WITTE ON WASTE OF WAR.

Northern Advocate, 8 May 1914, Page 4

WITTE ON WASTE OF WAR.

THE SPENDING OF MONEY,

Dr E. J. Dillon has a remarkably interesting account in the "Contemporary Review" of a recent talk with the great Russian statesman, Count Witte, on how Europe might spend its money. "Count Witte, who established Russian finances on the solid basis which enabled them to bear the strain of the war with Japan, of the ensuing general strike; and of the so-called revolution, said to me a few weeks ago:

" 'When I try to realise what is meant by the "peace" of to-day I feel tempted t» call it economic war. Certainly it is little better than war. Speaking without exact figures, I should say that some 40 per cent of the outlay of the various States is absorbed by the. armies and navies which are to carry on the campaigns of the future, and by the debts left by the campaigns of the past.

"IF PROPERLY SPENT." ," 'Sketch a picture in your mind's eye of all that those sums, if properly spent, could effect for the nations, who now waste them on heavy guns, rifles, Dreadnoughts, fortresses, and bar- „ racks. If this money were laid out on icproving the material lot of the people, in housing them' hygienically, in procuring for them healthier air, mcdical aid, and needful periodical rest, they would live longer and work to better purpose, and enjoy some of the happiness or contentment which atr' present is the prerogative of the few.

" 'Again, all the best brain-work of the most eminent men is focuseed on efforts to create new lethal weapons, Or to make the old ones more deadly. Take the newest conquest of man—the air. People can fly to-dayl. They have, achieved: the triumph at the cost Jof the lives of some of the most heroic individuals of all nations. But how do they think of applying aviation? They are obediently following the lead of their respective (Governments and. enI deavouringto make the airship one of the most death-dealing pieces l of mechanism in use: Arid they may succeed. For one of the. arts in which cultured nations have made most progress is warfare. The' noblest efforts of the greatest-thinkers.are wasted on inventions to destroy human life. When I call to mind the gold , and the work thus dissipated-in smoke and Boundvillagers with drawn, sallow, faces, men and women and children perishing slowly and painful-, ly of hunger—l began to- ask myself whether human culture and the white man who persoriiftes it are not wend-, ing towards the abyss. how willl it. end? .

'"When and how will it all «ud? Unless the great States which have set, . ■' this hideous example agree to call a: halt, so to say, and knit their subjects into a pacific, united Europe,' war' is the only issue I can perceive. ' And when I say war, J mean a conflict ■which will surpass in horror the most brutal, armed conflicts known to man history, and entail distress more "•'" , widespread and more terrible than living men 1j an realise. , : -. /'•, ' ; "Everywhere," adds Dr Dillon, "thinkers, and also men of business, ."are" be- ', : ■'coming alive to the dismal fact .that \ *Europe is confronted with the alter- , natives of economic ruin oh the one Harid, or a tremendous conflict on the other. Not that the Great Powere 4 areat.present divided by any political difficulty. ■ . ' "In the twentieth century peace • costs annually more than .wars were wont to, cost down to the year 1870, and even this enormous premium affords us no guarantee' against panics, " : chronic, fear, and their, impoverishing ' effects." •■ ■ '•' '"■'.,■