Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-03-20

Modern European 4istoFy.1
mature has endowede1 the world with a
KonderfuI array of natural resources, for
e use of the inhabitants thereof. The
3stribution of these resources has, to- q
Srge degree, been impartial among the
\ civilized and the uncivilized peoples, Eng
md, Alaska, Germany, Nigeria, South
Mfrica, China, Russia, Canada, Persia,
he United States, and Mexico are alike
Naown for such products as timber, coal,
Ton, tin, oil, copper, gold and silver. IN
fortunately, the inhabitants of these
Faces are not equally capable of develop
hg these resources and of taking their
Mace beside one another in modern civil
FEED life. Those who are of inferior
sank, especially in economic life, are find
hg themselves at the mercy of those who
lave placed themselves on q higher plane.
The world is now demanding the use OF
Pie worlds resources and whenever the
NninteHigent nations do not meet this de
hand, the stronger peoples insist upon an
opportunity to develop these resources
themselves. The uncfvili2ed nations are
Saying the price of their ignorance in the
spss of their natural heritage. Such coun-
Nries are China, Persia, Morocco, Mexico,
Egypt, Turkey. in fact, practically the
kfrica.
I Under ordinary circumstances mer-
&hants and financiers in foreign cOun-
fries are subject to the laws and regula-
nent but the government of these back
ward nations is always weak. 1t is in
MapabIe of keeping order or of raising
Sufficient taxes to pay expenses. The
Fuller is daZzled by the willingness of for
5figners to lend him money for conces-
SBions of one kind or another. The natives
suddenly realize that their country is
Slowly being handed over to the for
Keigner. In their ignorance and weakness
hey take primitive revenge on him or
intrigue with competing groups OF for
Ssigners. In either case foreign inter
Avention in the affairs of the country be-
kcome inevitable.
"sphere of Influence"
n The native governments, therefore, al
eways prove incapable CT regulating the
zlteen competition among the various for
Ter governments, therefore, attempt to
come to sos4rea agreement among them
sselves concerning the actions of their
Subjects and citizens in these weak coun-
gtrieS, Such agreements have usually
been unsuccessful because there is no
means of seeing that they are executd.
Foreigners i'm ar-away lands take every
advantage possible of their competitors
and loudly calI for protection from their
governments each time TREY feel injured
by the actions Of anyone else. Incidental
ed even more deeply by the calm way in
which the foreigners assume to dispose
of their affairs. As yet, therefore, no
effective regulations exist among the
resources of the backward countries. IN
deed, so futile have most such agreements
proved to be UP to this time that the
natural tendency has always been to df-
vide the disputed country into spheres
of influence which expression is simply
a polite name foF the first of the steps
which leads to the inevitable status of a
colony So the great powers go on di-
Viding the world among thernselVes-but
not without great danger to the peace Of
the world, or, every time that any inn
ont eta tn or0 fol
the various foreign offices are agog. Some
country gains; the other loses or perhaps
each stands its ground and the dogs of
war are let loose-and over places such
as servia Asia Minor, or Morocco. off in
the corners of the world.
The present war is q confession that
the religion of nationalisn and the sub
Sequent reaching out for territory and
economic advantages over the world, has
broken down. 1t is difficult to believe
that the fervid national aspirations of
such men as MaZzini. upon which his
torians have placed their stamp Of APP
prevail for these many years, has result
ed in the present debacfe, but the lesson
is plain The war will have been waged
IN vain if it has not become apparent
that the intense nationaIiSm of the last
few decades must give way to larger
international brotherhood in the futuret
1t is not easy to give up Old ideas and
take on new and more or less intangible
ones. But suffering such as the world
has made men think Of these things as
Gn6y never LHOuEHI Oh tHCIi DSIOfGs ara
finally when the world cries out in an
guish for new dispensatfon the mo-
rnent will have arrived when some kind
of international organization along the
lines already suggested by English and
American statesmen can be carried into
effect.
International Commissions.
What can International organization do
TO eliminate these jealousies? Here indeed
we are treadir~ on new ground ard any
one who does so must be prepared to see
some of his pet theories fail to the
ground because human nature will not all
of sudden surrender many of it's selfish
ehaPac teristfcs unless it can be proved
that it is advantageous to do so. More
over, the attempts at international rule
which have been tried so far are not al
together reassuring. The Congo Free
State was established under international
auspices by Leopold III Of Belgium. It's
purposes were even humanitarian in
character. Representatives from vari-
Gus countries of the world met upon sew
eFaF occasions and carefully devised rules
and regulations for the Development Of the
country and the government of the ma
tiyes of the country. Everybody knows
what misera bic farce the thing turned
n1It Ia he The Congo grad flalfV DaGged