The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-14
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

THE Ethiopian crisis has sent many back to
l. their history books in order to discover, if
possible, the motives which dominate Mussolini
and also those who would thwart his African
ambitions.
In order fully to grasp the situation, one
must go back as far as the dawn of modern
times and the early period of coonialism.
What were the forces and factors which kept
Italy out of the first great colonial race? Then
we would need to turn to the middle of the
last century and trace the history of national
ism, one of the most striking manifestations of
which was the unjfcation of Italy and the wave
of patriotism which it generated. Next, we would
! turn to the rise of modern imperialism after
1870 based upon the industrial revolution, the
growth of population and the surplus Of capital
for investment overseas. Italy was not able to
obtain her place in the sun. This, and the lack
of natural resources to support growing popu-
lation, furnish the impulses of II Duce in the
autumn of 1885.
For the general reader who desires to re-
fresh his historical memory and to bring him
self thoroughly up to date in this perspective on
world affairs, we can heartily recommend "A
Modern History of Europe 1046-1918" edited by
j. Hampden Jackson Harpers, $375). 1t is
written by Oliver j. G WEIGH G. j. Pennethorne
Hughes. H. E. Howard and P. G. Gordon Wal
ker. The unity of treatment is not married by
the composite authorship, and the work is ex-
LieIu6Iy clear ana redQaOle.
PARTICULARLY Illuminating is the summary
of the situation which developed between
1870 and 1914, when pre-war imperialism laid
the ground for the great calamity of the
World War.
after 1870 the whole pace of history in
creaSes This does not mean merely that the
various processes Of life which we have been
discussing politics, economics, diplomacy, the
inventions affecting the ordinary lives of the
ordinary people-were speeding up, as the cen
tury grew older, towards the ultimate crash of
1914, but is also true literally.
For the greater speed of transport and of
communications, meant that an event in one
part of the world could within a very short
time affect the lives of people hundreds of miles
away When news could only be carried on
sailing ships, or along the rutty, unmacadamized
roads of the first years of the century, policy
depended on local opinion, local decision, or the
actions of ambassadors marooned for weeks
from their political superiors.
After 1870 ambassadors became merely the
reception end of telegraph systems radiating
from their home capitals: important for their
tact, but no longer for their opinions. The
price of wheat in Canada affected at once the
| financial policy of London. and the speed OF
social life was at the same time revolutionized
by the coming of the motor-car and the tele-
phone
THERE were, too, more people in the world
and therefore more large-scale events
with more organized policies and beliefs fight
ing Tor recognition 1t was a larger world, for
the whole globe was drawn in to play part in
the rivalries and ambitions of the European
peoples.
AT the same time all the forces of the PERIOD
the non-material ideals and beliefs, were whirl-
ing on, with compound velocity towards 1914.
Nationalism still existed as an important
force in Turkey, Austria Hungary, Ireland and
elsewhere. But other forces were now in the
saddle Economically, capitalism had reached
the last stage, when commercial rivalry would
end IN war. Politically the Eastern question and
the Franco-German hatred-the Treaties of Ber-
lin and Frankfort-had provoked antagonisms
which would end in war
automatically the building up Of an elab-
crate system Of heavily armed alliances, ready
! to fly at each other as soon as the least of
their members were seriously engaged, had
reached proportions which also must ultimately
end in war
Events and incidents piled upon each other
in bewildering frequency, then, until that war
came, and it is only possible to separate the
forces and summarize the events which pre-
ceded the breakdown"
We may well wonder whether equally able
and discerning historians writing a generation
hence will be able to pen comparable pages
about the epoch from 1918 to 1886
If war fever dies down and times pet better