Peace News was a UK pacifist magazine with a long history, first published in 1936. It initially served as the official paper of the Peace Pledge Union (1936-1961) and became a central voice for the British peace movement, reporting on anti-war activism, nuclear disarmament campaigns, and opposition to colonialism and militarism. Peace News ceased publication in 2024.
This first edition includes news from local peace groups alongside national and international events such as the rise of fascism in Italy and a strike in Palestine in protest of the plans to create a home for Jews at the expense of the national existence of the Arabs.
There is also a letters page from which these are taken:
MEETING A NEED
Dear Sir, – PEACE NEWS appears to me to be just the thing that is needed at the moment. There is plenty of other material about but I am afraid it is not of the right ‘calibre’. Anyhow, you can rely on me to do my utmost to get over anything that is useful and will further the cause of peace.
Edward Brown, Hon. Sec. High Wycombe and District Peace Council.
AN INVITATION
Dear Sir, – The Bradford Joint Disarmament Committee invite all commercials and travellers who may be passing through the North or staying at the YMCA Bradford to join the local peace workers in their whist drive on June 10 at 7.30. We are working hard to send delegates, not only to the National Peace Congress, which we have always attended, but also to Geneva this year and the whist drive is in aid of the funds. “Though seas separate and continents divide; let us, comrades of peace , stand side by side, in heart and mind, bound by the ties of fellowship and peace.”
Julia May Shaw, Hon. Sec. Bradford Joint Disarmament Committee
The Commonweal Collection includes over 1,000 copies of Peace News published since 1936. Copies are also available online. Other materials in the Collection about Peace Movements – UK (Eb) can be found on the catalogue here.
A full list of over 1,700 magazines, newsletters, bulletins and journals that are in the Collection can be found here.