George Lansbury was perhaps the greatest idealist of his generation. He was an absolute pacifist who believed sincerely that war was the greatest evil ever to fall on mankind. During the 1930s, as fascism reared its ugly head and began to threaten peace, Lansbury clung even further to his pacifist beliefs. In 1936 and 1937, he engaged in an extra-party crusade for peace and disarmament, nonplused by the darkening world situation. Despite being an old man (77 years old), he made several worldwide trips pursuing peace, meeting presidents as well as dictators, in a frantic, last-ditch effort for peace.
On February 5, 1936, he moved a motion in Parliament [1] that declared:
That this House reaffirms its profound belief in the futility of war, views with grave concern the world-wide preparations for war, and is of opinion that, through the League of Nations, His Majesty's Government should make an immediate effort for the summoning of a new international conference to... establish the peace of the world on a sure foundation.
[2]
In the debate, Lansbury insisted that the British Government
- The greatest imperialist Power in the world, should go to Geneva [the League of Nations] and say: "Let us give up all this tomfoolery about guns and poison gas; let us get rid of all questions about armaments and get down to the bedrock of why we want to arm and why the nations want to pile up arms in the way they are doing. [3]
He concluded his speech, saying:
Finally, I would say this. War is futile. War is hopeless and inefficient in settling anything, because it is an action against the law of morals, of religion, and of God. It does not matter how we twist it round and talk of wars of defence and wars of offence....
[4]
In the debate that followed, Lansbury's position was attacked by Mr. Barnays, a Conservative MP, who asked him:
Mr. Lansbury: I do not want you to admire it. Mr. Barnays: I think it is true that there is nothing for which the right hon. Gentleman would fight. Mr. Lansbury: I have made it clear that there is nothing for which I would take the life of another human being. There are other methods of fighting (other) than killing somebody, and I would not in any circumstances do it. Is there anything for which the right hon. Gentleman [Lansbury] would put up a show of resistance? There appears to be nothing. I am not sneering at the right hon. Gentleman; I admire enormously his sincerity and courage -
[5]
