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hevessary t0 Inaintain peace und security after the war, and that until the post-war international situa- tion Js clarified. chis country should not depart from its tradition which has always opposed conscription of youth in times of peace. It therefure opposes action by Congress at the present time on bills providing for post-war com- pulsory military training. The National Child Labor Committee also be- lieves that, before action is taken by Congress on this issue which will affect every American home, there should be an opportunity for citizen groups throughout the country, including men now in mil itary service, to debate the question. It urges that the public schools be used as meeting places where y oeople and adults may discuss this matter, fr. all angles, formulate their opinions, and ex- press them to their elected representatives. {May, 1941). The Post-War World Council: The Post-War World Council records its opposi- tion to pending legislation providing for compul- sory, peacetime, military training and service on the following grounds: (1) Post-war conseription will make war econ- omy a permanency. Tt is one way of evading the responsibility of this country’s taking the neccessary lone-term and constructive measures to harness our productive capacity for the destruction of poverty. Its acceptance means the substitution of a military and armament economy for one that is democrat- ically controlled. Tts maintenance means production ef gang, tanks, military clothes, and equipment intteet ot honses, schools, hospitals, and food. e d-feat for an expanding economy of abundance. ‘ (2) Enactment of post-war conscription means we are admitting now, while we still fight, thal we have faikat te keen cur promise of a brave new work], We serve notice on the world that our faith pin the postwar period rests, not on international collaboration, but on our own military might Jt ‘ means that we are preparing the blueprint for im- perialist adventure and for the next war to protect ' that imperialism. (3) Acceptance of post-war conscription means cetrecresaion, of educational freedom. Our schools wud colleges will have to he geared to creating an adaptability ta blind obedience and rigid discipline rather than education for democracy. (4) Post-war conscription means the forging of a pe werll ul weapon against free labor, “History “has . other countries to break strines by walling ifn... to arms. There are powerful and articulate groups in the United States thet would welcome so von- venient a method of throttling trade union activity. (5) Compulsory military training and service would more deeply imbed into the pattern of our society the racial diseriminalinn so characteristic of the military caste system. The well-known Jim Crow pattern of the armed forces will influence every boy who lives under its conditions for a period during his formative years immediately after high school. {6} This country’s adoption of peacetime mil- itary conscription for the third time in its history will mean our falling back into the vices of the European military psychology which we have al- ways deprecaicd and looked down upon. The United States has long prided itself upon the fact that we offered a refuge to those who fled the obligation of military conscript service in the benighted countries of Europe which labored under “this “handicap. (July 14, 1914) The Fellowship of Reconcilialion: enables mere 1 : the none We are unalterably opposed io ‘aving tne ques: tion of permanent conscription seitled in war time. The proposal to effect such a revolutionary change in cur American way of life, und to take so drastic a step toward total regimentation, should be passed upon only after the most careful democratic discussion, which is impossible in war time. We must therefore decline to participate in any dis- cussion with Government oftelals as to provisions for CO's in any contemplated permanent conscrip- tion set-up, since this would in a measure encourage the idea that we were willing to contemplate and acquiesce in such measures. We most earnestly hope and pray that all pacifists and reticious agencies will take the same position. (March 26, 1943) Additional canies atl this lead! sity be cecnrad irae: Additional copies OF US eeaper may OF $eCuTER PPQq, AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMPAITTEE 20S. 12th St., Pniladeiphic 7, Pa. FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION 292? Broadway, Mew York 25, N.Y. METHOOIST COMMISSION FOR WORLD FEACE 740 Rush St, Chveago 22, Ul NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR PREVENTION OF WAR 1013 Eighteenth St, N.W., Washington 4, B, C, POST-WAR WORLD COUNCIL 112 €. 19th St, New York 3, N.Y. WAR RESISTERS LEAGUE 5 Beekman St, Naw Yor 5. N.Y. \.Should the United States Adopt Permanent Military e AE OFFICIAL STATEME {TS of twelve importa : religious, education ||, and civic bodies