The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-10-11
BY L. TRoTSKY

The chief source of world antagon-
ism is the struggle between the United
States and England. Why? Because
England is still the richest, the most
powerful country next to the United
States. England is the main compel
itor, the chief obstacle on the path of
American imperialism. Were England
driven into a corner, we're her strength
undermined, or still better, were she
knocked down entirely, then America
could have a free hand in her imper
alist adventures. Surely, Japan could
be easily taken care Of. America has
all the advantages on her side: money
and iron, coal and oil, and also com
paratively good prestige in her polit-
ical relations with China, which coun-
try, as we know, America is supposed
to be "liberating" from under the yoke
of Japan. For America is always
'liberating" somebody. That seems
to be her vocation. The main antagon-
ism then is between the United States
and England. This antagonism is
growing and gaining momentum.
The English bourgeoisie has felt
somewhat uneasy ever since the first
years after the treaty of Versailles.
The English bourgeoisie is thoroughly
familiar with the intricacies of finance.
And she cannot very well shut
her eyes to the fact that the Ameri-
lean dollar carries more weight than
the English pound. She knows that
predominance on the money market
inevitably results in predominance
also on the field of politics. The
English bourgeoisie has always ex-
plotted to the utmost the power of
her pound sterling in her international
relations, and nov she is watching
with horror the dawn of a new era,
the era of the American dollar.
The English bourgeoisie is trying
not to succumb to despair and is
creating all kinds of illusions for her
self. The most authoritative English
newspapers thus view the situation.
They say: "True, the Americans are
rich, but after all they are only
novices in the imperialist game. They
don't know all the tricks and tactics OF
world politics. We, Englishmen, are
incomparably more skillful. The Yam
KEGS will need our advice and leader
ship. Our inexperienced American
cousins, who have suddenly grown so
rich, will have to call on us for guild
ance in matters of world politics. That
will not be bad business at all. We
shall be able to preserve our dignity
and at the same time secure q decent
fee for services rendered"
OF course, there is a grain Of truth
in that. l have already given express
sion to my scepticism regarding the
accomplishments of American SEN
ators in the field of European geo.
graphy. In order to do business with
Europe on large scale it would not
seems superfuous to be equipped with
a good knowledge of European geo.
graphy. However, for the wealthy
classes, the road to knowledge is al
ways open. We all know that the
bourgeoisie has easy access to the arts
ana sciences. Many mllllOnalre
son whose fathers may have been il
literate look almost like they were
born into lordship. 1t is only the OPP
pressed classes, the proletariat, that
are having a hard time in getting
edusation, trying to acquire mastery
of the elements of culture. The rich
can always find, develop or hire spe-
cialists in all the branches of science.
The Americans are only beginning to
realize their Importance in world af-
fairs, but have not gone yet very far
in that respect The development of
the consciousness of American cap
italism as to its world mission has
Jagged behind the development of its
..1nra On. and lanliLinal ran...n. he,