Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-01
INTER- NATIONAL. RESPONSIBILITY
Is HIGEIN ESSENTIAL

Everything OF real Importance done
in every one of the greater nations
reacts upon all other nations Of TIE
world, hence the birth OF some real
sense OF international responsibility l.
an absolute necessity Of the near fu-
lure. Many q! the interal!!cd proCu-
durcs of THIS war have proved the in
valuable effectiveness az such sense
y; the present moment, for example.
England has been liking the prices
which her citizens shall in future nay
stuffS. IL would be absurd to declare
that what she does has no reaction on
producers prices in America. whence
;he United states Your Mr.. Hoover !.
engaged in somewhat similar work.
What he does reacts throughout the
ocean. South America feels it, Austria
liza and New Zealand fee! 1t.
The whole tendency on both sides
since their coefiorts in the war be-
san has been to do AVA n far as
possible with interaliied competition
in the purchase oil supplies because
prices for us all. Competition still ex
lists. though IL has diminished TO a
considerable degree with regard 10 food
purchases. It should be eliminated az
Ear AS the allies are concerned after
the food council has become a going
concern. Then each nation. instead OF
merely liking prices for home produce
ton Independently. might agree upon
prices in cooperation with IT'S asSo-
c!ateS.
DO YOU see the direction in which
in the past has been tbs wide differ
ence between standards OF living III
different countries. arising partly from
difference i'll wage scales. partly from
power Of wages.
AT the present time the difficulty
is serious one. But If it shall h"
possible to fix the price OF basic COM
Sentials. is il Impossible that we may
be able in time 10 minimize much OF
the sources of intcrnati Oual suspicion
and friction, as. for Instance, tariff
wars:
The trouble which may have fore
seen i'll the idea Of a world operation
has been the practical difficulties which
at once come into being when one con-
siderS the bitter economic rivalricS
ever likely, under the old economic sys-
TEN to arise between the members of
such league.
Let us. therefore. so little further
in our argument.
the value OF the economic weapon. In
considering the league Of nations idea
we have been unable Ia see an orSani-
~ ton operative III the orig inal sense.
while the possibilities Of an economic
war leading To Il military WAY existed
between two on more or all OF its own
members.
Gould league OF nations tell one Of
its members not to 50 manipulate its
tarinS rs 10 iniure or squeeze neigh
hor into despair or retaliation? Or
could il tell one of its members not
to so manipulate it's prices that it
would force another OF it's members
into war in order that its own future
might he saved?
ALREADY ;hc enlightened puhlics OF
all the nations Of the allies are suf-
fcicntiy advanced TO he wiliirr. and
are sufficiently informed to he able
to discuss TIL" nosSibiitv aud feasihili-
tv Of some form oC Intervention at 4
time when bioodshed may be imminent
il there be no Intervention. But would
they accept this nrinciplc at a time
OF threatened tariff war?
NATIONS. LIKE INDiVIDCtLS.
ARE FFt:CrED BY DESIRES
There is little reason for declaring
that such intervention always would
be unlustifiab!e. Nations. like in
dividuals. in the past have been cf-
fected by matrrialistic desires Many
wars have been caused by economic
facts. Germanys demand for what she
designated rs her place in the sun was
merely euphemistic statement that
Sh" wanted more wealth.
'Militarism. with It's vast expense and
into!erable oppression. was endured bv
the German people because Il had been
a paying business to endure II I'm the
past. Under il their country has wayed
mighty and PROSPEROUS.
The present war arose largely he
cause Prussian militarism had to JUS
thy Itself to the people who were
bearing Its burden by making for them