O Rulers of America and the Presidents of the Republics therein .. Give ear unto that which hath been raised from the Dayspring of Grandeur: Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Lord of Utterance, the All-Knowing. Bind ye the broken with the hands of justice, and crush the oppressor who flourisheth with the rod of the commandments of your Lord, the Ordainer, the All-Wise. - Kitab-i-Aqdas. (154:2)

'Abdu'l-Baha in His addresses in America and elsewhere frequently expressed the hope, the prayer and the assurance that the banner of international peace would be first raised in America. At Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 5, 1912, He said: (154:3)

America is a noble nation, a standard-bearer of peace throughout the world, shedding her light to all regions. Other nations are not untrammeled and free of intrigues like the United States, and are unable to bring about Universal Peace. But America, thank God, is at peace with all the world, and is worthy of raising the flag of brotherhood and International Peace. When the summons to International Peace is raised by America, all the rest of the world will cry: "Yes, we accept." The nations of every clime will join in adopting the teachings of Baha'u'llah, revealed over fifty years ago. In His Epistles He asked the parliaments of the world to send their best and wisest men to an international world parliament that should decide all questions between the peoples and establish peace .. then we shall have the Parliament of Man of which the prophets have dreamed. (154:4)

The appeals of Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha have already been responded to, in a large measure, by the United States of America, and in no country of the world have the Baha'i teachings met with readier acceptance. The role assigned to America, of summoning the nations to international peace, has as yet, however, been only partially played, and Baha'is are awaiting with interest the developments which the future has in store. (154:5)

The Great War
Both Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha on many occasions foretold with surprising accuracy the coming of the Great War of 1914-1918. At Sacramento, California, on October 26, 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha said: "Today the European continent is like an arsenal. It is a storehouse of explosives, ready for just a spark, and one spark could set aflame the whole of Europe, particularly at this time, when the Balkan question is before the world." (154:6)

In many of His addresses in America and Europe He gave similar warning. In another address in California in October 1912 He said: (154:7)

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