Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/888

 666 General History of Europe Apart from the interesting discussion of many important in- ternational questions, the Assembly accomplished a few positive results. It adopted a project for a permanent international court empowered to arbitrate all disputes threatening war; but the great powers would not agree to submit all their quarrels to the court. Six new states were admitted to the League Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Luxemburg, Costa Rica, and Albania. But Argentina withdrew, because she could not agree with the other A. Obligations arising from past wars, including interest on the public debt, pensions, management of the shipping and railroads during the World War. $3,85 5 ,000,000, or about 68% of the whole expense of government B. For the U. S. Army and Navy and .cur- rent military expenses. $1,424,000,000, or nearly 25% of the total expenses C. Cost of conducting the government, public works, education How MOST OF OUR TAXES GO FOR WAR members in their plans for compulsory arbitration, the election of members of the Council by the Assembly, and the admission of Germany to the League. 1206. Cost of War for the United States. When in 1921 the expenses of the United States government for the current year were published, the overwhelming cost of war became apparent. It was found that for past wars, including the World War, nearly four billions of dollars were necessary. The preparations for future wars demanded an outlay of not far from a billion and a half dollars. The amount left for all other purposes, such as pay- ment of government officials, public works, and educational and scientific activities, was less than one tenth of the total outlay. Out of every dollar which was paid in taxes more than ninety- three cents had to go in one form or another for war. 1207. The United States necessarily involved in World Affairs. The way in which the United States has inevitably been