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opinion and Government will cease to wish to persecute them. I got theimpression that Ll. George expects the war to go on for a long time yet; alsothat he thinks the whole situation very black. He seemed quite heartless.Afterwards I saw Anderson [a Labour ??] at the House: he is an oily humbug.It is quite private about L. G. I suppose.The ?rst thing that wants doing is to overhaul the whole of the decisions ofthe Tribunals and have all conscience cases re-heard. No doubt a good manythe autobiography of bertrand russell 272are cowards: people are unspeakably cruel about cowardice – some havegone mad, some have committed suicide, and people merely shrug theirshoulders and remark that they had no pluck. Nine-tenths of the human raceare incredibly hateful.From Bernard Shaw 10 Adelphi Terrace. W.C.18th April 1916Dear Bertrand RussellYeats wrote to me about Chappelow, enclosing a letter from a lady, acousin of his. But I really don’t see what is to be done. The Act has beenpassed; and he must either serve or go through with his martyrdom. Thereis no ground on which exemption can be demanded for him: he seems tohave just let things slide, like a child unable to conceive that the law hadanything to do with him personally, instead of appealing or taking advice. Ihave no private in?uence; and ex?uence, which I probably have, would nothelp him.His letter is not that of a man made of martyr-stu?. He seems to be, likemany literary people, helpless in practical a?airs and the army is in someways the very place for him; for he will be trained to face the inevitable, andyet have no responsibilities. He will be fed and clothed and exercised and toldwhat to do; and he will have unlimited opportunities for thinking aboutother things. He will not be asked to kill anybody for a year to come; and if he?nds his conscience insuperably averse, he can throw down his arms and takehis two years hard labour then if he must, and be in much better conditionfor it. But by that time he will either have been discharged as un?t for serviceor else have realised that a man living in society must act according to thecollective conscience under whatever protest his individual conscience mayimpel him to make. I think that is what we are bound to tell all the paci?cyoung men who apply to us. Martyrdom is a matter for the individual soul:you can’t advise a man to undertake it.I do not blame any intelligent man for trying to dodge the atrociousboredom of soldiering if it can be dodged; but Chappelow seems to havebeen too helpless to make any attempt to dodge it: he simply stood gaping inthe path of the steamroller. I am sorry for him; but I can only advise him toserve. Can you suggest anything better?Yours everG. Bernard ShawPostscriptIt would hardly help him to say ‘I don’t mind being bound by the con-science of England, or by my own conscience; but I don’t feel at homewith the conscience of Lord Northcli?e, Sir Edward Carson, and GeneralRobertson, who naturally thinks there is nothing like leather’.the first war 273P. P. S .In?uence can work only in the direction of letting the prisoner out after heis sentenced on some pretext or other.The following is the lea?et for which I, in common with those who distributed it, was prosecuted:??? ?????’ ???? ?????? ??????????? ?? ??????? ??????????? ?? ??????????.This was the sentence passed on Ernest F. Everett, of 222, Denton’s GreenLane, St Helens, by a Court Martial held on April 10th [1916].Everett was a teacher at St Helens, and had been opposed to all war sincethe age of 16. He appealed as a Conscientious Objector before the Local andAppeal Tribunals, both of which treated him very unfairly, going out of theirway to recommend his dismissal from school. They recognised his conscien-tious claim only so far as to award him noncombatant service. But as thepurpose of such service is to further the prosecution of the war, and to releaseothers for the trenches, it was impossible for him to accept the decision of theTribunals.On March 31st he was arrested as an absentee, brought before the magis-trates, ?ned ￡2, and handed over to the Military Authorities. By them he wastaken under escort to Warrington Barracks, where he was compelled to puton uniform. On April 1st he was taken to Abergele, where he was placed inthe Non-Combatant Corps, which is part of the Army.He adopted consistently a policy of passive resistance to all military orders.The ?rst morning, April 2, when the men were ordered to fall in for fatigueduty, he refused, saying: ‘I refuse to obey any order given by any militaryauthority.’ According to the Corporal, who gave the order, Everett ‘said it inquite a nice way’.The Corporal informed the Lieutenant, who repeated the order, andwarned Everett of the seriousness of his conduct. Everett still answeredpolitely, but explained why he could not obey. The Lieutenant ordered theConscientious Objector to the guard-room, where he remained all night.The Captain visited the prisoner, who stated that ‘he was not going to takeorders’. The Captain ordered him to be brought before the CommandingO?cer on a charge of disobedience.Everett was next brought before the Colonel, who read aloud to himSection 9 of the Army Act, and explained the serious consequences of dis-obedience. But Everett remained ?rm, saying ‘He could not and would notobey any military order’.The result was that he was tried by Court Martial on April 10th. Hethe autobiography of bertrand russell 274stated in evidence in his own defence: ‘I am prepared to do work ofnational importance which does not include military service, so long as I donot thereby release some other man to do what I am not prepared to do myself.’The sentence was two years’ hard labour. Everett is now su?ering thissavage punishment solely for refusal to go against his conscience. He is ?ght-ing the old ?ght for liberty and against religious persecution in the samespirit in which martyrs su?ered in the past. Will you join the persecutors? Orwill you stand for those who are defending conscience at the cost of obloquyand pain of mind and body?Forty other men are su?ering persecution for conscience sake in the sameway as Mr Everett. Can you remain silent whilst this goes on?Issued by the No-Conscription Fellowship, 8, Merton House, Salisbury Court,Fleet Street, London, E.C.From The Times of May 17th, 1916????? ??? ????.25To the editor of The TimesSir, A lea?et was lately issued by the No-Conscription Fellowship dealing withthe case of Mr Everett, a conscientious objector, who was sentenced to twoyears’ hard labour by Court-martial for disobedience to the military author-ities. Six men have been condemned to varying terms of imprisonment withhard labour for distributing this lea?et. I wish to make it known that I am theauthor of this lea?et, and that if anyone is to be prosecuted I am the personprimarily responsible.Yours faithfullyBertrand RussellFrom A. N. Whitehead June 4th [1916]Dearest BertieGood luck to you in every way. Let me know if and how I can help or shewany o?ce of friendship. You know well enough that the mere fact that I thinkyour views of state policy and of private duty in relation to it to be mistaken,do not diminish a?ection.Yours a?ectionatelyA. N. WhiteheadI am just going to commence my address for Section A at Newcastle inSeptember – I will shew it you in ms.the first war 275From Cecil Spring Rice British Embassy[British Ambassador in Washington] Washington8 June 1916My dear Mr President26I am sorry to say that Russell has been convicted under ‘defence of therealm act’ for writing an undesirable pamphlet. Under these circumstances itwould be impossible to issue a passport to him to leave the country.I am sorry, and Sir Edward Grey is sorry, that it is impossible to meetyour wishes but I trust that you will understand the necessity in which mygovernment is placed.Oddly enough I was at the Berlin Embassy when we got into trouble owingto Russell’s attitude when on a visit to Berlin as the German governmentstrongly objected to his language.27Yours sincerelyCecil Spring RiceTo Professor James H. Woods,of the Harvard Department ofPhilosophy 34 Russell Chambers30 July 1916Dear Professor WoodsYour letter and the Ambassador’s were not wholly a surprise to me. Icabled to you on receiving them, but I doubt if the cable ever reachedyou. Your letter was most kind. The allusion to my doings in Berlin wasmisleading. I was there in 1895 for the purpose of writing a book on GermanSocialism; this led me to associate with Socialists, and therefore to beexcluded from the Embassy. I did nothing publicly all the time I was there.The Kaiser was having Socialists imprisoned in large numbers for their opin-ions, which gave me a hatred for him that I retain to this day. But unless inquite private conversations I never expressed my feelings all the time I wasthere. I have never been in Berlin since 1895.I should be glad to know whether you have seen or received the verbatimreport of my trial. It has been sent you, but may have been stopped by theCensor, who is anxious that America should not know the nature of mycrime. You will have heard that I have been turned out of Trinity for the sameo?ence. The sum-total of my crime was that I said two years’ hard labour inprison was an excessive punishment for the o?ence of having a conscientiousobjection to participation in war. Since then, the same o?ence has beenpunished by the death-sentence, commuted to 10 years’ penal servitude.Anyone who thinks that I can be made to hold my tongue when such thingsare being done is grossly mistaken. And the Government only advertisesthe autobiography of bertrand russell 276its own errors by trying ine?ectually to punish those of us who won’t besilent. Working men are sent to prison when they commit the crime that Icommitted. And when they come out, no one will employ them, so that theyare reduced to living on charity. This is a war for liberty.This letter will no doubt never reach you, but it may be found interestingby the Censor. If it does reach you, please let me know by return of post. It is amatter of some public interest to know what is allowed to pass, and if I don’thear from you within 6 weeks I shall assume that this letter has been stopped.These are ?erce times. But there is a new spirit abroad, and good will comeout of it all in the end. I wish your country had not embarked upon the careerof militarism.Yours ever gratefullyB.R.To Ottoline Morrell[June 1916]My DarlingA 1000 thanks for your dear dear letter which I have just got. I am gratefulfor it.This prosecution is the very thing I wanted. I have a very good case morally –as good as possible. I think myself that the legal case is good tho’ no doubtthey will convict, and I rather hope they will. I have seen the solicitor (GeorgeBaker) and arranged to defend myself without a barrister in the 1st Court onMonday. Then I shall appeal,28and employ a barrister the 2nd time. The 2ndtime is not till the autumn, so I shall be able to go round the country in thesummer as I had planned. That is not at all a wild scheme – apart from anygood it may do, I shall learn a lot that I want to know.I saw Miss Marshall and Allen and a number of the others – they were alldelighted and hoping I should get a savage sentence. It is all great fun, as wellas a magni?cent opportunity. The sort of opportunity I have longed for – andI have come by it legitimately, without going out of my way. I am going backto Cambridge now, coming up again Friday and staying here till Monday.Think of me Monday 11.30. I hope I shall be worthy of the occasion.Goodbye my Darling Love. Your love and sympathy do help far more thanyou know.YourB.Monday evg. [1916]Today I had lunch and a country walk with the Rev. Morgan Jones, aprominent paci?st here [in South Wales] and a real saint. Then I went to aneighbouring town for a meeting – it was to have been in the school, but thatthe first war 277was refused at the last moment, so we had it in the open air. A UnitarianMinister spoke who has a son a co. It is wonderful what the ??s. have donefor the cause of peace – the heroism is no longer all on the side of war.I ought to have gone into more hostile districts. Here it is merely a picnicand I feel I should be better employed in town. After the 23rd I shall be backin town – by then most of our Nat. Committee will be gone.I am longing to know how Allen’s visit went o?. I am so terribly afraid it willhave been a failure.Speaking is a great nervous strain. I feel very slack all the rest of the time.But I sleep well and my mind is at peace so I don’t get really tired. I never haveany fundamental worries now-a-days.I shall be very poor, having lost America and probably Trinity. I shall haveto ?nd some other way of making money. I think if Trinity turns me out Ishall advertise academic lectures in London on philosophical subjects. Itwould be delightful if they succeeded, as they wouldn’t interfere with polit-ical work. I have often dreamt of having an independent school like Abelard.It might lead to great things. I feel I am only on the threshold of life – the resthas been preparation – I mean as far as work is concerned. Quite lately I havesomehow found myself – I have poise and sanity – I no longer have thefeeling of powers unrealised within me, which used to be a perpetual torture.I don’t care what the authorities do to me, they can’t stop me long. Before Ihave felt either wicked or passively resigned – now I feel fully active andcontented with my activity – I have no inward discords any more – andnothing ever really troubles me.I realise that as soon as the worst of the stress is over I shall want somemore intellectual occupation. But I see room for endless work on politicaltheory. And it will have the advantage that it will involve seeing all sorts ofpeople and getting to know all sorts of human facts – it won’t leave half of meunsatis?ed as abstract work does. The only doubt is whether I shan’t someday be suddenly overwhelmed by the passion for the things that are eternaland perfect, like mathematics. Even the most abstract political theory isterribly mundane and temporary. But that must be left to the future.It is very sad seeing you so seldom. I feel as if we should lose intimacy andget out of the way of speaking of personal things – it would be a great loss ifthat happened. I know extraordinarily little of your inner life now-a-days,and I wish I knew more, but I don’t know how to elicit it. My own existencehas become so objective that I hardly have an inner life any more for thepresent – but I should have if I had leisure.My Dearest, I am full of love to you – visions are always in my mind ofhappy days after the war, when we shall get back to poetry and beauty andsummer woods, and the vision of things outside this earth. But the war keepsone tied to earth. And sometimes I wonder if we have both grown sothe autobiography of bertrand russell 278impersonal that it has become di?cult to give oneself to personal love – italways was di?cult for you. It is a great loss if it is so. I hope it isn’t. Do writea full letter when you can, and tell me something of your inward life.From the Trinity College Council Trinity CollegeCambridge11 July 1916Dear RussellIt is my duty to inform you that the following resolution was unanimouslypassed by the College Council today:‘That, since Mr Russell has been convicted under the Defence of the RealmAct, and the conviction has been a?rmed on appeal, he be removed from hisLectureship in the College.’Yours sincerelyH. McLeod InnesFrom S. Alexander 24, Brunswick RoadWithingtonM/C16.7.16Dear RussellI feel indignant about the action of Trinity, which disgraces them (as wellas making them ridiculous). I don’t share your views about War (as I thinkyou may know) and I can’t well judge the e?ect of your action – though Ihave hated the bungling and injustice of the treatment of ConscientiousObjectors. But sensible people, even if they don’t know and admire youpersonally, respect honest convictions; and Trinity’s action is both intolerantand impertinent. It matters to all of us at Universities (and elsewhere) moreperhaps than it matters to you.Yours sincerelyS. Alexander[The distinguished philosopher]I have only the Trinity address, and must send that way.From my brother Frank Telegraph HouseChichester16 July 1916My dear BertieI have seen the Trinity announcement in the paper, and whatever you maysay, I very much regret it. No doubt these stu?y old dons were veryuncongenial to you, and were also unfriendly on account of your views, butthe first war 279still, I always thought you well suited to an academic life, and a personality ofgreat value to the young – in stirring their ideas. I think as time goes on youwill miss it more than you realise and probably regret it.I can’t attempt to shape your career for you – you must be the only guideand the only judge of your own actions – but don’t ?nally cut yourself o?too rashly and above all beware of popular audiences. The average [man]is such a fool that any able man who can talk can sway him for a time. Whatthe world wants of ?rst class intellects like yours is not action – for whichthe ordinary politician or demagogue is good enough – but thought, amuch more rare quality. Think out our problems, embody the result inwriting, and let it slowly percolate through the teachers of the next gener-ation. And don’t suppose the people you meet are as earnest, as deep or assincere as you are.As mere experience and learning about human beings what you are doingnow may have its value, but you see what I am trying to say is that you arewasting yourself. You are not making the best use for the world of your talents.As soon as you come to see that you will change your activities.Well – I don’t preach to you often, because as a rule you don’t need it, butat the moment I think you are a little (or rather, a great deal) carried away.It’s a long time to Feb. 1 – why not go to America sooner? – they ought tobe glad to get rid of you!Come and see us when you are in London and try and spend a few placiddays here with us in August.Yours a?ectionatelyFFrom F. M. Cornford29Burrows HillGomshallSurrey23 July 1916Dear RussellI have only today received an account of the College Council’s action and areport of your trial before the Mayor.I must tell you that I think your case was as unanswerable as it wasunanswered, and the decision, so far as I can see, was utterly unwarranted bythe evidence.I was glad you said you could respect your friends who are not paci?sts inquite the same sense that you are. What you think of me I don’t know: but Ihave admired the ?ght you have put up.As for the College Council, you know too much to confuse it withthe College. The older dons, last time I saw them, seemed to me to bein various stages of insanity. Something will have to be done when thethe autobiography of bertrand russell 280younger ones come back. I am sure there would have been a majority ofthe whole body against the Council, if it had come before a full Collegemeeting.I feel very bitterly that the Council has disgraced us. When you and Moorecame back,30I was delighted that we had recovered you both, and now wehave lost one of you, it is a real grief and humiliation.Yours sincerelyF. M. CornfordTo G. Lowes Dickinson 34 Russell ChambersBury Street, W.C.Sunday [1916]Dear GoldieThank you very much for your letter in the Nation,31which I readwith gratitude. One has a little the sense of reading one’s own obituaries,32a thing I have always wished to be able to do! The Whiteheads are verydecent about this. I think McT.33and Lawrence were the prime movers.I have been sold up, but owing to kind friends I have lost nothing. Idon’t know who they are – whoever they are, I am most grateful andtouched.Cli?ord Allen is to be taken tomorrow. Casement34is to be shot. I amashamed to be at large.Yours everB.R.From C. P. Sanger FinchesAston Tirrold22 Aug. 1916Dear BertieYou will have realised how I feel about all this persecution. Did youever meet Constable – a young economist who was going to the bar – atour house. He’s a Major now and in writing to me from the front says‘I was very glad to see that there have been protests against the actionof Trinity with regard to Bertrand Russell. I must say that men I have metout here nearly all agree with me that the College has merely stulti?editself ’ ...Mase?eld writing up the Dardanelles – has been allowed to see someo?cial documents and so on. It is most disheartening that literary menof standing should try to make a mere calamity ‘epic’ for Americanconsumption.Yours fraternallyCharles Percy Sangerthe first war 281From James Ward 6, Selwyn GardensCambridge3.ix.16Dear RussellI am amazed and grieved to see how you are being badgered and houndedabout. It is most outrageous, and what the motive for it all may be I am quiteat a loss to surmise. Are they afraid that you will sneak o? to America or isthere some rabid fanatic trying to persuade them that you are what theMcTaggarts call us – pro-Germans? I see you are announced to lecture inManchester: is there no danger of your lectures being prohibited? Well youhave just got to compose yourself with dignity and patience and there will bevoices in your favour to speak out before long.Since I saw you I have been trying to draw up a statement to justify youraction and to serve as a separate preamble to accompany an invitation toprotest against the action of the College Council to be sent to all the fellows ofthe College (exclusive of the Council)35...Yours everJames WardThe writer of the following letter was killed not long afterwards. I never met him, but I cameto know his ?ancée, Dorothy Mackenzie, who, on the news of his death, became blind for