The following transcript contains two versions of this address.
The National Committee on the Cause and Cure of War, composed of eleven women's national organizations, has been celebrating its tenth anniversary this week in Washington. The Committee's constituents number approximately six millions of women. These women are learning about war: what it means; what starts it; and what it costs.
The Committee has held ten annual conferences at which 270 addresses have been made by distinguished students of the war problem, followed by questions and discussions. Two hundred subjects have formed its programs, all dealing with some phase of the causes or the cures of war. Fifteen countries other than our own have been represented on our programs.
At the first conference in 1925, 257 causes of war were reported, each having been the officially authorized cause of an important war. Now we know well that the announced cause of a modern war may not be the motive at all, but a mere pretext or excuse designed to conceal the real cause.
When a man with a pistol in his pocket loses his temper, the pistol may furnish temptation to commit unpremeditated murder. So, when two nations competing in armament are prepared, trained, and waiting for war, with battleships, submarines, aeroplanes, cannon, machine guns, rifles, poison gas, et cetera in readiness - all obtained at great expense, and held in anticipation of trouble with her neighbor, then it happens that one of the competitors steps on the political toes of the other and the big war machines begin to move and the guns are set cracking at each other in short order. The cause may be announced much later. Whatever it is, it is far from the truth, for in the modern war the real cause is hate, distrust, greed, revenge, jealousy, or struggle for prestige and power.
These are not motives any nation would like to admit, but that does not disprove their truth. When the cause of the war is announced, both sides are certain to imply that they fight for defense and that the other side is the aggressor. This we find is the most stubborn difficulty in the attempt to understand why men fight - why nations in these supposed civilized times go to war.
One of the most enlightening discussions in this tenth anniversary of the Cause and Cure of War has been a series of addresses on the State Department. Most Americans know little of this Department. The Secretary of State is considered the highest and most distinguished appointment in the Cabinet.
It is the Department which deals with foreign relations. It has charge of all the Ambassadors, Ministers, and Consuls. Ambassadors and Ministers live and do their work in so-called embassies of which there are fifty-five in as many countries. This does not include Consul-Generals or Consuls. It has long been well known that few of these foreign representatives of the United States are able to live on the salary appropriated for the purpose. It is necessary to appoint rich men to the highest of these positions, for they alone can pay its cost. Owing to the fact that the dollar is deflated, even harder times than usual have been brought to these representatives of ours.
The State Department has been called "our first line of defense against war." As DeWitt Clinton Poole of Princeton University said last night - "The first step to peace is a peaceful atmosphere." Continuous and kindly handling of all international relations makes friends of our neighbors. This is especially important when controversial problems arise. What begins with a slight irritation may expand into a war. For these reasons the State Department should be the strongest in the Cabinet. It should have enough strong, highly trained, and kindly-disposed men at its command to deal with all situations arising. Alas! we are informed that the State Department is undermanned and underpaid. That may prove a fatal error.
War talk is in the air. Wars cost billions. To add more and better paid officials to the State Department in the higher posts, some of whom may prevent a war, will cost a few thousands only. By and by there may be money for this purpose, it is said. True, but that may be too late. Let all the air audience interested get lead pencils and paper at this point, for I shall relay to you some things that you will want to remember.
The war forces of our government - that is - the army, navy and air forces - are being strengthened. The peace forces - that is - the State Department - are being weakened. Seven hundred millions were appropriated for army and navy last year. Eight hundred millions are in the budget for this year, and nine hundred millions for next year; that is, in these hard times, we are planning to spend $2,400,000,000 in three years on our war forces.
What, meanwhile, do we pay for our peace department? Thirteen and one-half millions for last year. This year it is proposed to cut down the appropriation for the State Department one and a half millions, making it $12,000,000 for the entire year, and the same for next year. So we propose to pay thirty seven and one-half millions for the peace department for three years while paying twenty-four hundred millions - or sixty-four times as much - for our war department as for our peace department.
We shall pay out forty-eight millions more for the army this year than last. What we pay this year more than we paid last year is four times all that we pay for the peace department for one year. We shall pay out $134,000,000 more this year for the navy than last, so what is paid this year more than last is eleven times more than all we pay for the entire peace department. Yet it is proposed to pay out $1,500,000 less for the State or Peace Department than last year. If war comes to us it may be entirely due to this plan to inflate the war department and deflate the peace department.
We of the Conference on the Cause and Cure of War do not think this economy. We believe it is dangerous. We are protesting. The budget is still pending. If you are for peace instead of war, you may invest a little money in telegrams of protest. Direct them to House Appropriations Committee, adding Sub-committee on Appropriations for the State Department; also send them to the Appropriations Committee of the Senate in Washington; and do not forget to send them to the President!
As a matter of fact and decency, Congress should have advanced the appropriations for the State Department in at least the same proportions as those for army and navy. The budget for next year, if adopted, will give $12,000,000 to the State Department and sixty-four times as much to the departments of army and navy. The comparison does not sound good.
We say: Let us wait until the last war is paid for before getting into another.
Give us PEACE!
The National Committee on the Cause and Cure of War, composed of eleven women's national organizations has been celebrating its tenth anniversary this week in Washington. The Committee's constituents number approximately six millions of women. These women are learning about war; what it means; what starts it; and what it costs.
It has held ten annual conferences at which 270 addresses have been made by distinguished students of the war problem, followed by questions and discussions. Two hundreds subjects have formed its programs, all dealing with some phase of the Causes or the Cures of War. Fifteen countries, other than our own, have been represented on our programs.
At the first Conference in 1925 - 257 causes of war were reported, each having been the officially authorized cause of an important war. Now we know well that the announced cause of a modern war may not be the cause motive at all, but a mere pretext or excuse designed to conceal the real cause.
When a man with a pistol in his pocket loses his temper, the pistol may furnish temptation to commit unpremeditated murder. So when two nations competing in armament are prepared, trained, and waiting for war, with battleships, sub-marines, air planes, cannon, machine guns, rifles, poison gas, et cetera, in readiness all obtained at great expense, and held in anticipation of trouble with her neighbor, ready for war, as was said of the Germans, to the last buckle on the last strap, then it happens that one of the of the competitors steps on the political toes of the other and the big war machines begin to move and the guns are set cracking at each other in short order. The cause may be announced much later. Whatever it is, it is far from the truth, for in the modern war the real cause is hate, distrust, greed, revenge, jealousy, or struggle for prestige and power. These are not motives any nation would like to admit, but that does not disprove their truth. When the cause of the war is announced, both sides are certain to imply that they fight for defense, and that the other side is the aggressor. This we find is the stubborn important difficulty in the attempt to understand why men fight, why nations in these supposed civilized times go to war.
One of the most emlightening discussions in this tenth anniversary of the Cause and Cure of War has been a series of addresses on the State Department. Most Americans know little of this Department. The Secretary of State is considered the highest and most distinguished appointment in the Cabinet.
It is the Department which deals with foreign relations. It has charge of all the Ambassadors, Ministers, and Consuls. Ambassadors and Ministers live and do their work in so called Embassies of which there are 55 in as many countries. This does not include Consul Generals or Consuls. It has long been well known that few of these foreign representatives of the United States are able to live on the salary appropriated for the purpose. It is necessary to appoint rich men to the highest of these positions, for they alone can pay its cost. Recently the salaries and expense accounts of these diplomats have been cut, and when Owing to the fact is added the that the dollar is deflated of the dollar even harder times than usual have been brought to these representatives of ours.
The State Department has been called "Our first line of defense against war." As DeWitt Clinton Poole of Princeton University said last night, "The first step to peace is a peaceful atmosphere." Continuous and kindly handling of all international relations makes friends of our neighbors. This is especially important when controversial matters arise. What begins with a slight irritation may expand into a war. For these reasons the State Department should be the strongest in the Cabinet. It should have enough strong, highly trained, and kindly-disposed men at its command to deal with all situations arising. Alas! we are informed that the State Department is undermanned and underpaid. That may prove a fatal error.
War talk is in the air. Wars cost billions. To add more and better-paid officials to the State Department in the higher posts, some of who may [present a war?], will cost a few thousands only. By and bye there may be money for this purpose, it is said. True but that may be too late. Let all the air audience interested get their lead pencils and paper at this point, for I shall relay to you some things that you will want to remember.
The war forces of our government - that is, the Army, Navy and Air Forces - are being strengthened. The peace forces - that is, the State Department - are being weakened. Seven hundred millions were appropriated for Army and Navy last year. Eight hundred millions are in the budget for this year, and nine hundred millions for next year; - that is, in these hard times we are planning to spend 2400 millions in three years on our war forces.
What, meanwhile, do we pay for our peace department? Thirteen and one half millions last year. This year it is proposed to cut down the appropriation for the State Department 1-1/2 millions, or to making it 12 millions for the entire year, and the same for next year. So we propose to pay 37 1/2 millions for the peace department for three years while paying 2400 millions - or 64 times as much – for our war department as for our peace department.
We shall pay out 48 millions more for the army this year than last. What we pay this year more than we paid last year is four times all that we pay for the peace department for one year. We shall pay out 134 millions more this year for the Navy than last, so what is paid this year more than last is eleven times more than all we pay for the entire peace department. Yet it is proposed to pay out 1 1/2 millions less for the State of Peace Department than last year.
If war comes to us it may be entirely due to this plan to inflate the war departments and deflate the peace department.
We of the Conference on the Cause and Cure of War do not think this economy. Instead it is dangerous. We are protesting. The budget is still pending. If you are for peace instead of war you may invest a little money in telegrams of protest. to the Direct them to House Appropriations Committee, adding Sub-committee on Appropriations of for the State Department; and also send them to the Appropriations Committee of the Senate in Washington; - and do not forget to send them to the President.
As a matter of fact and decency, Congress should have advanced the appropriations for the State Department in at least the same proportions as those for army and navy. The budget for next year, if adopted, will give $12,000,000 to the State Department and sixty-four times as much to the Departments of Army and Navy. The comparison does not sound good.
We say: Let us wait until the last war is paid for before getting into another. Give us peace!
Catt, C. C. (1935). Carrie Chapman Catt Papers: Speech and Article File, 1892-1946; Speeches; Untitled; 1928 to 1944. [Manuscript/Mixed Material] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mss154040425.
Neither the Catt Center nor Iowa State University is affiliated with any individual in the Archives or any political party. Inclusion in the Archives is not an endorsement by the center or the university.