The Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1911. “THE THINGS MEN FIGHT FOR,”

Evening Star, Issue 23864, 19 April 1941, Page 8

The Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1911. “THE THINGS MEN FIGHT FOR,”

In 1916, the second year of the last War, a book that is interesting in the light of present world developments was written by Dr H. H. Powers, ,who had held the post of professor of economics in Stanford University. This American writer presented a dispassionate and illuminating survey of the events and conditions leading up to the struggle, with cautious predictions about the future. In his view there was no justification for the oft-stated assertion that it was a war to end war. His conclusions were based on the course of events on this planet, which, from the dawn of history', revealed a conflict of interests among its peoples, in which settlement was sought by force of arras. To the more philosophically minded, in the opinion of the writer, the Great War, in its second year, was slowly slipping into its place as merely one of a long series, fought on much the same ground and by much the same people, ever since there had been written and printed records. In elaborating this aspect of international relations the comment was made: “It is oven possible that the scries is not finished, that the approaching settlement will leave same or alj of the parties dissatisfied, and that peace will only again be a truce to be broken at a convenient season. . . . This may not be—probably is not—the last groat war.” In a searching analysis of the world problems of the time, the writer anticipated many of the developments of the last quarter of a century among the countries of Europe which havo been marked by sullen resentments and desire for revenge, territorial designs by strong Powers against weaker nations, the Just for conquest and expansion as exhibited m the case of Italy. Germany’s present thrust against Greece makes the attitude of Russia of supremo interest. Wi 11 the Soviet regard with complacence the possibility of Germany securing the control of the Dardanelles? It is vital to Russia and Turkey that this should not happen, and it is a complication foreseen by the writer of this book. Discussing the proposed remedies for war, which have been so fully and vainly explored since 1918, the author, anticipating the formation of the League of Nations, referred to suggestions then current to establish an international army of police, under a league of peace, to coerce any State that should resort to war against the will of the League. The weakness of any such plan was seen, and the judgment was confirmed by the failure of intense peace efforts made over the last quarter of a century. In a diffident venture into prophecy the author suggested the possibility of a union—“ under some form, no matter how loose ” —between the British Em-

pire and the • United States, and he wrote these significant words; “ If the Anglo-Saxon world is ever united—a condition essential to ultimate success—it will be through the pressure of a common danger. That pressure is Jikcly to bo forthcoming.” And the author closed with the declaration : “ The British civilisation is curs. In it wo live and move and have our being. Outside it wo have no Inture.” The truth of these words is realised by American statesmen to-day and by a large section of the people.