Page:Scott Nearing - The Germs of War (1916).djvu/17

 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.