Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-31
INTERNATIONAL LOOT
Is STILL WlNkED AT
Until II 10 Universally Condemned There
VIII Continue to Be Trouble Over
the Distribution Of Coal and
Otber Neeeesities


Other Necessities
COLONEL HOUSES explanation of the
~ cause Of much of the unrest in the
world serves merely to call attention to the
continuance of the struggle of the Have
nots TO take what they wish from the Havcs
Mr.. Wilson's former confidential adviser
says that the sore spots today are where
there is dispute over coal and oil. The
settlement of the Silesia question Is com
plicatcd by the desire of the Germans to
control the Siesian coal fields. The coal
in the Saar valley. now mined under the
direction Of the French aud diverted in
large part to France. once belonged en-
tirely to the Germans. They will not be
content till they get it back again They
took Alsace and Lorraine In 1870 because
they wished the coal and iron there. II
there had been no mineral wealth France
might have kept these provinces forever so
far as the Germans would have cared. Now
France has got the provinces back again,
as result Of the war, but she has not
forgiven Germany for destroying the mines
in northeastern France The hunger for
conl is irritating those peoples who have not
as much Of it ms they wish.
As oil is now coming into general use as
n supplementary fuel. there is rivalry for
the oil fields This is why the Mesopotn milan
mandate to Great Britain is causing dis
satisfaction, and il is why there is trouble
in Mexico and il is why the nations out
side of Russia are ready TO do anything
which will take from the Bolshevsts control
of the Baku oil fields.
1f the world we're wholly civilized its
material supplies would be open to all men
on equal terms. the provocation for wars
would cease and disa rmament would become
he lnpu nf W hn nf
the establishment of equity by mutual con-
sent. But from the time when thc first
hungry man smashed his neighbor on the
head with club and made his dinner
what the other had prepared. men have gone
after what they have wanted. wherever IL
was. and have taken it. There have been
times when they have msjudzed the ability
Of the other men to defend their possessions
and have had their labor for their pains.
But one defeat has not prevented them
from making a second attempt.
There came a time when II was found to
be eXpedient for men living together to
recognise the right of private property.
Community life was not possible otherwise
One hunter said to another. II will not
steal your bow. your club II you will not
steal mine" Then they could leave their
shelter with the certainty of finding their
weapons there when they returned
But nations do not yet recognize the
property right of other nations. What is
now and has long been. regarded as crime
in the individual Is still regarded as virtue
in a nation. Many Of the great men of
history have been the leaders OF national
marauding expeditions into the territory of
other nations. Alexander and Caesar and
Napoleon were men who planned to rob the
rest of the world Of what they thought
their own nations could make use Of. The
great British admirals of the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries were little better than
pirates. They raided the commerce of the
seas in order to enrich their own country.
In the times when coal was not needed
for manufacturing industries and for ma .
chine driven vessels. the pursuit of gold led
10 many wars of conquest The political
leaders sometimes sought 70 Justify their
raiding expeditions. but the justification
was merely a pretext Gilbert Murray. in
commenting on the Greek story of Ocdipus.
has stated the case with his usual precision.
Unnatural affection. child murder, father
murder, incest. a great deal of hereditary
cursing. double fraticide. and a viola e
tion of the sanctity OF dead bodies-when
one reads says Murray. such a list Of
charges brought against any tribe or people.
whether in ancient or in modern times. one
can hardly help concluding that somebody
wanted to annex their land.
No nation hungry for the territory of
another has ever lacked an excuse. They
| have all found reasons for doing what they
wanted TO do. and equally good reasons for
refraining from doing what they did not
| want to do. The reasons in each case have
| usually been framed without any regard 10
| the essential justice of the course pursued
We fatter ourselves that the United States
| is an exception. But when Napoleon stole
Louisiana territory from Spain, and began
| TO be fearful of his ability TO keep it, he
| found a willing purchaser Of his loot In the
person of Thomas jefferson. acting for this
! country. And Jefferson had to abandon his
| own theory of his constitutional powers in
order to make the purchase. Human nature
remained the same even after men had
crossed the great ocean 70 this new con
| tinent
It has been suggested that there should
be nm international understanding for regu
lating access 10 the fuel supply Of thr
world Such an understanding cannot hc
reached until there is disposition TO re
spect the property rights of nations that
is as compelling as the disposition to re.
spect the property rights of individuals
That will not come until it is agreed by thu
common opinion of mankind that lOotinl
by nations is an ntolcrnblc ofense. Wher
that time comes the matter will adjust il
self Until that time comes the Have nOti
will take from the HAYES whatever they
wish, provided they are strong enough tc
get away with IT,