discard both communism and democracy for some "intermediary or other methods."He added that the ultimate test lies, not in accumulation of a private fortune, but in raising the standards of the people.[45]
New Delhi, India, Dec. 26, 1950 (AP)—Prime Minister Nehru said today the struggle between communism and democracy will be decided, not on the field of battle. Nehru declared that in the final analysis the people might discard both communism and democracy for some "intermediary or other methods."
He added that the ultimate test lies, not in accumulation of a private fortune, but in raising the standards of the people.[45]
"I leave it to your own good judgment to contrast our happy existence with yours, where your moneyism causes and creates violent emotions and convulsions in your political, social, economic, and religious life.
"It has impregnated in you an animal desire for selfish ownership, greed and power, bringing on mass destruction and killingbetween you. Since time immemorial you have without restraint constantly intensified, and developed them."
"You are infiltrated and surrounded by fanatic enemy zealots. When some of your own government officials traitorously betray your top secrets to enemy nations."
"You are now in a critical period. Constant fear and apprehension are beclouding all of you on your earth and at great speed and violence you propel yourself to extinction. You are all sitting on an inferno. Can't you read the handwriting on the wall?"
"You hide your head in the sand, like an ostrich, and refuse to face the facts. But your situation is serious enough that you should by all means be aware of the disaster that may overtake you.
"You are now in an Asiatic hot war, it may soon develop into a sizzling one. Before the holocaust breaks loose, you can still save the world by proving to suffering humanity that you are starting a new social-economic movement experiment, for it's benefit.
"A change on your earth to our way, is about due, must it come through bloodshed?
"Different forms of governments, ideologies, and systems of life are spreading like wildfire over your continents of Europe and Asia: starting in it's wake your world's aggressions, and a terrific race for all kinds of human destructive armaments.
"Inimical armies are facing each other, in close physical proximity; don't you realize that at sometime a commander in his cups, may strike a spark that will engulf your whole world in a conflagration? Must you have a social upheaval and a human exterminating war before you realize what's good for you?
"You have no other alternative, you must as soon as possible root out and outlaw your money systems, or face continual ferocious armed conflicts, and your eventual inevitable doom."
"In the event of another war, win or lose, you are bound to lose, if your nation wins it will have a tremendous additional war cost burden; if it loses, those left of you will be burdened with an oppressive police regime with its consequent tortured confessions, purges, slavery and fear.
"In spite of your apathy and blind pertinacious reluctance tohearken to logical counsel, evolution will ultimately save you. Inexorable nature has a way of its own; as the fishes of your waters fight against all strong currents and tides to reach their spawning grounds, and the birds of your sky fight against storms and winds to reach their nesting grounds, so will your humanity infallibly follow its natural dictates and instincts to drive and overcome your false civilizations and all your man-made seemingly invincible obstacles."
When Sun-Rank Banard concluded his lecture, it left all of us facing a gloomy aspect, we were thoughtful for a few minutes. It took time for his remarks to penetrate. One doesn't change one's ideas, learned since childhood, in a few moments. But most of us realized the truth of his remarks, and on the way out, our conversations with each other proved that he had presented his points fairly convincingly and very logically.
We quickly made our farewells and prepared to depart. I shall long remember my Martian friends, their sincere hospitality, and the delight they took in offering their best to us. I hated to leave Lieutenant Balmore. We had come a long way together since that chance meeting on the park bench. I realized I might never see him again since it was his and his crew's intentions to remain permanently on Mars.
FOOTNOTES:[42]World Almanac, 1949, p. 268.[43]Editorial,Reno Evening Gazette, Feb. 16, 1949.[44]Nevada State Journal, Nov. 23, 1946, Merry-Go-Round, by Drew Pearson.[45]Reno Evening Gazette, Dec. 26, 1950.
[42]World Almanac, 1949, p. 268.
[42]World Almanac, 1949, p. 268.
[43]Editorial,Reno Evening Gazette, Feb. 16, 1949.
[43]Editorial,Reno Evening Gazette, Feb. 16, 1949.
[44]Nevada State Journal, Nov. 23, 1946, Merry-Go-Round, by Drew Pearson.
[44]Nevada State Journal, Nov. 23, 1946, Merry-Go-Round, by Drew Pearson.
[45]Reno Evening Gazette, Dec. 26, 1950.
[45]Reno Evening Gazette, Dec. 26, 1950.