The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-12
How America May Prevent
Militarism Rising Again

Lev Nllcrlcin ChplCal, American
genius. American expert direction lend
their aid In building up these factories
so that the products may effectively
replace German manufactures In said
zone. This when done will radically
change conditions; IL Will remove the
root of the danger. for 1t will do away
with the source whence came the
vast sums required for autocratic
prussianisin.
steps Taken in Italy.
Some initial steps In this direction
have already been taken in Italy. 1t
is proposed that italy serve as tho
base of supply for the Mediterranean
zone, as tho manufacturing centre
where tho goods arc to he produced
and whence they are to IT, lie dis
trihuted wholesale within the zone.
Indeed not only Italy could serve as
a base of supplies. but there would
also be room for Salonica. for Greece,
to serve as the eastern base, and last.
hut by no means least, there would
likewise be room for Palestine, the
coming Jewish state. to serve as the
southern base within this zone.
] think it will he freely admitted
that the passing away OF the rule of
the Turk now affords ample uppor-
tunity for the Industrial and COM
mercial development of the Mcditer-
rancan basin on modern lines; in
short, 1t VIII permit the transplanting
OF Yankee vim. OF Yankee effective
ness into old fashioned regions.
But why should the American people
SO ont OF its way TO engage in the
task of building up industries in the
foreign trade zones spoken of? Would
that not be building up competitors
who would not only spike the guns
of our foreign trade, but who might
even throttle us in our home markets?
At first glance this would seem to be
the case. but some reflection will show
that there Is little to fear from the
legitimate competitor. For instance,
the most forceful competitor OF the
United States is Great Britain, and
the most forceful competitor OF Great
Britain is the United States; yet not
withstanding the United States is
Great Britain's biggest customer and
Great Britain is the biggest customer
Of the United States.
Great Possibilities Seen.
In countries such as those Of the
Mediterranean basin. where we now
have but an insignificant volume of
foreign trade, the proposed plan would
be sure TO create steady demand for
our money, our carriage. our raw ma
terial, our findings our semi-manu-
featured articles. our machinery. Sc
All this taken in the aggregate would
he sure TO yield much larger net
return than IS possible in foreign trade
under the present sample trunk sys-
TEN.
1t seems to me that this proposal is
timely, relevant and necessary, for to
permit this foreign trade to drift orce
more into its accustomed channels
would be to permit Germany once more
full swing in handling the financial
commercial and Industrial destinies OF
vast and populous regions OF the earth:
IL would De to permit once more the
growth o. = military octopus strong
enough HA,, ravenous enough ulti-
matcly to clutch all within its deadly
embrace.
Inere is YET another reason WY the
plan here proposed is timely. relevant
and necessary. We haze been repeat
odly told that in Germany the foster
ing of foreign trade was broadly given
the right of way. That is to say II an
, industry was started which tho Gov
eminent thought desirable to push
| forward all obstacles in its way were
{ brushed aside. II an item required il
il was given special subsidies and
privileges; IL was given special trans
/ portation rates; special fiscal advan-
/ tagcs: special diplomatic and consular
/ services. and IL an existing law stood
( in the way that law was IN that in
stance set aside.
Now, would We be willing TO do all
these things? Could We do them even
/: we wanted to? Do we not sec that
such things are not permissible under
a stable, constitutional democracy?
These are the considerations which
led me to propose the plan set forth
not as q doctrinaire thesis. but as a
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