South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-12
Written for the Unite

held three and half million men
Under arms. this figure representing
the total peace establishment OF the
powers. great and small.
At present there are four and a
half million men under arms in Eu-
rope. and the withdrawal of so many
a6le bodied people from production
must constitute a very serious loss
To the race at large. while certainly
inconsistent with the popular belief
that peace reigns.
In 1913 the whole world was en-
gagged actively in commerce: fortunes
were being made. large reserves OF
capital and material were in course
of accumulation.
Today very large proportion Of
the people OF Europe are out OF
business: in this country alone some
two millions are unemployed. To
add 10 the troubles Of Europe, taxa
ton has reached heights that would
have been deemed fantastic less than
10 years ago. and every country has
TO make large provision for those.
who. as a result of the war. are no
longer in the physica! condition to
support themselves.
Today we find that the produce Of
certain countries is being kept from
free circulation by restrictions of un-
exampled severity. while the depre-
citation OF currency is so severe that,
without restrictions. the countries in
the best financial position would be
reduced TO the level, or below the
level, Of the rest
Russian Contrast.
Ten years ago Russia might have
claimed without exaggeration TO be
the granary of Europe. Today mill
lions Of Russians, men. women and
children alike, have died of starva-
ton.
Before 1914. commerce. and rea-
sonable Interchange OF commodities
was possible even between countries
which had reason for an attitude Of
mutual suspicion. but today this COM
mercial Interchange has, TO large
extent. ceased.
During the war years, Europe may
be said 10 have lived upon its accu-
mutations of money and goods and
upon the proceeds Of its investments
in the Americas and elsewhere. To-
day. though peace has been pro-
claimed. Europe is still living to a
very large extent on its reserves. the
only difference being that when war
began, these reserves were ample
whereas today we are within sight of
the end.
To take the example nearest home.
this conntry's American securities
have passed back to America, and
while the United States constitute
undoubtedly the one wealthy power
of the world. that country is faced
with grave economic difficulties. be
cause its manufacturers are hard
pressed 70 find markets. They have
nearly all the money and most of
the goods and consequently they cam
not trade. because in order TO trade
il is necessary that both parties to
contract should have means. and
as actual trading Is of course not an
exchange Of money or goods but OF
commodities. it follows that wide
spread prosperity is the true basis
of all commerce.
Enough has been said to justify
doubt as TO whether we are really
at peace today. If we are not. the
next question that arises may be
summed up in one word why"
Europe Still Asleep.
To that question, the suggested
answer is. that Europe has failed to
realize her own essential unity.
People still act and talk as though
each great power. 10 say nothing OF
those that are not great. were self
contained, complete. remnant a law
to itself Here we find a remant OF
medieval thinking.
In the days before steam and
electricity and interchange between
all parts of the earth. a nation was
compelled to be -sufficing, not
only in its external but in its in
ternal aspects.
It was left 10 the we'll made roads,
the wheeled-vehicles. the sailing
ships. the steam engine and the fac
tor 10 bring about new conditions.
and this equipment gave its stimu-
lus to travel and the opening up of
foreign markets. A vast but delicate
fabric Of commerce was built up. and
served TO unite nations that still had
widely divergent interests, aims and
ideals.
With the coming of these new con-
ditions. the world approached the
first beginning of brotherhood. a
brotherhood association naturally
enough with jealousies. suspicious,
ill-will and even quarrels. because
the world brotherhood was at the
nursery stage. But. whatever the
causes OF. the quarrel. the value of
the commercial fabric was recognized
by one and all because as il grew.
the requirements and the refnements
OF life increased. until even the very
poor Of any European country de-
pended for part OF their daily fare
upon the produce OF far-on lands.
while the merchant in the European
capital began 10 control interests
many thousands OF mites beyond tho
seas. So accustomed had we grown
10 these conditions that We learned
TO look upon them as something as
certain as seedtime and harvest. just
as man created he may destroy. The
comparative failure Of four years Of
war 20 put an end 20 the previous
status. has engendered over-confi-
-.