Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

Peace in a Changing World World Situation Represents New Era and Nen Challenge to American Thought and to the Americati People, RCA Head Declares in Address Before Phi Beta Kappa Alumni. EXPRESSING the belief that it is much easier to observe the changes going on in the world than it is to make peace. Brig. General David Sarnoff. Chairman of the Board of the Kaiiio Corporation of America, declared on December 15 in an address before the Phi Beta Kappa Alumni in New York that the present situation — of neither peace nor war — represents a new era. a new challenge to American thought and to the American people. "For, as a people," he continued, "we are not accustomed to living in a state of doubt. The temiierament of the American people is such that we seek decision and demand con- clusion. If the action we have to take is serious, we usually sa.v, let us do it and get it over with. We don't like to live with uncertainty. Yet that is our lot today. And I fear it will continue to be our lot for years to come." Speaking on the subject "Peace in a Changing World," General SarnofT said that this uncertainty makes it necessary to reorient our- selves to this new situation, and added: "Indeed, it calls for a psycholog- ical and mental reorientation which will free us from the daily irrita- tions and the daily demands to do something about it. because there isn't anything conclusive we can do about it from dav tr) dav. "The situation before us calls for patience, for restraint, and for wis- dom. Above all, if 'action' is to be taken, it calls for "timing' — a most important matter. The right act at the wrong time may cause defeat, whereas, the same act at the right time may bring victory. "Therefore, my first answer to those who ask why wait, why not do something about it. is that it is better to wait, because in that way there may be an opportunity to achieve peace—and if that should prove impossible, to achieve victory by the use of force, when that final- ly proves to be unavoidable." General Sarnoff stated further that it did not seem to him that the two major conflicting ideologies that are now in motion in the world can be reconciled by negotiation, or settled by force, in the immediate future. He said there were "certain forces" now abroad in the world that are "far more powerful than the minds of men." He asserted that these forces, in one form or another, must have op- portunity for further expression; that they must reach a point of definition and clarity where their Iiositive and negative attributes be- come visible and can be understood by the masses of the people. Conflict is Betuceii Leaders "After all." he declared, "the con- flict which is now going on — this "WITH I MANUl.NT, roNDITniNS I.V A CHANCINf; WliRI.D. WK SHOl'LD BK WILLINC TO CARRY ON DISCUSSIONS ANP NKCoTI ATIONS. HOWEVER FRflTI-KSS liR KRISTKATINC TMKV MA^ AI'I'KAIi AT TIIK TIMK" cold war — is not between tli' peoples of the world. It is betwei i the leaders of certain countries !■: the world. In many countries, tin [leople are wholly uninformed about the nature of the conflict or its cause, or its results, or the possible manner of its composition. "However much we may dislike it, it ajipears to me that we are destined, for some time to come, at least, to live in a dangerous world, and we shall have to learn how to live dangerously." Despite this state of affairs. Gen- eral Sarnoff said, these very ten- sions, these very difficulties and problems, furnish us an opportunity for clear thinking and courageous action. The (luestiiin is i)i>sed for us more specifically from time to time, he added, by those who ask. "Why wait if you think that war ultimately may be inevitable? Why wait until the enemy acquires the same modern weapons that we now have — the atom bomb, guided missiles, and the like? Why wait until they get them? We have them now. and they presumal)ly have not. Why not go ahead and finish the job now?" Speaking for himself, and not in any sense claiming to be an author- ity on the subject, he said that he did not believe that war ultimately is inevitable. War may come, but no one can speak with certainty ;il)out its inevitability, he asserted. "The reason it would not be wise. it seems to me. to go to war now is because waging a modern war isn't such a simple pri>t)lem." Gen- eral Sarnoflf said. "Kven if we were only to undertake what is sometimes c.'dled a defensive war. a real chance for victory would require the use of every modern weapon that we have or know about, including the atom bom I). ".Aside fnim our reluctance as civilized people to throw atom bombs on thickly populated cities, aside from all the humanitarian aspects of that question, the destruction of ,14 RADIO AGE]