The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-11-22
Too Expensive To Fight
BY FREDERICK J. HAskIN

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. o.
The next World war, # it takes place,
will probably be won by the strongest
nation which succeeds in staying out
Of it.
This consideration, which is based
upon the calculations of military ex-
perts concerning future wars, as well
as upon the obvious lessons of the one
just over. is undoubtedly a powerful
force making for disarmament.
1t is probable that each of the prin-
cipal nations, IN the next few decades,
will strive for the limitation of armam-
ent and the adjustment of international
relations in such way that its own
liability to be embroiled in war will be
reduced to a minimum.
It does not follow that this will al
ways make for international peace. 1t
probably will do so in a general way,
but it means that while each nation
will do so in a general way, but 1t
means that while each nation will it
self strive TO keep out of war, it Will
often be of advantage to given ma
/ ton to embroil its chief commercial
rivals in war. For example, some
observers have commented upon the
fact that certain sections OF the french
press dwell great deal upon the
points which may produce antagonlsm
between Great Britain and the United
States. 1t has been pointed out that
should the United States and Great
Britain ever engage in war without
France being involved in any way, at
the end of that war France would oc-
cupy a much stronger international po-
sition than she does now. 1t has been
suggested that the French government
may not be wholly oblivious to this
fact Whether it has any influence on
French policy or not, it illustrates the
point under consideration.
The Case of England.
Another illustration has been
brought to light by discussions of the
Anglo-Jap alliance. Whether this al
lance shall be renewed or not Is one
of the crucial questions Of the confer
ence. In the canvass OF considerations
which probably affect British policy in
this regard, it has been pointed out,
as a reason why Britain might wish
| to discontinue the alliance, that in
case of war between Japan and the
United States. Great Britain could win
that war by staying out OF 1t. 1t Is
stated that if Japan and the United
States fought for four years, during
that time Great Britain would regain
the position of controlling financial
center of the world, which has now
passed to the United States, and
would also greatly increase her COM
MERGE She would do this by selling
goods and lending money to the Delll-
gerents, who would constantly weaken
each other. Of course Great Britain
relative gain by staying out OF the
war is much greater by reason OF the
fact that if she went into it she would
lose Canada. and nothing she could
gain would repay her for that loss. But
even leaving Canada out or consldera-
ton. Great Britain could gain only by
staying out of such war. The Unit
ed States would lose her international
leadership by such a war, in all prob
ability. even if she won victory.
The same factors appear in all cal
Culations that are made concerning
possible future wars. There are ma
tions which might gain by successful
war in certain circumstances, ana
these are noted to be the least enthus-
iastic for disarmament. But, IN gen
eral, war no longer pays as a COM
mercial adventure.
You have only to look back a little
way to see that this fact marks rev
dictionary change in the basis OF in
ternational policy. II is a common
place of political economy that nearly
all modern wars have been fought Tor
commercial advantage. To be more
exact, they have been fought to give
the foreign investors of given coun-
try a preferential right in exploiting
the natural resources of various parts
of the world and in selling manufac-
tured goods to various peoples. A ma
ton which has been successful in its