Muste, A. J.

[Mr. Abraham Johannes Muste (1885-1967), a clergyman, labour leader, editor and social reformer, was for many years the leading proponent of non-violent action for peace and racial equality in the United States. He was executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (1940-53), national chairman of the Committee for Non-violent Action and co-chairman of the World Peace Brigade. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was reported to have said: "Without Muste, the American Negro might never have caught the meaning of Non-violence."¹²⁶    Mr. Muste participated in the World Pacifist Meetings in India in 1949. He was the author of many books and pamphlets, including Gandhi and the H-Bomb:
How Non-violence can Take the Place of War (1950).]

Letter, February 28, 1947¹²⁷

[Mr. Muste apparently sent a letter, dated September 27, 1946, through Miss Muriel Lester, a British friend of Gandhiji. In that letter, he extended birthday greetings to Gandhiji on behalf of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. As bitter conflicts marked the relationship between the leading nations and the United States was playing a leading part in an atomic armaments race, he said, the Fellowship was striving to build a movement for the abolition of armaments. Multitudes looked to Gandhiji for help and inspiration in this crisis and the Fellowship hoped that his life may be spared for many years. If India after independence refused to join in the race for national pride and power, he added, that might well augur the dawning of a new day for mankind.¹²⁸]

Kazirkhil
Ramganj P.S.
Noakhali Dist.,
February 28, 1947

Dear friend,

Muriel Lester has sent me your letter of the 27^th September last which has remained on my file for some time. She has also given me a brief description of your selfless labours. How I wish I could send you some useful suggestions by way of help in what you very rightly term as crisis! The aftermath of the last war is in reality much worse than the war itself if only because its bloodiness is so hidden from view that man deceives himself into the belief that he is at last safer than when the war was on.

I wish too that I could give you the assurance that India, when she has come to her own completely, will not join the race for the increase of armaments. I can only say that whatever I can do to prevent any such misfortune will not be left undone.

Yours sincerely
M. K. Gandhi

[Dr. Muste wrote to Gandhiji on June 30, 1947, that his message was circulated to the entire membership of the Fellowship and that its National Council had decided to send its greetings and good wishes to him.¹²⁹]