[Ads-l] Antedating of "Cold War" in General Sense

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Interesting topic and excellent citations, Fred.
The 1909 citation below might fit the general sense of "cold war".

Date: April 7, 1909
Newspaper: The Manchester Guardian
Newspaper Location: Manchester, England
Article: Labour and the "Navy Scare": A Resolution Moved by Mr. E.
Bernstein, (Edward Bernstein)
Quote Page 8, Column 2
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/image/258515580/?terms=%22cold%20war%22&match=1

[Begin excerpt]
If we look at it, what is this peace given to us by the ruling classes
and by the parties in power at present in most of the countries?
Peace, let us say, in bandages-(laughter),-peace that has written upon
it "Very fragile"-(laughter),-peace rather like war in regard to its
cost-(cheers),-peace, in fact, more costly than most of the wars of
the past. In Germany it has been called "a cold war." It is a kind of
Japanese duel, where each of the two duellists cuts his own
throat."-(Cheers.)
[End excerpt]

Here is part of the OED definition.

[Begin OED definition excerpt]
cold, adj.
cold war  n. hostilities short of armed conflict, consisting in
threats, violent propaganda, subversive political activities, or the
like; spec. those between the U.S.S.R. . . .
[End OED definition excerpt]

The 1939 citation below appeared after Fred’s citations, I include it
here because it mentions propaganda and "bloodless victory" which fit
the OED definition above.

Date: August 16, 1939
Newspaper: The Baltimore Sun
Newspaper Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Article: The Peace Offensive
Quote Page 10, Column 1 and 2
Database: Newspapers.com

[Begin excerpt]
So it appears the stage is being cautiously set for what is
appropriately if ominously described in Rome as a "peace offensive."
The cold war of propaganda, demonstrations, confusion of feeling and
attack on nerves is stepped up to a new high as September and the
Nurnberg Nazi congress approach,  while the promise of relief and
settlement is again quietly refurbished. It looks very much as if the
intelligence and resolution of Britain and France will soon be put to
another major test. They cannot know with what new trick and twist
Hitler expects to end the Danzig campaign in bloodless victory.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Sun, May 28, 2023 at 11:13 AM Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.edu> wrote:
>
> The OED's first use for "cold war" is dated 1945.  Searches of newspapers and periodicals make it clear that there was earlier usage in a general sense, referring to a conflict fought by nonmilitary means rather than to the specific sense of a struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union.  (The OED recognizes this general usage in its definition, but does not present any early citations for it.)  I have previously traced the general usage back to the Nation in 1938, but here are some older occurrences:
>
> 1934 _Charlotte News_ 11 Aug. 1 / 4 (Newspapers.com)  Calling  truce to the cold war between science and religion, a state medical authority today recognized "faith" as an important factor in what he termed an "excellent chance" for the recovery of Albert Teester.
>
> 1934 _Standard-Star_ (New Rochelle, N.Y.) 4 Dec. 4/3 (Newspapers.com)  The pressing danger is not that of international war, but of a series of revolutions or cold wars due to the steady increasing misery prevailing in various countries.  It has been evident for some time that the only escape is the economic recovery which would result from a revival of world trade. ... Dr. Charles B. Babcock, resident head of Carnegie Endowment Work in Paris.
>
> 1935 _Jewish Press_ 20 Dec. 1/6 (Newspapers.com)  The virtual admission that Germany is on the verge of economic collapse was made by Mr. Ley, who said that such a situation was "due to the cold war Jews abroad are conducting to destroy the Reich by boycotting German goods."
>
> There may very well be even earlier citations that can be found by newspaper searching, but, because of Newspapers.com's annoying habit of retrieving citations for "cold wave" and "cold water" when "cold war" is searched, the quest for prior cites will have to be done by someone with more time on their hands than I have.
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
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