Evening star., 1924-06-17
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
OUR FOREIGN AFFAIRS. Paul
Scott Mowrer. z. P. Dutton G. Co.

Scott Mowrer. e. P. Dutton G. Co.
Time for the next lesson, Paul Scott
Mowrer says. So he calls the class
together. A big class, big as the as
sembled people OF the whole United
States. A new lesson, too, set by the
immediate effects Of the war. Turn
ing his back squareiy upon idealist
and dreamer, visionary and utopian-
upon the whole pestferous tribe of
reformers generally-Mr. Mowrer an
nounces this to be a plain lesson in
self-interest, national self-interest,
specifically that of our own country.
The study proves, in sum, to be as
practical as the subject in it's de-
clared purpose demands that it
should be. As practical and definite,
for instance-as sizeable and usable
AS a plan to lift this years matured
mortgage, or to secure markets for
next years wheat and corn crops
Moreover, the lesson follows a clear
and straight road of development.
And this by virtue Of it's own logic
leads, whether we like it or not, right
up to the open door Of foreign affairs:
a while. Foreign affairs"-Mr. Now
rer quoting Marquis Curzon now-'if
you examine the matter, are really
domestic affairs-the most domestic
of all our affairs. for this reason
they touch the life. the interest, and
community. 1t is in relation to our
foreign affairs that every man and
woman in this country secures i'm
munity from war. relief from the
heavy burden Of taxation, prosperity
of trade and industry"
The lesson of national self-interest
set here by Mr.. Mowrer rests upon
two essential conditions. one general
in it's application, the other of special
import to the United States. The
first, bearing equally upon all ma
tions and all peoples, is a product of
the past hundred years, wherein sci
ence has changed the broad earth
into narrow neighborhood Of ready
contacts and speedy communications.
situation tremendously potential,
this-on the one hand for peace and
Its upbuilding pursuits, on the other
for wap, with it's irretrievable de-
structions. Plain sense-that is, COM
mon self-interest for the nation, as
for the Observation-Disclosures the choice
here between life and death. between
SuCISSS anu between pros
perity and degraded poverty, be-
tween human behaviors and those of
the savage. 1t is from this part of
the study that Mr.. Mowrer draws the
hne and wholesome lesson of co-oper-
alton. This, from now on. to be the
directive force in any productive and
civilized intercourse of peoples the
world over. No, not an advocacy of
pacihsm. Not within a thousand miles
or that. Instead, Mr.. Mowrer, for the
use OF the world, merely expands the
give -and-take measures that hold
families together and neighborhoods
He simply projects for wider uses
those methods that promote a decent
harmony OF purpose and action in
town and county, state and nation.
worldwide cooperation in pro-
ducing and distributing the life sun
porting needs Of humanity, this is
the worlds next lesson, its next les
son in plain self-interest. Yes. mere
economies, If you want to call it that.
NO matter what you call it. 1t is
mere TO be seized and pushed to frui-
tlon under the deep and enlightened
CONVICTION that IL is time for hu-
manity to step definitely out and on
into his destined upgrade of human
fulfillment. THE class will please
observe-as the teacher used to saw.
I The class In this case, is the United
A startling effect Of the war was
its liberalizing influence. Under it
monarchies went down. Republics
sprang@ into life. Mr. Mowrer lists
these. picturinE. broadly. the natural
confuaons and excesses that waited
upon these sudden releases from ira
ditional control. upon this swift pas
sage into a wider and more RESPONSE
BILE political existence. In one sense,
democracy was literally let loose by
the great conflict And here is where
the second part of this lesson begins
the part that belongs directly to the
United States for sincere and studi-
Gus coming, to the end that this
country may give whole-heartedly
and usefully of it's tried experiences
in republicanism for the ADVANTAGE of
those peoples that are now but just
stepping out into the road of this
particular political adventure For a
century and a half this country has
tested it's repu blicanism under every
sort OF national and international
stress. Our government is no longer
an experiment 1t is the supreme fact
under which a free people has risen
to broad, deep-seated security for
the present and equal promise for the
future. Whether we wish to be such
'or not, we stand as a model for the
brood of new-fiedged republics of the
old world. We should be more than a
model. That is a cold and Puritanic
role. We should be the friend. the
kindly guide, generous and open
handed in support. This, by the way,
Is the part of Mr.. Mowers lesson
that tn IS - pointed s9i1 d. upon US Suddenly,
eminent-rich. powerful, safe. We
stood, and stand. the ideal of democ-
racy, embodied in fact, intrenched in
experience. And it is for something
that we so stand-for something to
insure our continuance in such we'll
estate to one more exalted yet. Only
one way in the world to achieve this
end of self-interest. To give of our
healthful substance, through the
channels of economics and politics. to
the new governments in order that
their permanence and prosperity may
rebound to our own continued leader
ship.
L hope this running survey of Mr..
Mowers book will not lead you to
think that he has offered a preach
ment, or delivered a tract of soft and
idealism. Nothing could
be further from that in this lesson
of his. To be sure, he does urge
direct participation in foreign affairs,
giving many reasons for this, and
celebrating methods of swinging our
diplomacy and our diplomatic ma
chinery into more fruitful lines. He
is a good historian, buttressing his
lesson with shrewd estimates of
current movements and effects. Not
withstanding this equipment and the
which it sets up before
him, he does hold himself to an all
around consideration Of the self
interest of the United States through
a larger and deeper partaking in
the affairs of the old world. In the
economics by enlightened trade and
industry. In the politics by promot-
ing the principles of republicanism
through example and education.