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To Read Another Article on George Lansbury
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:
In the debate, Lansbury insisted that the British Government
He concluded his speech, saying:
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.
The copyright of the article A Crusade For Peace: George Lansbury's Worldwide Trip for Peace, 1936-37 in Modern British History is owned by . Permission to republish A Crusade For Peace: George Lansbury's Worldwide Trip for Peace, 1936-37 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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