Life — November 10, 1921 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Sanctum Talk: The Peace Delegates Drop In" This satirical dialogue features Life magazine's editor ("Life") meeting with peace conference delegates, likely from the post-WWI era. The cartoon mocks the naïveté of idealistic peacemakers who believe international acquaintance and love will prevent future wars. The delegates—identified as Chinese, British (Lloyd George and Baron Shiddhara), and American representatives—discuss solving world conflict through understanding and science. Life's skeptical character counters that ignorance of other nations' customs persists everywhere, and sarcastically suggests America's isolationism and self-interest make such grand peace plans ineffective. The satire targets the optimism of international peace movements as disconnected from human nature and national self-interest.