The Washington herald., 1914-06-08
A Problem Of the Nations.
~ JOsEPH EDGAR CHAMBEpLIN,


question in Mexico has raised a very Fundamental
question in statecraft. 1t is asked Why should ths
United States settle the land question in Mexico an,
more than any other Mexican internal question;
What BUSINESS is the Mexican land question of ours
There is but answer to this question, and thai
answer is made in the following words: Peace and
good order in Mexico are essential for the general
welfare of the people of the United States aud there
can be peace and good order in Mexico until the
land question is settled"
And that answer raises larger question:, which
is quite extensively discussed in Norman Angell's
new book, Arms and Industry-A Study of the
Foundations of International Polty" (Putnams)
This question Gt requires be stated in its general
branches) is: Are nations governed by sef-interest
each thinking only of its advantage, by con-
siderations of abstract and universal justice? Are
the nations mutually sefdestructve and cannibalistic
Is any nation called upon put another nations
advantage above its own, to settle anothers affairs
for its own benefit?
Norman Angel, who in another book treated the
supposed advantages gained by nations through vic
torious warfare as "The Great Illusion" of modern
times, thinks that there is no contest, disagree
ment, between a nations true self-nterest and its
intelligent service of the worlds interest. That is to
say, he holds that if we further the advantage and
and that we cannot possibly gain any advantage by
working harm and destruction to neighbor nation.
Now that the progress of civilization has done away
with the actual physical robbery of the people of
foreign nations it is his view that get no advan-
tage out of war, because have to pay for every
thing we get just the same. For example, Germany
might fight Britain and take Canada and Australia,
under the supposition that she Germany needs
Canadian wheat and Australian WOOL. But Germany
can get the wheat and the wool by paying for
them, and she could not get them without paying for
them, if Canada and Australia belonged to her
What advantage, therefore, would it be to tax her
people hundreds of millions for war which would
bring to them nothing but the chance go on buying
what they can buy already
So far good, but it is curious thing that Nor
man Angells pacihst doctrine seems to fall to the
ground when come to the relations between the
United States and Mexico 1t is fact indeed that
some people say that should annex Mexico on
account OF the oil eldsto possess ourselves of those
oil fields, which may some time be necessary to our
industries. This argument for annexation is an
swered by Angel according to this formula Who
ever oil in America will have pay for it just
the same, whether Mexico is independent republic
or whether it is part of the United States. But
here the fallacy of Angels reasoning: The thing
WHICH Americans would win, if they conquered Mex-
co, would be the right buy the oil of Tampico and
Tuxpam and be compelled to see it destroyed or
wasted by incessant revolutions We should not be
fighting rob the Mexicans of their oil 1t is indeed
too late in the worlds day to do that But might
fight to make that the oil wells should continue
to flow, and that their products should go helping
Ito noursh and maintain our industries
1t is the same with regard to the land of the
Mexicans. We do not propose to rob the Mexicans
of their land But it would not do to assert that we
have interest in the of their land. The in
terests of the nations closely knit together that
the failure to make proper use of the natural re-
sources OF any country is injury to other coun-
tries. Disuse of millions of acres of land in Mexico
is an injury and in ustice to the people OF the
United States If the Mexicans will not make use of
their own agricultural land to produce the wheat
and the beef needed by the world they should let
other people in and buy and rent the land-not
steal it, but make of ito mutual advantage.
And those who make of the natural resources
of Mexico should be rendered in their tenure,
whatever that tenure may be-
We not "cannibaistic" with regard to Mexico,
the Mexcans practicing caunibasm upon one
another. International poly. which means inter-
national peace and justice is based upon civilization
and civilization industry and commerce
Norman Angel is right when he says that Ger
many really gained material advantage when she
annexed Alsace and Lorraine. The land continued to
be the property of those who owned before-unless
the Germans in and paid them their price for
it The whole thing was broad it long.
But Alsace and Lorraine were civilized countries
countries where the land carefully cultivated.
If, in such close contguity with wesetted Germany
there had been wild and uncultivated region, where
all or nearly all the land lay waste, would certainly
have been of advantage to the Germans to the
provinces and use the land-even if their citizens
paid full price for every acre of it.
The situation of the United States with regard to
the thinly populated states of Northern Mexico is
practically that. Mexico is for the most part wasted
undeveloped country. The American presspre upon
its territory is essentially economic 1t represents
"sef-interest' mo doubt but sef-interest which is
in harmony with the interest of humanity in general
The Recall in Colorado.