Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-13
AMERICA AND
THE NEXT WAR
Englishmen Expect Japanese
Ambition to Force Fighting in
the Pacific-How to Pre-
pare for 1t
By GILBERT VIVIAN sELDEs

Special correspoHdsHos Eveaing Ledger
LONDON, Dec. 1.-The next war will be
ono in which tho United Staten Will take
n part. That part win correspond In detail
to the part played by England in this war.
II will be q combination OF naval power
and an expedtlonary force. The enemy win
be Japan, probably; possibly Germany. Tho
United States can prepare for or avoid this
war by two methods both difficult The
first is an alliance, either with the whole
world or with certain European nations.
The second is by studying the mistakes
and the difficulties OF England and avoiding
them through mental preparedness.
The above Ia not necessarily fact. II is
only the concentrated essence OF what
thinking England believes. II you could
get, say, 600 representative Engllshmen
who are Interested in the United States
10 throw their ideas into a melting pot and
then drain II Off. the prophecies quoted
above would bs the result. Nearly every
Intelligent man and woman OF Great Britain
Is thinking about the worlds peace. and
nine out OF every ten Liberals are friendly
TO the United States and fearful OF her
future, But the warning OF war to come
is not limited to Liberals, nor 10 careful
students OF international politics Every
one knows, with absolute confidence, that
the United States win be caught I'm the
next war, and caught badly. or course.
there are many who feel that way because
they rather look forward to the mad ap-
peals which the United States will make
for British help, and they fancy themselves
in the generous attitude OF forgiving and
forgetting what we have done or have
failed to do In this war. But the people
who think seriously OF keeping the world
together after tho war are worried about
the United States,
After having Japan thrown In my teeth
every day for months I asked for little
explanation. The man asked is the editor
OF a magazine devotedfto the British em-
pire and humanity fTst" He had asked
me II the people OF the Pacific coast really
expected to be ravaged as Belgium was, and
I told him that from all could gather IT
was the people of England who expected 10
SEQ that happen This is his answer
II suppose some OF the people who talk
TO you about America and the next war
are a little war-mad, OF course. the con-
quest OF America Is utter nonsense. You
are going to come into conflict with a
power which ls setting out 10 be the center
OF the Far East. You have declared a
Monroe Doctrine which heartily hope you
will scrap as soon as YOU can for your own
good. Japan Is gradually preparing 10 is-
sue and to maintain another Monroe
Doctrine for the Pacific. For the next half
century you and Japan will be the only
capable Powers The only force against
Japan outside OF the United States is
Russia, now her ally In the Far East. II Is
not necessary 20 consider the possibility OF
n
many.
''You win have against your policy OF
the open door IN China the policy OF the
closed door which Japan will insist on, She
will declare her Will law Ia the Pacific,
As soon as you stand In her way aggres-
sion win begin. You are paolist nation,
but there are some things you will not
stand Then. II you are not in alliance
over here, you will have TO fight lonely
and a dangerous war That Is what we
mean by the japanese peril You may
aggraVats II by exclusion acts or minimize II
by clever diplomacy, Bur when nation
sets out to expand-just as Prussia did
forty years ago-there is trouble ahead
for the innocent bystandeF. The clash win
be on a matter OF policy-as surely as II
was a matter OF policy between England
and Germany For centuries England has
refused 70 see any one nation dominate
Europe. because Il isn't a good thing She
has never tried TO dominate Europe herself
The question Is how far the world and the
United States, viii allow any one nation TO
control the whole Of the Paolhe."
Ex-Judge Gary's speech has made little
impression here, largely because the same
things were said by Vlaoount HAldans about
friendly relations between countries merely
come into existence. They find through
bitter experience that friendship cannot
be taken for granted. but has 70 be won
lieve IN England that the United States
Is eultiYatlns itz own garden carefully
enough.
so seriously Is the japanese question
taken here that the best defense 81 ne
United States Is frequently talked about
II there e g he no League OF Peace. then
tie uniled States must do some eesv
energetic preparing a student of military
anaifs lhg pfefsssieH 3 teacher q soelal
scIenc4l has gone into the defense 3
Anerlea aeeply and tAesa are Is ean.
eIaazl
F eaf I'll nel p faaeAa - az.