The Germs of War/Chapter 6
6. The Economics of War.
Economic conflict has appeared in many forms. In the early dawn of history men were fighting for the fertile valleys of the world,—the Ganges, the Nile, the Tigris. Race after race swept down on these garden spots and drove out or enslaved those who held them. For ages, history was a record of the campaigns waged by vigorous hill-tribes against the more cultured, richer, and less vigorous valley tribes. Then came the wars over trade-routes, and the struggle for the control of seagoing commerce. And now, under the dominion of an industrial system that is founded on the machine, the factory, the railroad, the bank and the retail store comes the international competition for foreign markets.
The United States, despite its "mind your own business" traditions, is deeply involved with the other nations of the world, in the struggle for foreign markets. Just now "South American trade" is our watchword.
Germany held the bulk of the South American trade before the war. England, Belgium and France had a share. Until recent years the business interests of the United States were so busy with the conquest of the continent and the development of American resources that they had no time to bother with outside sources of investment and profit. Now that the important resources of the United States have been brought under private control, the business interests are turning eager eyes to Mexico, Cuba and Central and South America.
American business interests have entered the race to secure their share of the unexploited resources and the undeveloped trade of "backward" countries. They are hot on the trail, but they must meet competitors, and it is out of such competition that international misunderstandings frequently arise.
Has it ever struck you as remarkable that the European War, which began as a struggle between Servia and Austria, should have developed immediately into a war between England and Germany? England and Germany are at war! Yet there is nothing in them past to explain the conflict. England has fought battles with all of her principal Allies. It is little more than fifty years since she waged a bitter war against Russia. England and France are hereditary enemies. England helped to sweep Spain from her position as mistress of the world. So much for England's allies. Now as to her enemies. There has never been a war between England and Germany. Always the two nations have been friends. They have the same ancestors; the same traditions. They fought side by side at Waterloo. England has never come into conflict with Austria, though in her interests have been as opposite to the interests of Austria as they have been to the interests of Russia. Despite these past relations, England, Russia and France are now Allies, and England and Germany are the chief antagonists in the war.
Why?
Why should a war begun in Central Europe change so quickly into a war between two friendly nations? Who would have thought it? Who, but the students of the competition between nations for the World's markets.