III

The primary question to be resolved is how the present world, with its

entrenched pattern of conflict, can change to a world in which harmony and

co-operation will prevail.

World order can be founded only on an unshakeable consciousness of the

oneness of mankind, a spiritual truth which all the human sciences

confirm. Anthropology, physiology, psychology, recognize only one human

species, albeit infinitely varied in the secondary aspects of life.

Recognition of this truth requires abandonment of prejudice--prejudice of

every kind--race, class, colour, creed, nation, sex, degree of material

civilization, everything which enables people to consider themselves

superior to others.

Acceptance of the oneness of mankind is the first fundamental prerequisite

for reorganization and administration of the world as one country, the

home of humankind. Universal acceptance of this spiritual principle is

essential to any successful attempt to establish world peace. It should

therefore be universally proclaimed, taught in schools, and constantly

asserted in every nation as preparation for the organic change in the

structure of society which it implies.

In the Baha'i view, recognition of the oneness of mankind "calls for no

less than the reconstruction and the demilitarization of the whole

civilized world--a world organically unified in all the essential aspects

of its life, its political machinery, its spiritual aspiration, its trade

and finance, its script and language, and yet infinite in the diversity of

the national characteristics of its federated units."

Elaborating the implications of this pivotal principle, Shoghi Effendi,

the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, commented in 1931 that: "Far from aiming

at the subversion of the existing foundations of society, it seeks to

broaden its basis, to remold its institutions in a manner consonant with

the needs of an ever-changing world. It can conflict with no legitimate

allegiances, nor can it undermine essential loyalties. Its purpose is

neither to stifle the flame of a sane and intelligent patriotism in men's

hearts, nor to abolish the system of national autonomy so essential if the

evils of excessive centralization are to be avoided. It does not ignore,

nor does it attempt to suppress, the diversity of ethnical origins, of

climate, of history, of language and tradition, of thought and habit, that

differentiate the peoples and nations of the world. It calls for a wider

loyalty, for a larger aspiration than any that has animated the human

race. It insists upon the subordination of national impulses and interests

to the imperative claims of a unified world. It repudiates excessive

centralization on one hand, and disclaims all attempts at uniformity on

the other. Its watchword is unity in diversity".

The achievement of such ends requires several stages in the adjustment of

national political attitudes, which now verge on anarchy in the absence of

clearly defined laws or universally accepted and enforceable principles

regulating the relationships between nations. The League of Nations, the

United Nations, and the many organizations and agreements produced by them

have unquestionably been helpful in attenuating some of the negative

effects of international conflicts, but they have shown themselves

incapable of preventing war. Indeed, there have been scores of wars since

the end of the Second World War; many are yet raging.

The predominant aspects of this problem had already emerged in the

nineteenth century when Baha'u'llah first advanced his proposals for the

establishment of world peace. The principle of collective security was

propounded by him in statements addressed to the rulers of the world.

Shoghi Effendi commented on his meaning: "What else could these weighty

words signify," he wrote, "if they did not point to the inevitable

curtailment of unfettered national sovereignty as an indispensable

preliminary to the formation of the future Commonwealth of all the nations

of the world? Some form of a world super-state must needs be evolved, in

whose favour all the nations of the world will have willingly ceded every

claim to make war, certain rights to impose taxation and all rights to

maintain armaments, except for purposes of maintaining internal order

within their respective dominions. Such a state will have to include

within its orbit an International Executive adequate to enforce supreme

and unchallengeable authority on every recalcitrant member of the

commonwealth; a World Parliament whose members shall be elected by the

people in their respective countries and whose election shall be confirmed

by their respective governments; and a Supreme Tribunal whose judgement

will have a binding effect even in such cases where the parties concerned

did not voluntarily agree to submit their case to its consideration.

"A world community in which all economic barriers will have been

permanently demolished and the interdependence of capital and labour

definitely recognized; in which the clamour of religious fanaticism and

strife will have been forever stilled; in which the flame of racial

animosity will have been finally extinguished; in which a single code of

international law--the product of the considered judgement of the world's

federated representatives--shall have as its sanction the instant and

coercive intervention of the combined forces of the federated units; and

finally a world community in which the fury of a capricious and militant

nationalism will have been transmuted into an abiding consciousness of

world citizenship--such indeed, appears, in its broadest outline, the Order

anticipated by Baha'u'llah, an Order that shall come to be regarded as the

fairest fruit of a slowly maturing age."

The implementation of these far-reaching measures was indicated by

Baha'u'llah: "The time must come when the imperative necessity for the

holding of a vast, an all-embracing assemblage of men will be universally

realized. The rulers and kings of the earth must needs attend it, and,

participating in its deliberations, must consider such ways and means as

will lay the foundations of the world's Great Peace amongst men."

The courage, the resolution, the pure motive, the selfless love of one

people for another--all the spiritual and moral qualities required for

effecting this momentous step towards peace are focused on the will to

act. And it is towards arousing the necessary volition that earnest

consideration must be given to the reality of man, namely, his thought. To

understand the relevance of this potent reality is also to appreciate the

social necessity of actualizing its unique value through candid,

dispassionate and cordial consultation, and of acting upon the results of

this process. Baha'u'llah insistently drew attention to the virtues and

indispensability of consultation for ordering human affairs. He said:

"Consultation bestows greater awareness and transmutes conjecture into

certitude. It is a shining light which, in a dark world, leads the way and

guides. For everything there is and will continue to be a station of

perfection and maturity. The maturity of the gift of understanding is made

manifest through consultation." The very attempt to achieve peace through

the consultative action he proposed can release such a salutary spirit

among the peoples of the earth that no power could resist the final,

triumphal outcome.

Concerning the proceedings for this world gathering, 'Abdu'l-Baha, the son

of Baha'u'llah and authorized interpreter of his teachings, offered these

insights: "They must make the Cause of Peace the object of general

consultation, and seek by every means in their power to establish a Union

of the nations of the world. They must conclude a binding treaty and

establish a covenant, the provisions of which shall be sound, inviolable

and definite. They must proclaim it to all the world and obtain for it the

sanction of all the human race. This supreme and noble undertaking--the

real source of the peace and well-being of all the world--should be

regarded as sacred by all that dwell on earth. All the forces of humanity

must be mobilized to ensure the stability and permanence of this Most

Great Covenant. In this all-embracing Pact the limits and frontiers of

each and every nation should be clearly fixed, the principles underlying

the relations of governments towards one another definitely laid down, and

all international agreements and obligations ascertained. In like manner,

the size of the armaments of every government should be strictly limited,

for if the preparations for war and the military forces of any nation

should be allowed to increase, they will arouse the suspicion of others.

The fundamental principle underlying this solemn Pact should be so fixed

that if any government later violate any one of its provisions, all the

governments on earth should arise to reduce it to utter submission, nay

the human race as a whole should resolve, with every power at its

disposal, to destroy that government. Should this greatest of all remedies

be applied to the sick body of the world, it will assuredly recover from

its ills and will remain eternally safe and secure."

The holding of this mighty convocation is long overdue.

With all the ardour of our hearts, we appeal to the leaders of all nations

to seize this opportune moment and take irreversible steps to convoke this

world meeting. All the forces of history impel the human race towards this

act which will mark for all time the dawn of its long-awaited maturity.

Will not the United Nations, with the full support of its membership, rise

to the high purposes of such a crowning event?

Let men and women, youth and children everywhere recognize the eternal

merit of this imperative action for all peoples and lift up their voices

in willing assent. Indeed, let it be this generation that inaugurates this

glorious stage in the evolution of social life on the planet.