Great Debate

Subject: Resolved that a nation has a right to preparedness, a duty to defend itself against attack.

Debaters: Affirmative: "The Father of Czechoslovakia," President Thomas Garrigue Masaryk, has just triumphantly celebrated his 80th birthday at Prague.

Negative: The late, great Count Leo Tolstoy, novelist and seer.

To a rapt audience of Czechoslovak Legionnaires last week, towering snowy-haired President Masaryk told the story of the great debate, used it to point the moral of Czechoslovak preparedness:

"Years ago I debated this problem with Count Tolstoy," he began. "I maintained to Tolstoy that one must be allowed to defend himself. He said: 'No. We should not resist evil, men. If another Genghis Khan should come along and we defend ourselves, we would only anger him and more of us would become his victims. If we did not resist, he would kill a few, but soon desist.' "

Such words puzzled the Legionnaires, turned them stone glum. But they broke into understanding grins as the President continued:

"I formulated the problem differently from Tolstoy, thus: If any aggressor falls upon me, a situation will occur in which one of us--according to Count Tolstoy-- will be killed. But if one of us is to be killed it should be the attacker. To defend one's self is morally permissible. A strong man does not threaten but is prepared.'

Proudly the stalwart old President concluded amid cheers: "Imagine my situation. Holding such views, I am, the head of the army and see there is no contradiction between theory and practice. I strive with all my strength that we should be prepared! To say to what degree we should be prepared would be a heavy task. We wish to have a strong army, and yet I am for peace. Why is this so?

"Consider this Europe. Everywhere Europe strives for peace, because we all need it. Nowhere is there money, and without money there can be no war. We are beginning to realize in Europe that we could get along without war. That does not mean that we must become weaklings. If I must defend myself, I shall defend myself with all my energy!"

Rushed through the Czechoslovak Parliament was a thumping 80th birthday gift, a present to the President of $600,000 cash.

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