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NEW PUBLICATIONS:
-Peace; and Policed ?
'Pouwrfiil America— Our Place in
a Rearming World,' oy Eugene
Yoiirig^ Frederick A. Stokes
Company, New York, 12/-. From
the -publishers.
f^LEARLY and interestingly, Mr. Eugene
V Young, cable editor of the New York
'Times' sets out to show why American
leadership is needed in the world to
day. In his 'Powerful America— our
Place in a Rearming World' he reviews
the world of inter
national politics,
the ambitions and
strivings of the
different leading
nations,- and claims
that America, as
sisted by Great
Britain, should
police the world
and preserve Its
peace. The League
of Nations, though
a place where big
questions can be
thrashed out, has
neither the unity,
the authority, nor
none Help
Eugan* Young.
Eugan* Young.
the power to assure world order, he de
clares.
Mr. Young proceeds to argue that by
the workings of natural laws the world
has always progressed under forms of
nationalism. Various peoples have
evolved different civilisations. Through
struggles between nation and nation
mankind has constantly advanced to
better conditions of life. Although,
after the Great War, strong moral forces
tried to break down nationalism, he says,
nationalism has retained its hold on the
peoples. And, In the end, In upholding
this principle, they have prepared for
war on a bigger scale than ever. Since
Internationalism has 'failed to set up an
authority which can deal with aggressive
nationalism, the authority must be found
elsewhere, and America, he declares, has
the ability and power to take the leader
ship.
'Robust Americanism is returning' de
clares Mr. Young. This spirit, he con
tends, was under an eclipse during the
Great War. 'Whatever may be the
merits or demerits of the Roosevelt ad
ministration in Its domestic policy it has
turned its back on Internationalism and
become strongly nationalistic. It broke
with the Disarmament Conference when
It found that body was intent on in
veigling us into responsibilities in selfish
European quarrels and settlements. It
smashed the World Economic Conference
when confronted with a combination of
Britain and the European gold bloc. In
tent on dictating to us in finance and
economy. It has fought a good fight
with Britain and the sterling bloc to pro
tect our national Interests in the cur
rency field. It has restrained Japan in
the Far East by the restoration of our
old policy of protecting China from ag
gression. With free handSi it has let
world statesmanship know that the de
cisions and activities in future issues will
be based on American interests and
ideals.'
America, he declares, has returned to
its post- World War determination to
have a navy second to none. It is
preparing a great air fleet wttn wide
cruising power. It is even reinforcing
it« army.
Awakening and rearming America wfll
have to deal with a world of sTiiTtmg
politics and power, Mr. Young says. The
great British imperial system, which has
been the dominant factor in this world
of almost three centuries and the lesser
French imperial system, have been weak
ened and put on the defensive. They
are striving desperately to save ttiem
selves, but a new order Is J^*****
The author writes sympathetically re
garding an 'ambitious and frustrated
Italy.' The Italians he describes as a
strong and able people overfilling their
tod.. ^omicaUjTthe plight ol : the
country is difficult, he says. The world
War brought humiliations to Italy. Agree
ments under the Paris Peace Conference
were broken, and Italy was denied _what
was promised to her at home and abroad.
'Whatever the outcome of the Ethiopian
adventure,' Mr. Young says, 'the Italian
problem is bound to remain, in its essen
tial* fnr Eurone and the world.'
?'Germany returns to stark mffltarism'
is the heading of another chapter. Mr.
Young refers to the Germans asj*a very
great people, Vt*M& *&*? *****$-
thorough and ambitious. . . . Yet m
many of its standards it is selfishly ruth
less; lacking in understanding and ap
preciation of the rights of others . . . often
resorting to guile and at other ttones to
sheer force as means of their attain
ment.' The Hitter movement has been
manipulated by hidden masters, declares
Mr Young, and he hints that the Inter
nal strain on the people might bring an
other revolution.
Again the author speaks of Russia as
forging Itself into a powerful nation.
Communism has been overcome, he de
clares, and a corporative State hassuc
ceeded to power. Russia is engaged in
building a tremendous military machine.
He refers to Japan as the 'strong and
the weak.' says that over-population and
outside dangers have driven it to an ag
gressive policy, its trade boom has failed
to pay, its debts are becoming a danger
ous burden, and American and .British
friendship is necessary. '
Finally, Mr. Young sums up Americas
position by stating that Britain, no
longer immune from attack, has lost the
advantage that built the Empire, and
America, behind broad oceans, can seize
the balance of power. 'We might build
up the greatest of empires if we chose,'
he declares. 'The fact that we are not
likely to pursue such a- course does not
limit the fact that the power is there.'
Then Mr. Young gives the comforting
assurance that he thinks America wfll co
operate with English-speaking peoples to
bring about an era of peace and pro
gress. ?
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