New Ulm review., 1922-02-08
Economic Imperialism.
Norman Thomas.

demonstration made most perfectly by
H. N. Brailsford, in 3'The War Of Steel
and Gold.' and now fairly generally ac-
cepted by thoughtful men, that the, roots
of the Great WaraaWeiea ito be found II N
the 'sr ivialry f8Qg lne atks1nca T o n $
for conce ssi ons'sz to aoee0sp / 0 l'tf.
Or to be accurate thesrivahy was between
anpiers W i IN sutr4elals ca r.
tai o. invest t who, used the emo enc
tions of nationalism o SER We their
own purposes. If anything, that
rivalry is keener today because OF the prog
ress toward State Capitalism which Nor
man Angel has so clearly described IN
1.-The Fruits of Victory" Industrial ma
tions cannot exist without coal, iron and
oil. The tendency for the nations pos
sessing coal, oil and iron is to monopollze
them. Industrial nations like Germany or
Japan dependent on these raw materials
for their very life might easily be shut
off from them by France, Britain or
America. Under such circumstances, they
might probably prefer war to slow star
vation. $s$l2Js323 b. '".
lAnother phase of economic imperial aisnal
arises from coatfol Of credit. The United Unite
States is credit mistress OF the !World q
Her capitalists are more and more ac-
curing huge stakes in European proper
ties and are seeking them in ASIA FMS
process brings them into conflict with the
financiers of other nations who also have
or desire like concessions. Such invest
ment of American capital in foreign coun-
tries means the exploitation Of the work.
ers in these countries and a consequent
hatred for the exploiters. To jealousy
among, the strong is added the hatred OF
the weak as cause of war. -''->'t@@ ::
indeed, the whole economic process
resulting in the investment OF surplus
capital is in itself a form Of war. Be-
hind it is the notion that it IS just for
privileged groups to monopolize Tor their
profit natural resources which by right be-
long to all the children of earth. In So
Der truth the philosophy and practice of
coal mining in West Virginia, orsssteel
making in Pittsburg are the philosophy
and practice of war. It is the blessings
of such conditions with even less check
upon Ruthless oppression which follow
the flags Of rival powers IN the: sexploltaS:
ton of the rest of the earth. BY what
right do we assume that we who have
not wisdom enough to avert civil war in
West Virginia or the Chicago stockyards,
will have the wisdom or the desire to
end international war? 20 s@.r>ts
To raise this question is not to charge
that capitalists are so inconceivably
wicked as deliberately to plot new war
even if they we're SO devoid Of humanity.
Their own interests would be opposed to
such a catastrophe. They have begun to
learn that the gains from war are at the
last dust and ashes. But they are far
from having learned that war is result
Of their plots and counterplots. The psy-
chology of imperialism is short-sighted
and blind. Competition between financial
groups or nations 4 often makes triumph
over rival at tae3epst of some prosperity
seem preferable to enlarged good fortune
which mustbBes shaAd with him. If this
were not SO the Versailles treaty would
haveea been different: In the effort to
crush Germany the allies penalized them7
selves. And today as before the Great
War the nations of the earth play their
game Of poker. All of them are greedy,
all suspicious and all armed. None of
them may intend to start new war,
but none of them boldly renounces the
game for the sake of peace. >4s%e
This assertion that the tap root
Of war is econo mic, does not
ignore the Importance of the soil which
nourishes that root until it brings forth
such evil fruit. IL it were not for mob
psychology and the vast amount Of un-
reasoning emotion pride, fear y and hate
in men economic strife would be less
dangerous. But these things exist, and
so, too, docs an absurd and jingoistic
nationalisIn. The natural hiendliness We
feel toward those sWh6iliVesn our coun-
try and speak our language has been dis