The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-05-16
The Small Nations
The Small Nations
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There are some so nations in
this world OF all sizes, kinds and
geographical dispositions. Some
like Luxembourg, are mere dots on
the map; some like Poland, 10
through partitions, changes OF
boundary and population every
time Europe engages in another OF
its perennial wars. None OF the
small nations are political, acct
dents; they are products OF the
workings of racial, religious, lin
guistic, nationalistic forces In
European history. In a word, their
existence has to do with the funda'
mentals in the lives OF peoples.
On the other hand. the econom'
les OF the Twentieth Century prac-
tically preCludes their separate ex'
istenee. Modern industrialiEation
requires huge interior and foreign
markets as well as guaranteed &C
cesses to raw materials. But even
more. vast reservoirs OF manpower
are essential for the conduct OF a
productive structure. In the pre-
war world, four countries were
modernly industrialized the Unit
ed States, Great Britain, Germany
d Japan. AS OF today. the Unit
ed States, Great Britain and ia
pan remain. In the immediate
postwar world. the principal indus
trial countries will undoubtedly he,
the United States and Great Bril-
tain. with Soviet Russia seeking
to assume Germany's role. And
China. naturally hopes TO assume
Japan's role.
n terms OF area and population.
that is, in terms OF potential in
terror markets and manpower. Chi.
ma and Soviet Russia possess in
comparable capacity. China pos.
sesses an area OF 100000 square
miles and population OF 100000.
900 people; Soviet Russia's area.
as Of today is S,S00,000 square
miles. and her population Ia rough
ly 10000, 900 to zoe, 100000 per-
sons. and growing by territorial &C.
erection. The United States has
about 100000 square miles with
n population OF 135.000.000. Were
Great Britain alone, she would be
a small nation. but the British
Commonwealth OF NJ tons IL ire
mendous In area and manpower
and although today its future is a
political uncomfortable, It must be
assumed that its postwar economic
role will be tremendously import
ant. This is certain: there are no
Indications that the British Com
? -GSnWesith viii iaiS -.S-f. x1posn
its control may shift from England
to the dominions.
Obviously, the small nations can
not develop economic strength 10
compete or even hold their own
with such giants. Certainly, the
small nations cannot, US we have
tragicaliy witnessed In this war,
defend their boundaries against the
possessors OF such reservoirs OF
men and tools. And the war has
further proved that tools win in the
end-for II was American tools, the
American Industrial capacity that
won the war against Germany as
| every German general who has
spoken has testified. The small ma
tions cannot afford to own and use
equal quantities OF equally compe-
tent tools. In fact. neither Soviet
Russia nor China can afford. at
present. comparable industrial
| establishment.
The small nations, therefore,
seek protection by what is rough
ly called. collective Security. by
which they really mean that their
boundaries may not be invaded by
any force without reprisal from a
world union. In effect that means
that any invasion OF any country,
II by one OF the great powers or
by small state but condoned by a
great power, must lead to a world
war.
Realistically. then the small coun-
tries inevitably will group them
selves around the great ones. So.
Wet Russia impatlently is impos-
ing this process by force. but It is
bound to occur voluntarily or In
voluntarily. Soviet Russia leaves
no choice for the selection OF the
particular solar system a small ma.
ton may join. And perhaps geo.
graphy also leaves no choice.
Thus, the world is breaking up
into regional groupings around the