WHITE RACES

Evening Star, Issue 19855, 2 May 1928, Page 9

WHITE RACES

AXIS OF WORLD POWER IMPORTANCE OF ATLANTIC The most powerful individuals hi Europe to-day arc to Americans—Mr Benjamin Strong, president of the Federal Reserve Board of New York, and Mr Parker Gilbert, the Agent-General for Reparations in Berlin. The ono dominates the whole financial situation, the other treats a Great Rower in Europe as if he were its equal. The mastery of these two men is the palpable expression of the hold acquired by the United States over the affairs of our continent (writes “Augur,” in the February number of the ‘ Fortnightly Review ’). Looking ahead we discern a great change, which in tho near future will influence the existence of Europe—thj regrouping of the white race around the shores of the Atlantic Ocean as th« axis of its world power. The landt peopled by the white race or dominated by it arc grouped in two blocks on both sides of tho Atlantic. On one hand is Europe with Africa, on the other America, North and South; in the west we find Australia as a racial outpost in the Pacific, whilst in the east are great territories in Asia exploited by the whites for their material advantage. Wc sec thus a great racial domination of which the United _ States is an integral part, not because it is European—for it is anything but that —but because it is white. Once visualised tho conception of the vast dominion of the white race cannot he lost sight of again —it reduces our notions of geography to their logical proportions. Also it establishes the fact that Europe and tho United States belong to a mighty partnership within which they may quarrel, but tho interests of which as a whole they have to take into account as a first moral chargo on any international policy they may set in motion. Surveying tho dominion of the white race we find that within it a readjust? ment of material values is taking place. The eastern half—Europe with her satellite Africa —has been overtaken by the western halt on tlio road of material wealth; not only has it been overtaken, but swiftly is being left behind. The significant thing in this new development is that tlio enrichment is not confined to North America, and extends equally to the southern part of the continent. If we consider that the wealth of Africa is growing rapidly wc understand that the Atlantic has become the groat internal highway of the white race. Tho importance of this route ran only increase with time, because South America and Africa both have not reached yet the higlfcst level of material development. Until now, when tho Atlantic was mentioned, we visualised that part of it which lies between Europe and North America. Now we must think of it as a waterway, which slashes our world from top to bottom, from tho North Pole to the one in the south. It is surrounded by the habitations and possessions of tho whito race. The opening of the Panama Canal as an outlet to the Pacific enhanced tho value of the Atlantic waterway. Tho growing importance of tho Atlantic is confirmed by the interest displayed by the Mediterranean Powers, and especially by Italy, in the freedom of the Straits of Gibraltar. This, and not a desire to protect a few hotels and coffee-houses, is the reason of the Italian claim to equal rights in Tangier. Italy wants to be associated with tho other Great Powers in the guarantee of a free communication between the landlocked Mediterranean and the Atlantic. The scope of this article forbids a study, of the growing importance, especially in the economic sense, of South America and of Africa., The rich republics of Brazil and of tha Argentine are on the road towards tha status of a Great Power. Chile and tha whole mass of South American States are moving towards an increase in material wealth, the limit of which no man can forsee. British investments in that part of the world already aro t ten times larger than those in China.'' The new France in North-West Africa, with its splendid frontage on the Atlantic, lias a brilliant future. Nigeria, tho Belgian Congo, and the whole of the Black continent, are being taken in hand and show promise of groat things. South Africa remains the source of a largo part the world’s annual gold production. So all round the coasts ol tlio Atlantic today, under the impulse of the white nice, production is increasing rapidly. If losses have been incurred in Asia they ’ are finding more than their equivalent in now developments within the dominion ol the white race itsell. Ever since the opening ol the Suez Canal the chief route for Imperial communications has lain through the Mediterranean. Tho presence of a powerful British fleet m the Mediterranean had no other object. Times arc changing, however, and with them the methods of warfare have changed out of all likeness to what they were formerly. In war time the narrow Mediterranean is not a place into which a modern battleship may venture. The base at Malta is the last place to which a rational commander can take his ships for repairs after a battle. For, like the head of a nail, it is exposed to the precise hammering of an unceasing aerial attack. The ’plane, the submarine, and mines of various description paralyse Malta as the base of an active fleet. As to Gibraltar, not to mention tlio difficulty of protecting the Rock itself against modern guns, its Gut (the Strait) is so narrow that ships passing through are at the mercy of au attack from the coastal aerial forces. The fact of Great Britain remaining neutral in a Mediterranean war will not allow her Navy to ensure even in a limited degree the safety of commercial traffic through the infested waters. The position may )he summed up in a sentence: Tho Mediterranean has become a puddle in peace | and a trap in war. After years of oblivion the route | around tho Cape calls again for attenI tion. If technical means continue to develop as they have done in the last j twenty years, transport to Australia i and New Zealand, even in peace time, I will be practically possible by this I route. In war time the latter becomes | invaluable. The -place to which a battle fleet may retire to wait for the moment of decisive action may in the I Inst resort he found somewhere in the vast Atlantic spaces. But if, as we expect, the navy of the future will rely principally on the seaplane and the submarine, then, as a glance at the planisphere shows. Great Britain possesses the bases which will ensure to her the dominating position between South America and Africa, andon the approaches to the Southern Pacific and the Indian Ocean. At the British Admiralty there is perhaps a brain already at work on plans for bases at St. Helena and Ascension for aerial cruisers able to keep awing for days at an end. This would he logical! We cannot avoid discussing possible warlike events. It is true that, fatigued by the Great War, Europe is conscious of tho need for pence as the best means to repair tho damages of a, catastrophe mainly economic. Wisely used, this wish for a period of rest may have for result the establishment of a lasting peace. Statesmen are given this chance. They have against them not only the proverbial capacity of the human being to forgot the misery of past misfortunes, but also the terrible fact that the changes which are taking place in lie science of war will make tho latter again an economic possibility.