"Conchies"

Last week the British Christian News Letter informed its readers what His Majesty's Government are doing about Britain's conscientious objectors. Out of 300,000 young men of conscription age, 4,338 "conchies" had registered. Once registered, each objector had to appear before a local tribunal. In many cases the "conchies" were coached in advance by pacifist bodies--the Peace Pledge Union, the Fellowship of Reconciliation--whose representatives sat in the courtrooms. Fifteen per cent were given unconditional exemption from military service; 45% were allowed to undertake civil work or training; 23% were put down for noncombatant military service; 17% were rejected.

England's treatment of her "conchies" is in strong contrast with France's. Many a French pacifist is now in jail, including Henri Roser, secretary of the French Fellowship of Reconciliation. Lecturing on peace in the U. S. last week, Muriel Lester, dynamic British pacifist, friend of Mahatma Gandhi, declared: "One can be proud of Britain's civil liberty." Example: the Government recently permitted Canon Charles Earle Raven to broadcast on absolute Christian pacifism.

Recent cracks by and to "conchies":

> A Glasgow applicant: "The Bible and Tolstoy led me to the conclusion that war is sinful and futile."

Chairman: "Are you a Scot?" Applicant: "Yes." Chairman: "Have you ever read John Knox's Book of Discipline?" Applicant: "No, sir."

Chairman: "Then why must you go stravaiging among foreign writers and never give a thought to our own great writers?"

> Opening of an 800-word statement to the tribunal by a London "conchie": "I hope the tribunal is composed of intelligent men and not retired army officers from India, as I can't stand the sight of whiskey purple and bulging veins, especially in the morning." Verdict: condi tional exemption.

> Scottish Chauffeur R. MacBurnie: "If you cannot grant me my liberty, by which I mean my freedom of conscience, then I ask you to sentence me to death so that I may die with a clear conscience. If you are not going to sentence me to death, I should like to catch the 5:20 train." Verdict: unconditional exemption.

> Welsh Tractor Driver John Sims, quoting James Russell Lowell:

Es fur war, I call it murder,

There you hev it plain an' flat;

I don't want to go no furder

Than my Testyment fer that.

Ef you take a sword an' dror it,

An' go stick a feller thru,

Guv'ment ain't to answer for it,

God'll send the bill to you.

Verdict: conditional exemption.

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