The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-07
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER RARNES

ME feverish war preparations which are now
= going on in Europe deserve to be taken
with the utmost seriousness. Another World
War is in the making, and unless ADEQUATE and
timely steps are taken to avert it, the whole
| social order as we know it, is likely to be
destroyed
The underlying reason for the European
crisis is identical with the cause of the economic
crisis within the national boundaries of the
major countries of the west namely stupid
and shortSighted hogglshneSs.
A few states, exploiting either to historic
advantages or superior position have grabbed
OH and throttled most of the natural resources
and available markets in the world Thew thus
deny to equally proud and reputable countries
the material necessities of national existence
The latter are, accordingly forced to get ready
to fight to obtain what they need even though
the struggle may carry both the fortunate and
the unfortunate down to ruin in a mutual de-
struction.
This fundamental fact underlying the pres
ent European situation is the theme of Mr.
Frank H. Simonds in his important work, "The
Price OF Peace" Harper, So:
AT the bottom alike of the Fascist and
National Socialist phenomena lies an economic
factor which is unmiStakabe. Both Italy and
Germany countries whose natural resources
are inadequate to support their great popula-
lions and large and still expanding industrial
uldCIlLIleS bOIH are therefore, dependent upon
the outside world for those essential raw ma
terials of industry and supplies of foodstuf
which alone can permit prosperous and even
tolerabe national existence.
" A CCESS to these materials and food
A stuffs has, however, become difficult if
not well-nigh impossible. For the fortunate
countries which possess an approximate monop-
oily at least in the former have by tariffs and
10
man goods and Italian laborers from their own
territories. And by doing this they have de-
prlved Germany and Italy of the means to buy
abroad what they must have to support their
machines and feed their population at home
In such a situation the German and Italian
choice is between accepting conditions which
must condemn their populations to a steadily
declining standard of living and their govern
mentS to eventual social upheaval, or under
taking by violence to destroy the existing re-
strictionS upon their own prosperity and politi-
cal order. For, as things stand, the countries
have no means other than war by which to
bring about change in status quo which is
backed by the existing public international law.
There are no new regions to occupy and to
develop as sources of raw materials and as
homes for surplus populations. On the con-
trary all of the lands of the planet are now
included within the national frontiers of ex-
listing states. and, in fact, in large measure are
either directly under the sovereignty of the four
fortunate great powers the British Empire, the
United States France. and the Soviet Union, or
indirectly covered by their guarantees as South
America is protected by the Monroe Doctrine"
A LII Of this reveals the Intenable character
n Of the attempt to distinguish between So
called defensive and aggressive war. 1t is GER
tainly as defensible morally to fight to obtain
necessities as it is to fight to retain the spoils
gained in part through past wars If Musso-
lni should attack England in Egypt, for ex-
ample, his conduct would be as defensible as that
OF England in sending soldiers and ships to de-
fend this territory. Only sane and generous
internationalization of resources and market
can avert the impending calamity.
In his Policies and Opinions at Paris, 1919"
Macmillan Prof. G. Bernard Noble indicates
the policies and mistakes which dominated the
Versailles Treaty and laid the foundations for
the crisis of our day. Norman Angel, veteran
writer against war and recent winner of the
Noble Peace Prize, argues in his Peace and
the Plain Man" (Harper), for the necessity of a
collective world system to replace the anarchic
nationalism Of our day. number of eminent
English writers. including Viscount Cecil. Julian
Huxley and Rebecca West. vigorously attack the
whole war system in their symposium, Challenge
to Death" DuttOn),