As World War I’s grueling progress killed, Another killer stalked its prey more silently, Infecting 500 million globally, its will Reaped the lives of 50 million, easily. It is now believed to have begun around The year 1915 in North America. Carried to Europe’s war fronts, it stunned The young! Media limited word of itsContinue reading “1914-1919 – World War I, #4”
Author Archives: June Edvenson
1914-1919 – World War I, #3
The Peace of Versailles was a mixed bag of terms, they said, The nations defeated could not un-do their dead, In particular, Germany was in chaos and thoroughly vanquished. The peace plan claimed not to exercise any vengeance, But compromises included, for many, too great a loss. Land losses were hard, but worse was theContinue reading “1914-1919 – World War I, #3”
1914-1919 – World War I, #2
Thus did the Serbs’ small seeds of unrest blossom Into a devastation at sea, a flotsam Of British cruisers sunk by German U-boats. Torpedoes – new and improved – were used to smote The ‘enemy,’ their neighbors. Mines, also known as The ‘cowardly weapon,’ were laid (breaking rules) in the North Sea, Bringing danger toContinue reading “1914-1919 – World War I, #2”
1914-1919 – World War I
In World War I, eight million were killed within The space of five years, and you ask how it began. With just one death; some say, it took just one To begin to undo the work that had been done For Peace. So let this story be instructive: A Serb killed the Austrian prince. ThatContinue reading “1914-1919 – World War I”
1913 – Henry La Fontaine
La Fontaine, in Brussels well-bred, embraced The peace movement early. Ridiculed for his taste, He persevered, dragging others and the broad law toward Policies of peace in education, women’s rights and forward – As a Socialist, believing that worldwide association In all areas held the key to eventual cooperation. To this end, he founded theContinue reading “1913 – Henry La Fontaine”
1912 – Elihu Root
Elihu Root, the U.S. Secretary of War, Did much for Peace in that capacity, And also as Secretary of State, by arbitrating for Peace. His position was that nations should treat Others with nobler intentions than ‘colonial powers’ Had been doing abroad from Europe for many years, While he faced critique that ‘having America asContinue reading “1912 – Elihu Root”
1911 – Alfred Hermann Fried
“1900, the social century, the century of Peace, Your pioneers salute you,” wrote Fried that Millennium Day. By his life’s end, World War I had recently ceased, And he was selling his letters in Vienna, for food – to pay. Fried, a Jew, was born in Vienna and moved to Germany Where he started aContinue reading “1911 – Alfred Hermann Fried”
1910 – The International Peace Bureau
This organization’s prize supported Peace – After ten years of nominations. This satisfied Many, who saw its congresses and meetings, As well as publications, as a proved and tried Method for securing real non-war progress – In dozens of conflicts, on themes of great stress. Its finances faltering, its membership thrived, But its earlier volunteerContinue reading “1910 – The International Peace Bureau”
1909 – Baron d’Estournelles
Paul Henri Benjamin Balluet grew up In a modest large family, fatherless but talented. He studied law and languages to be a diplomat In Tunisia,and the French Foreign Affairs, and led The French delegation to the Hague’s Peace Conference, Where he supported the idea that arbitration Was not just a choice, but a moral duty,Continue reading “1909 – Baron d’Estournelles”
1909 – August Marie Francois Beernaert
Beernaert, Belgium’s PM, captured the Prize For peace work with the Interparliamentary Union. Its leader made “the Nobel speech,” a wise Move since Beernaert’s own ‘record’ raised many an ‘eye:’ He worked for King Leopold, Congo’s clandestine tyrant, Famous for brutally enslaving its people ‘for trade,’ (Which was to be “free” but was not), andContinue reading “1909 – August Marie Francois Beernaert”
