International Peace: Selections from “All Men are Brothers” by Mahatma Gandhi Ji (vegetarian), Part 2 of 2

“We want freedom for our country, but not at the expense or exploitation of others, not so as to degrade other countries. I do not want the freedom of India if it means the extinction of England or the disappearance of Englishmen. I want the freedom of my country so that other countries may learn something from my free country, so that the resources of my country might be utilized for the benefit of [humankind]. There is no room for race-hatred there. Let that be our nationalism. There is no limit to extending our services to our neighbors across State-made frontiers. God never made those frontiers. My goal is friendship with the whole world and I can combine the greatest love with the greatest opposition to wrong.”

“Not to believe in the possibility of permanent peace is to disbelieve in the godliness of human nature. Methods hitherto adopted have failed because rock-bottom sincerity on the part of those who have striven has been lacking. Not that they have realized this lack. Peace is unattained by part performance of conditions, even as a chemical combination is impossible without complete fulfillment of the conditions of attainment thereof.”

“I do suggest that the doctrine [of non-violence] holds good also as between States and States. I know that I am treading on delicate ground if I refer to the late war. But I fear I must in order to make the position clear. It was a war of aggrandizement, as I have understood, on either part. It was a war for dividing the spoils of the exploitation of weaker races ― otherwise euphemistically called the world commerce....”

“One thing is certain. If the mad race for armaments continues, it is bound to result in a slaughter such as has never occurred in history. If there is a victor left, the very victory will be a living death for the nation that emerges victorious. There is no escape from the impending doom save through a bold and unconditional acceptance of the non-violent method with all its glorious implications. If there were no greed, there would be no occasion for armaments. The principle of non-violence necessitates complete abstention from exploitation in any form. Immediately the spirit of exploitation is gone, armaments will be felt as an unbearable burden. Real disarmament cannot come unless the nations of the world cease to exploit one another. I would not like to live in this world if it is not to be ONE WORLD.”