This is a message from Howard Meyer to friends and colleagues who are concerned with peace activism, history and studies. It is inspired by a review of a book that tells about the early history of the War Resisters League (WRL).:

The review's closing paragraph invites some ideas that may be useful in teaching Peace. Calling the story of the War Resisters League "required reading," the reviewer concludes:

"Debates now rage over what strategy and tactics have and have not worked in the last three years, and observers ponder how to more effectively combat the current war machine. The example of the WRL offers valuable lessons ... better look to the WRL to see what has worked in the past and hope it can work again."

The following and the attachment "Give Law a Chance," are addressed to that closing paragraph.
While the writer was working on his book THE WORLD COURT IN ACTION he had a chat with a fellow NGO rep at the UN.

The War Resisters League was mentioned. Why, it was asked, did these noble resisters avoid, (as most of the peace movement also avoided) mention of the World Court and its rulings (especially in Nicaragua vs U.S.) that reject use of 'self-defense' as a cover-up for acts of aggression.

My colleague suggested: many in the WRL are sympathetic to the anarchist view of society. To rest an argument on such legal institutions as International Law and its Court would not be welcomed with enthusiasm. [he did not use the word 'anarchist' pejoratively.)

In the review of the book THE WORLD COURT IN ACTION by a scholar chosen by H-NET, its writer was moved by the contents to assert that International law is a 'missing dimension in peace studies."

The work of the Court, as presented in the book THE WORLD COURT IN ACTION
demonstrates as no general argument could, the reality, the very existence of the Law of Nations, a point that the U S populace in general and its media in particular, just do not understand. (we have long forgotten, as Senator Moynihan went about the country arguing in the '80s. that we ever had a commitment to International Law)

The people of the United States are, for the most part law-abiding and elections have been won or lost on the issue of guarding "Law and Order." Were they shown the evidence in a particular situation that their country is not in compliance with the Law of Nations and taught that law is important for national security, such a demonstration would be of immense importance to the cause of peace.

Without ignoring the value of the actions of the War Resisters League and the self-sacrifice of it members, it could be argued that bringing about respect for
International Law might be more valuable in combating the war party.
Knowledge of the effectiveness of the World Court in bringing about compliance with the law it administers and the importance of the U.S. Peace movement's contribution to the very creation of the Court (warmly appreciated by the rest of
the world) would help to win that respect.

Howard N Meyer